Fludarabine, cytarabine, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and idarubicin with gemtuzumab ozogamicin improves event-free survival in younger patients with newly diagnosed aml and overall survival in patients with npm1 and flt3 mutations

Purpose To determine the optimal induction chemotherapy regimen for younger adults with newly diagnosed AML without known adverse risk cytogenetics. Patients and Methods One thousand thirty-three patients were randomly assigned to intensified (fludarabine, cytarabine, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and idarubicin [FLAG-Ida]) or standard (daunorubicin and Ara-C [DA]) induction chemotherapy, with one or two doses of gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO). The primary end point was overall survival (OS). Results There was no difference in remission rate after two courses between FLAG-Ida + GO and DA + GO (complete remission [CR] + CR with incomplete hematologic recovery 93% v 91%) or in day 60 mortality (4.3% v 4.6%). There was no difference in OS (66% v 63%; P = .41); however, the risk of relapse was lower with FLAG-Ida + GO (24% v 41%; P < .001) and 3-year event-free survival was higher (57% v 45%; P < .001). In patients with an NPM1 mutation (30%), 3-year OS was significantly higher with FLAG-Ida + GO (82% v 64%; P = .005). NPM1 measurable residual disease (MRD) clearance was also greater, with 88% versus 77% becoming MRD-negative in peripheral blood after cycle 2 (P = .02). Three-year OS was also higher in patients with a FLT3 mutation (64% v 54%; P = .047). Fewer transplants were performed in patients receiving FLAG-Ida + GO (238 v 278; P = .02). There was no difference in outcome according to the number of GO doses, although NPM1 MRD clearance was higher with two doses in the DA arm. Patients with core binding factor AML treated with DA and one dose of GO had a 3-year OS of 96% with no survival benefit from FLAG-Ida + GO. Conclusion Overall, FLAG-Ida + GO significantly reduced relapse without improving OS. However, exploratory analyses show that patients with NPM1 and FLT3 mutations had substantial improvements in OS. By contrast, in patients with core binding factor AML, outcomes were excellent with DA + GO with no FLAG-Ida benefit

Characterization and treatment of congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Congenital Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (cTTP) is an ultra rare thrombomicroangiopathy caused by an inherited deficiency of ADAMTS13. There is limited data on the genotype-phenotype correlation and no consensus on treatment. We reviewed the largest cohort of cTTP cases, diagnosed in the UK, over the past 15 years. 73 cases of cTTP were diagnosed, confirmed by genetic analysis. 93% were alive at the time of review. 36% had homozygous mutations and 64% compound heterozygous mutations. Two presentation peaks were seen, childhood (median diagnosis age 3.5 years) and adulthood, typically related to pregnancy (median diagnosis age 31 years). Genetic mutations differed by age of onset with pre-spacer mutations more likely to be associated with childhood-onset (p=0.0011). 69% of adult presentations were associated with pregnancy. Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) and intermediate purity factor VIII concentrate were used as treatment. 88% of patients with normal blood counts but headaches, lethargy or abdominal pain reported symptom resolution with prophylactic therapy although the most common currently used regimen of three weekly FFP proved insufficient for 70% of patients and weekly or fortnightly infusions were required. Stroke incidence was significantly reduced in patients receiving prophylactic therapy (2% versus 17%, p=0.04). Long term, there is a risk of end organ damage, seen in 75% of patients with a late diagnosis of cTTP. In conclusion, pre-spacer mutations are associated with earlier development of cTTP symptoms. Prophylactic ADAMTS13 replacement decreases the risk of end organ damage such as ischemic stroke and resolved previously unrecognized symptoms in patients with non-overt disease

Real-world experience with caplacizumab in the management of acute TTP

The cornerstone of life-saving therapy in immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) has been plasma exchange (PEX) combined with immunomodulatory strategies. Caplacizumab, a novel anti–von Willebrand factor nanobody trialed in 2 multicenter randomized controlled trials (RCTs) leading to European Union and US Food and Drug Administration approval, has been available in the United Kingdom (UK) through a patient access scheme. Data were collected retrospectively from 2018 to 2020 for 85 patients (4 children) receiving caplacizumab from 22 UK hospitals. Patient characteristics and outcomes in the real-world clinical setting were compared with caplacizumab trial end points and historical outcomes in the precaplacizumab era. Eighty-four of 85 patients received steroid and rituximab alongside PEX; 26% required intubation. Median time to platelet count normalization (3 days), duration of PEX (7 days), and hospital stay (12 days) were comparable with RCT data. Median duration of PEX and time from PEX initiation to platelet count normalization were favorable compared with historical outcomes (P &lt; .05). Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) recurred in 5 of 85 patients; all had persistent ADAMTS13 activity &lt; 5 IU/dL. Of 31 adverse events in 26 patients, 17 of 31 (55%) were bleeding episodes, and 5 of 31 (16%) were thrombotic events (2 unrelated to caplacizumab); mortality was 6% (5/85), with no deaths attributed to caplacizumab. In 4 of 5 deaths, caplacizumab was introduced &gt;48 hours after PEX initiation (3-21 days). This real-world evidence represents the first and largest series of TTP patients, including pediatric patients, receiving caplacizumab outside of clinical trials. Representative of true clinical practice, the findings provide valuable information for clinicians treating TTP globally