Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), also known as chronic myelocytic or chronic myeloid leukemia, is a clonal disorder of hematopoiesis that arises in a hematopoietic stem cell or early progenitor cell. This is characterized by the dysregulated production of mature nonlymphoid cells with normal differentiation. Eventually, in spite of the term chronic, there is progression to acute leukemia, usually of the myeloid variety, which is highly resistant to current therapies. Despite recent improvements in the treatment of early-stage disease, CML blast crisis (CMLBC) remains a therapeutic challenge. CMLBC is highly refractory to standard induction chemotherapy, with a response rate in myeloid blast crisis of less than 30%. Conventional chemotherapy has been much less successful in this disease compared with de novo acute leukemia, with a mean survival after diagnosis of blast crisis of only 2 to 4 months for nonresponders. Many regimens of chemotherapies have been tried in CMLBC, with minor success. Although imatinib was evaluated in patients with CMLBC, most CMLBC cases today arise in patients already on imatinib-based therapy and developing blastic phase on that therapy; thus there is no standard therapy for patients with CMLBC. Further studies of the mechanisms of transformation of chronic-phase CMLBC at a molecular level, and methods to target these molecular abnormalities, will determine the future direction of new treatment modalities. The prognosis of CML in blast crisis remains disappointing, despite great efforts. Currently, the most successful strategy for improving survival in CML is by prolonging the chronic phase and delaying the onset of blast crisis.

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Background: ATP is catabolized to adenosine in the tumor microenvironment, leading to excess adenosine and immunosuppressive effects via immune checkpoint protein adenosine 2A receptor (A2AR). NIR178 is an oral A2AR antagonist that selectively binds and inhibits A2AR, reactivating T cell-mediated antitumor immune response. This Phase I/II study evaluated NIR178 in previously treated pts with advanced NSCLC (NCT02403193). Method: Pts (ECOG PS 0-1) had received 1 prior line of therapy; EGFR/ALK pts had failed prior TKI therapy. Objectives: primary e determine MTD of single-agent NIR178; secondary e efficacy endpoints, PK, and evaluation of PD-L1 expression. Result: At 13 Dec 2017 data cut-off, 24 pts had been treated: median age 68 yrs, 46% male; 79% received prior immunotherapy; 22/24 (92%) pts had discontinued (due to progression [n¼13], death [n¼2], AEs [n¼2] or other reasons [n¼5]) and 2/24 (8%) pts remained on treatment. Dose levels evaluated: 80 (n¼3), 160 (n¼3), 320 (n¼7), 480 (n¼6), 640 mg BID (n¼5). There was 1 DLT: Gr 3 nausea (640 mg). The most frequent (20%) any-Gr AEs regardless of causality were nausea (67%), fatigue (63%), dyspnea (46%), vomiting (33%), chest pain and other (29%), gastroesophageal reflux disease, anemia, diarrhea (all 25%), anorexia, back pain, generalized muscle weakness and cough (all 21%). Drug-related Gr 3 AEs were pneumonitis (8%) and nausea (4%); no Gr 4 AEs were reported. Potential immune-related any-Gr AEs were rash (8%), pneumonitis (8%), hypothyroidism, increased ALT/AST (all 4%). NIR178 systemic exposure (Cmax, AUC) increased more than proportionally with dose. Efficacy data for 17/24 treated pts demonstrated responses and SD across the dose range, including 1 confirmed CR (480 mg) and 1 PR (80 mg), both in immunotherapynaïve pts. Durable SD >44 wks with tumor shrinkage was observed in 2 ongoing immunotherapy-exposed pts. Disease control was seen in pts with both high and low baseline PD-L1 expression. Conclusion: NIR178 was well tolerated; AEs were manageable and there were no Gr 4 drug-related AEs. Immune-related AEs may indicate immune stimulation. Clinical benefit was observed in immunotherapy-exposed and -naïve pts irrespective of PD-L1 status.

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