Abstract: Background: Activating mutations in receptor tyrosine kinases like FLT3 (FLT3mut) lead to an aberrant signal transduction thereby causing an increased proliferation of hematopoietic cells. Internal tandem duplications (FLT3-ITD) or mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain (FLT3-TKD) occur in about 25% of younger adult patients (pts) with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), with FLT3 -ITD being associated with an unfavourable outcome. FLT3mut present an excellent target for small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). The multi-targeted kinase inhibitor midostaurin (PKC412) is currently under investigation as a FLT3-inhibitor in combination with intensive chemotherapy. Monitoring of the efficacy of such a targeted therapy and correlation of the results with clinical outcome will be of major importance. The plasma inhibitor activity (PIA) assay allows the visualization of the level of dephosphorylation of the target under TKI therapy. Preliminary data suggest a correlation between the grade of dephosphorylation, as a marker for the activity of the TKI, and clinical outcome. Aims: To individually measure the level of FLT3 dephosphorylation by PIA analysis in a large cohort of FLT3-ITD AML pts treated within our AMLSG16-10 trial (NCT: NCT01477606) which combines midostaurin with intensive chemotherapy, and to correlate the results with clinical outcome. Methods: Plasma samples from pts (age 18-70 years) with newly diagnosed FLT3-ITD AML were obtained at different time points for PIA analysis. All pts were enrolled on the ongoing AMLSG 16-10 trial applying intensive therapy in combination with midostaurin (50mg twice a day). For consolidation therapy, pts proceeded to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) as first priority; pts not eligible for alloHSCT were intended to receive 3 cycles of age-adapted high-dose cytarabine (HiDAC) in combination with midostaurin from day 6 onwards. In all pts one year of maintenance therapy with midostaurin was intended. PIA analyses were performed at defined time points (day 15 of induction, each consolidation cycle, at the end of each treatment cycle, every 3 months during maintenance therapy) as previously described (Levis MJ, et al. Blood 2006; 108:3477-83). Results: So far, PIA analyses were performed in 63 pts (median age, 51.6 years; range, 20-70 years) during (n=63) and after (n=73) first and second induction cycle, during (n=40) and after (n=53) consolidation therapy with HiDAC as well as during maintenance therapy (n=82). During and after induction therapy median levels of phosphorylated FLT3 (p-FLT3) were 46.6% (4.5-100%, 〈 20% in 7.9%) and 39.4% (0.3-100%, 〈 20% in 20.5%), respectively. Co-medication with azoles had no impact on p-FLT3 levels. In pts with a FLT3-ITD mutant to wildtype ratio above our recently defined cut-off value of 0.5, levels of p-FLT3 〈 20% were associated with a complete remission (CR)-rate of 100%, whereas in those pts with p-FLT3 levels ≥20%, 4 out of 22 pts (18%) had resistant disease. In contrast, response in pts with a mutant to wildtype ratio below 0.5 was independent of the p-FLT3 level. During and at the end of consolidation cycles as well as during maintenance therapy p-FLT3 levels in pts treated with midostaurin were 52% (14.8-100%, 〈 20% in 5%), 63% (7.6-100%, 〈 20% in 7.4%) and 60.2% (11.5-100%, 〈 20% in 3.7%), respectively. In pts concomitantly treated with azoles levels of p-FLT3 were lower without reaching significance. 39 of 63 pts received alloHSCT in first CR; those pts with p-FLT3 levels 〈 20% after induction therapy had an in trend better survival, whereas no impact of phosphorylation levels was evident in pts receiving chemotherapy alone. Conclusion: In our study of FLT3-ITD AML pts treated with midostaurin in combination with intensive chemotherapy we could show that the lowest levels of p-FLT3 were reached during and after induction therapy. In pts with a FLT3-ITD mutant to wildtype ratio 〉 0.5, levels of p-FLT3 〈 20% during and after induction therapy were associated with a high CR-rate. When receiving alloHSCT these pts had an in trend better survival compared to those with p-FLT3 levels 〉 20%. An update of the data will be presented at the meeting. Disclosures Salwender: Celgene: Honoraria; Janssen Cilag: Honoraria; Bristol Meyer Sqibb: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria. Horst:Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Ingleheim: Research Funding; Boehringer: Research Funding; MSD: Research Funding; Gilead: Honoraria, Research Funding. Schlenk:Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Boehringer-Ingelheim: Honoraria; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Daiichi Sankyo: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Teva: Honoraria, Research Funding; Arog: Honoraria, Research Funding.

Abstract: In AML with bialleleic CEBPA-mut relapse-free survival was improved by allogeneic and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. In relapsed patients second complete remission rate was high and survival was favorable after an allogeneic transplantation.

Abstract: Background: Target inhibition of FLT3 by therapy with the recently FDA- and EMA-approved multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) midostaurin can be monitored by plasma inhibitor activity (PIA) analysis by visualizing the level of target-dephosphorylation as previously described. When combining intensive chemotherapy with midostaurin, we have recently shown that the TKI achieves the lowest level of FLT3 phosphorylation (p-FLT3) at the end of the 1st induction cycle, indicating a deep target inhibition. However, sufficient inhibition could not be maintained during subsequent cycles by midostaurin in combination with chemotherapy, but it was reestablished during maintenance therapy with the TKI alone. Recent data indicate that this might be due to an increase in FLT3 ligand (FL) plasma levels induced by concomitant intensive chemotherapy. Aim: To individually measure the plasma levels of FL and to correlate the results with those from PIA analysis at defined time points during treatment in a large cohort of FLT3-ITD AML patients (pts) treated within our AMLSG 16-10 trial (NCT01477606). Methods: FL levels were measured in plasma samples from pts (age 18-70 years) with newly diagnosed FLT3-ITD positive AML obtained at defined time points during therapy in which PIA analyses were also previously performed. All pts were enrolled in the AMLSG 16-10 trial applying intensive standard chemotherapy in combination with midostaurin. For consolidation therapy allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo HCT) was intended whereas pts not eligible for allo HCT received 3 cycles of age-adapted high-dose cytarabine (HiDAC) in combination with midostaurin starting on day 6, followed by one year of midostaurin maintenance therapy for both groups. FL levels were measured at diagnosis, at day 15 and at the end of each treatment cycle, after allo HCT and monthly during maintenance therapy using a Quantikine® ELISA kit obtained from R & D Systems®. Results: So far, we have analyzed 709 plasma samples from 68 pts at the time of diagnosis (n=62), during (day 15, n=73) and after (n=83) 1st and 2nd induction cycle, during (day 15, n=69) and after (n=82) consolidation therapy, after allo HCT (n=36) as well as during maintenance therapy (n=304). The median level of FL at diagnosis was 5.2pg/ml (0 - 66.2pg/ml). At day 15 of the 1st induction cycle FL levels showed a drastic increase (median 1057.3pg/ml; 23.6 - 2287.8pg/ml) which maintained high at day 15 of each following consolidation cycle, up to a maximum of 1696.6pg/ml (133.4 - 2461pg/ml) in median at day 15 of the 3rd consolidation cycle. Interestingly, at this time point p-FLT3 levels in median (80.2%; 32.6 - 100%) reached highest values indicating a loss of target inhibition. Of note, FL levels decreased at the end of each treatment cycle with a median level between 116.6pg/ml (19.7 - 1676.7pg/ml) and 184.5pg/ml (10.4 - 2398.3pg/ml) supporting the hypothesis of an induction of FL secretion during each treatment cycle due to concomitant chemotherapy. Consistent with this hypothesis, median FL levels decreased and stayed low during the 12 months of TKI maintenance therapy without concomitant chemotherapy with the lowest level after month 5 (median 186.7pg/ml; 125.2 - 468.6pg/ml) congruent with our previous results of a decrease in p-FLT3 levels and reestablished target inhibition during maintenance therapy. Interestingly, pts who received allo HCT showed significantly higher median FL levels after 6 months of maintenance therapy than pts who received consolidation chemotherapy (230.3pg/ml; (58.8 - 441pg/ml) vs 169.8pg/ml; (60.6-218.5pg/ml); P=.03). However this has no impact on the median p-FLT3 level at this time point. Conclusions: In our study of FLT3-ITD positive AML pts treated with midostaurin in combination with intensive chemotherapy or allo HCT we could observe a drastic increase of FL plasma levels promptly after start of chemotherapy followed by loss of stable target inhibition. In contrast, during maintenance therapy with the TKI alone FL plasma levels decreased and remained low. This correlated with a decrease of p-FLT3 levels as well indicating target inhibition. Further studies are needed to evaluate if different scheduling of the TKI in combination with chemotherapy might overcome the loss of target inhibition and if this might improve clinical outcome. These pharmacodynamic data may provide support for single-agent TKI maintenance therapy. Disclosures Paschka: Astellas: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Travel support; Agios: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sunesis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jazz: Speakers Bureau; Bristol-Meyers Squibb: Other: Travel support, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Otsuka: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel support, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel support, Speakers Bureau; Astex: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Other: Travel support; Janssen: Other: Travel support; Takeda: Other: Travel support. Fiedler:Amgen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; ARIAD/Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, support for meeting attendance; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Patents & Royalties; Amgen: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Amgen: Other: support for meetíng attendance; Gilead: Other: support for meeting attendance; GSO: Other: support for meeting attendance; Teva: Other: support for meeting attendance; JAZZ Pharmaceuticals: Other: support for meeting attendance; Daiichi Sankyo: Other: support for meeting attendance. Lübbert:Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Other: Travel Grant; Teva: Other: Study drug. Salih:Several patent applications: Patents & Royalties: e.g. EP3064507A1. Schroeder:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Götze:JAZZ Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Other: Travel aid ASH 2017; Novartis: Honoraria. Salwender:Amgen: Honoraria, Other: travel suppport, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Other: travel suppport, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: travel suppport, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Other: travel suppport, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Other: travel support, Research Funding. Schlenk:Pfizer: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Bullinger:Amgen: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Speakers Bureau; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bayer Oncology: Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Speakers Bureau. Ganser:Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Döhner:Pfizer: Research Funding; Agios: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Astex Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; AROG Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Astex Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; AROG Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Astellas: Consultancy, Honoraria; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Astellas: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Jazz: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celator: Consultancy, Honoraria; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celator: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sunesis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Sunesis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Jazz: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria; Agios: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding.

Abstract: Background: Internal tandem duplications (ITD) in the receptor tyrosine kinase FLT3 occur in roughly 25% of younger adult patients (pts) with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The multi-targeted kinase inhibitor midostaurin combined with intensive chemotherapy has shown activity against AML with FLT3 mutations. However, toxicity and potential drug-drug interactions with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors such as posaconazole may necessitate dose reduction. Aims: To evaluate the impact of age and midostaurin dose-adaptation after intensive induction chemotherapy on response and outcome in AML with FLT3-ITD within the AMLSG 16-10 trial (NCT01477606). Methods: The study included adult pts (age 18-70 years (yrs)) with newly diagnosed FLT3-ITD positive AML enrolled in the ongoing single-arm phase-II AMLSG 16-10 trial. Pts with acute promyelocytic leukemia were not eligible. The presence of FLT3-ITD was analyzed within our diagnostic study AMLSG-BiO (NCT01252485) by Genescan-based DNA fragment-length analysis. Induction therapy consisted of daunorubicin (60 mg/m², d1-3) and cytarabine (200 mg/m², continuously, d1-7); midostaurin 50 mg bid was applied from day 8 until 48h before start of the next treatment cycle. A second cycle was allowed in case of partial remission (PR). For consolidation therapy, pts proceeded to allogeneic hematopoietic-cell transplantation (HCT) as first priority; if alloHCT was not feasible, pts received three cycles of age-adapted high-dose cytarabine (HDAC) in combination with midostaurin starting on day 6. In all pts one-year maintenance therapy with midostaurin was intended. The first patient entered the study in June 2012 and in April 2014, after recruitment of n=147 pts, the study was amended including a sample size increase to 284 pts and a dose reduction to 12.5% of the initial dose of midostaurin in case of co-medication with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g. posaconazole). This report focuses on age and the comparison between the first (n=147) and the second cohort (n=137) of the study in terms midostaurin dose-adaptation. Results: Patient characteristics were as follows: median age 54 yrs (range, 18-70; younger, 68% 〈 60 yrs; older, 32% ≥ 60 yrs); median white cell count 44.7G/l (range 1.1-1543 G/l); karyotype, n=161 normal, n=16 high-risk according to ELN recommendations; mutated NPM1 n=174 (59%). Data on response to first induction therapy were available in 277 pts; complete remission (CR) including CR with incomplete hematological recovery (CRi) 60%, PR 20%, refractory disease (RD) 15%, and death 5%. A second induction cycle was given in 54 pts. Overall response (CR/CRi) after induction therapy was 76% (76%, younger; 76%, older) and death 6% (4%, younger; 10% older). The dose of midostaurin during first induction therapy was reduced in 53% and 71% of patients in cohort-1 and cohort-2, respectively. Reasons for dose reduction were in 58% and 49% toxicity, and in 9% and 23% co-medication in cohort-1 and cohort-2, respectively. No difference in response to induction therapy was noted between cohorts (p=0.81). Median follow-up was 18 months. Overall 146 pts received an alloHCT, 128 in first CR (n=94 younger, n=34 older; n=92 from a matched unrelated and n=36 from a matched related donor). In pts receiving an alloHCT within the protocol in median two chemotherapy cycles were applied before transplant (range 1-4). The cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) and death after transplant were 13% (SE 3.2%) and 16% (SE 3.5%) without differences (p=0.97, p=0.41, respectively) between younger and older patients. So far maintenance therapy was started in 86 pts, 61 pts after alloHCT and 25 pts after HDAC. Fifty-five adverse events 3°/4° were reported being attributed to midostaurin; cytopenias after alloHCT were the most frequent (29%). CIR in patients starting maintenance therapy was 20% one year after start of maintenance without difference between alloHCT and HiDAC (p=0.99). In addition, no difference in CIR was identified in patients after consolidation with alloHCT or HDAC according to dose reduction of midostaurin during first induction therapy (p=0.43, p=0.98, respectively). Median overall survival was 25 months (younger, 26 months; older 23 months; p=0.15). Conclusions: The addition of midostaurin to intensive induction therapy and as maintenance after alloHCT or HDAC is feasible and effective without an impact of age and dose adaptation on outcome. Disclosures Schlenk: Amgen: Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding. Fiedler:GSO: Other: Travel; Pfizer: Research Funding; Kolltan: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Other: Travel, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; Gilead: Other: Travel; Ariad/Incyte: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Teva: Other: Travel. Lübbert:Celgene: Other: Travel Funding; Janssen-Cilag: Other: Travel Funding, Research Funding; Ratiopharm: Other: Study drug valproic acid. Greil:Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria; Genentech: Honoraria, Research Funding; Mundipharma: Honoraria, Research Funding; Merck: Honoraria; AstraZeneca: Honoraria; Boehringer-Ingelheim: Honoraria; GSK: Research Funding; Ratiopharm: Research Funding; Cephalon: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria; Bristol-Myers-Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding; Sanofi Aventis: Honoraria; Eisai: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding. Greiner:BMS: Research Funding. Paschka:ASTEX Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Medupdate GmbH: Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Pfizer Pharma GmbH: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria. Heuser:Bayer Pharma AG: Research Funding; Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria; Pfizer: Research Funding; BerGenBio: Research Funding; Tetralogic: Research Funding.

Abstract: To evaluate frequency, biologic features, and clinical relevance of RUNX1 mutations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Patients and Methods Diagnostic samples from 945 patients (age 18 to 60 years) were analyzed for RUNX1 mutations. In a subset of cases (n = 269), microarray gene expression analysis was performed. Results Fifty-nine RUNX1 mutations were identified in 53 (5.6%) of 945 cases, predominantly in exons 3 (n = 11), 4 (n = 10), and 8 (n = 23). RUNX1 mutations clustered in the intermediate-risk cytogenetic group (46 of 640, 7.2%; cytogenetically normal, 34 of 538, 6.3%), whereas they were less frequent in adverse-risk cytogenetics (five of 109, 4.6%) and absent in core-binding-factor AML (0 of 77) and acute promyelocytic leukemia (0 of 61). RUNX1 mutations were associated with MLL-partial tandem duplications (P = .0007) and IDH1/IDH2 mutations (P = .03), inversely correlated with NPM1 (P 〈 .0001), and in trend with CEBPA (P = .10) mutations. RUNX1 mutations were characterized by a distinct gene expression pattern; this RUNX1 mutation-derived signature was not exclusive for the mutation, but also included mostly adverse-risk AML [eg, 7q-, -7, inv(3), or t(3;3)]. RUNX1 mutations predicted for resistance to chemotherapy (rates of refractory disease 30% and 19%, P = .047, for RUNX1-mutated and wild-type patients, respectively), as well as inferior event-free survival (EFS; P 〈 .0001), relapse-free survival (RFS, P = .022), and overall survival (P = .051). In multivariable analysis, RUNX1 mutations were an independent prognostic marker for shorter EFS (P = .007). Explorative subgroup analysis revealed that allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation had a favorable impact on RFS in RUNX1-mutated patients (P 〈 .0001). Conclusion AML with RUNX1 mutations are characterized by distinct genetic properties and are associated with resistance to therapy and inferior outcome.