Long-term survival after high-dose chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation in metastatic breast cancer

Objective/background: The most common indication for high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) and autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT) in the 1990s was breast cancer. Several randomized trials and a more recent meta-analysis failed to show a survival benefit for AHCT in metastatic breast cancer (MBC); however, they demonstrated a better-than-expected 10-year to 15-year survival in 5–15% of patients. We thus evaluated the long-term results of treatment with HDC and AHCT in MBC at our institution. Methods: From 1984 to 2000, 285 patients underwent AHCT for MBC. The patient characteristics were collected through the Cleveland Clinic, United Transplant Database. A retrospective review of the medical records of the long-term surviving breast-cancer patients treated with HDC and AHCT was conducted. Results: With a median follow-up of 169 months, 34 (12%) remain alive. Of the 251 patients who died, 218 (87%) died of metastatic disease. A comparison by age (50 years) and hormonal status did not demonstrate any differences in relapse (p = .33 and p = .32, respectively) or survival (p = .13 and p = .42). Of the 34 long-term survivors, sufficient data were available on 28 patients, and further evaluation revealed that the majority had a primary or locally recurrent oligometastatic disease. Conclusion: This retrospective evaluation of patients who underwent AHCT for MBC demonstrates long-term survival in a small subset of patients, primarily those with primary or recurrent oligometastatic disease. Oligometastatic breast cancer is a distinct entity within MBC, which may be curable with multimodality therapy. We thus conclude there remains no overall-survival benefit to HDC in MBC. Keywords: Autologous hematopoietic cell transplant, High-dose chemotherapy, Oligometastatic breast cance

Impact of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant in patients with myeloid neoplasms carrying spliceosomal mutations

Molecular predictors of outcome are increasingly important in determining optimal therapy for myeloid neoplasms. Mutations in the spliceosomal genes (U2AF1 and SRSF2) predict for poor outcomes in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and related diseases. We investigated the effect of hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) on the negative prognostic impact of U2AF1 and SRSF2 mutations. In total, 122 patients with MDS (30%), acute myeloid leukemia (51%), myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) (11%), and MDS/MPN (8%) receiving a HCT from 2003 to 2012 were evaluated for mutations in U2AF1 and SRSF2 by direct sequencing. Median time of follow up was 24 months (range 0.46-110). SRSF2 mutations were detected in 11 (10%) patients and U2AF1 in 3 (3%) patients. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between mutated and wild-type (WT) patients. Patients carrying SRSF2 and U2AF1 mutations had similar overall survival (P = 0.84), relapse mortality (P = 0.50), and non-relapse mortality (P = 0.72) compared to WT patients. However, taking into account disease status and cytogenetics in a subset of AML patients, SRSF2 and U2AF1 mutations were associated with worse survival (HR 3.71, P = 0.035)

Impact of Day 28 Absolute Lymphocyte Count on Outcome of Adult Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Abstract Introduction: Lymphocyte recovery after induction chemotherapy (IC) predicts outcome in adult patients (pts) with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (Behl et al. Leukemia 2006; 20: 29-34). However, it is unknown whether absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) recovery after IC predicts outcome in those pts who are then treated with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (AHCT) in first complete remission (CR1). We hypothesized that the prognostic impact of ALC might be nullified by AHCT in CR1 due to the abrogation of normal immunologic recovery. In this study, our aims were to (1) evaluate the impact of Day 28 ALC on all AML pts receiving IC and (2) to specifically, evaluate the impact of Day 28 ALC on the subset of AML pts proceeding to AHCT in CR1. Methods: A retrospective chart review of 180 adult AML pts (≥ 18 years of age) who were treated with IC during the years 2001- 2012 at the Cleveland Clinic was performed. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained. Pts with acute promyelocytic leukemia were excluded . Ninety-four of the 180 pts received AHCT in CR1. A total of 141 AML pts receiving IC and a total of 66 pts receiving IC and then receiving AHCT in CR1 were eligible for data analysis because Day 28 ALC was missing in the remainder of the pts. Prior studies in AML identified an ALC of < 500/ µL at Day 28 of IC as predictive of overall survival. We stratified Day 28 ALC into the following categories: (a)< 250/ µL (b) < 350/ µL (c) < 500/ µL and (d) < 500/ µL for Max ALC [Max ALC was defined as the maximum ALC value between days 26 and 30 after the initiation of IC]. Other variables collected included age at diagnosis, WBC at diagnosis, and cytogenetic (CG) risk. CG risk was ascribed by CALBG criteria. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to summarize overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS), which were measured for all pts from the time of diagnosis. The log-rank test was used for univariate analysis of categorical factors and the Cox proportional hazards model was used for measured factors and multivariate analysis. We performed two separate analyses : one for all AML pts (n=141); and a second analysis only focusing on those receiving AHCT in CR1 (n=66). Results: Pt characteristics for the entire AML cohort: The median age was 58.0 years (20.0-80.0); 46.1% female. The median WBC at diagnosis was 11.6 K / µL (range 0.7-220.7) and median Day 28 ALC was 400/ µL (0-2.4). Twenty-seven pts (19.7%) had favorable CG, 84 (61.3%) intermediate, and 26 (19.0%) unfavorable. Most pts (91%) received "7+3" IC and 93 (66%) also received at least 1 cycle of post-remission chemotherapy. On univariate analysis, age ≥60 (HR 2.72, p< 0.001), CG risk (HR 2.13, p < 0.001), Day 28 ALC < 250/ µL (HR 1.60, p=0.022), Day 28 ALC < 350/ µL (HR 1.57, p=0.029), and max ALC < 500/ µL (HR 1.54, p=0.035) were associated with a worse OS from the initiation of treatment. Low ALC was associated with both a higher incidence of refractory disease and death during induction (p=0.015). In our second analysis of pts undergoing AHCT in CR1, although not statistically significant, max ALC < 500/ µL (during IC) was associated with a trend towards decreased OS from the start of treatment on both univariate (HR 1.88,p= 0.13) and multivariate (HR 2.16, p=0.075) analysis. Conclusions: Max ALC < 500/ µL is predictive of outcome in AML pts undergoing IC, and there is a suggestion that this effect may not be abrogated by AHCT. A larger study will be needed to further confirm these findings. Therapies to improve lymphocyte recovery may be important in the treatment of AML. Disclosures Sekeres: Boehringer-Ingelheim Corp: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen Corp: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees