A phase II trial of ponatinib and blinatumomab in adults with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome–positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL).

Authors

null

Nicholas James Short

Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Nicholas James Short , Elias Jabbour , Nitin Jain , Walid Macaron , Xuelin Huang , Guillermo Montalban-Bravo , Tapan M. Kadia , Naval Guastad Daver , Fadi Haddad , Marianne Zoghbi , Cedric Christophe Nasnas , Lewis Fady Nasr , Ejiroghene Mayor , Wuliamatu Deen , Jennifer Thankachan , Christopher Loiselle , Rebecca Garris , Marina Konopleva , Farhad Ravandi , Hagop M. Kantarjian

Organizations

Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Research Funding

Institutional Funding
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Takeda and Amgen

Background: Ponatinib and blinatumomab are both active in Ph+ ALL. A combination of these agents may lead to durable remissions when given in the frontline setting and may eliminate the need for chemotherapy or stem cell transplant (SCT). Methods: In this phase II study, patients (pts) with newly diagnosed Ph+ ALL received up to 5 cycles of blinatumomab in combination with ponatinib, followed by ponatinib maintenance for at least 5 years. Ponatinib 30mg daily was given during cycle 1 and decreased to 15mg daily once a complete molecular response (CMR) was achieved. Pts also received 12 doses of prophylactic IT chemotherapy. Results: Between 2/2018 and 1/2023, 54 pts were with newly diagnosed Ph+ ALL were treated. Baseline characteristics are shown in the table. Among 35 pts evaluable for hematologic response, 23 (97%) achieved CR/CRi; 1 pt had early death. Among 48 pts evaluable for molecular response, 34 (71%) achieved CMR after 1 cycle, and 43 (90%) achieved CMR at any time. After 2 weeks of therapy, 18/35 tested pts (51%) achieved CMR in the peripheral blood. 34/38 tested pts (89%) achieved MRD negativity by next-generation sequencing at a level of 10-6. Four of these pts who were MRD-negative by NGS had detectable low-level BCR:ABL1 transcripts by PCR at the same time (ranging from 0.01% to 0.05%). The median follow-up is 16 months (range, 1-55 months). Three patients relapsed after a median of 9 months of remission (range, 8-23 months), 1 in bone marrow with new E225V mutation and 2 extramedullary-only. Three pts have died (1 from intracranial hemorrhage, 1 from post-procedural hemorrhage, and 1 from brain aneurysm). There have been no leukemia-related deaths, the estimated 2-year EFS and OS are both 90%. Only 1 pt underwent SCT in first remission; this pt was transplanted due to persistently low-level BCR:ABL1 positivity. Among the 47 pts in ongoing remission without SCT, the median duration of response is 15 months. Most side effects were grade 1-2 and were consistent with the known toxicity profile of the two agents. Ponatinib was discontinued in 2 patients due to possibly related adverse events (CVA and coronary stenosis in 1 pt each). Conclusions: The chemotherapy-free combination of ponatinib and blinatumomab is safe and effective in newly diagnosed Ph+ ALL, with high rates of MRD negativity. Encouraging duration of remission and OS has been observed without the need for SCT. Clinical trial information: NCT03263572.

Baseline characteristics.

Characteristic
N (%) / median [range]
N=54
Age (years)
>60 years
56 [20-83]
21 (39)
WBC (x109/L) at start4.6 [0.4-23.7]
Performance Status
0-1
2

44 (81)
10 (19)
CNS involvement3 (6)
CD19 expression99.8 [74.9-100]
>1 cardiovascular risk factor(s)31 (57)
BCR:ABL1 transcript type
p190
p210

41 (76)
13 (24)

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2023 ASCO Annual Meeting

Session Type

Publication Only

Session Title

Publication Only: Hematologic Malignancies—Leukemia, Myelodysplastic Syndromes, and Allotransplant

Track

Hematologic Malignancies

Sub Track

Acute Leukemia

Clinical Trial Registration Number

NCT03263572

Citation

J Clin Oncol 41, 2023 (suppl 16; abstr e19013)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2023.41.16_suppl.e19013

Abstract #

e19013

Abstract Disclosures