Background The role of up-front consolidation for newly diagnosed, transplant eligible MM (NDMM) patients (pts) has not yet been prospectively addressed in the novel agents era. Methods The EMN02/HO95 trial was designed to randomly (R) compare (R1) 4 cycles of bortezomib-melphalan-prednisone (VMP) vs high-dose melphalan (HDM) and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), either single or double, as intensification therapy after induction with bortezomib-cyclophosphamide-dexamethasone (VCD) (M Cavo et al, ASCO 2016, abstract #8000). A second randomization to consolidation therapy with 2 cycles of VRD vs no consolidation (R2) was performed after intensification, to be followed by lenalidomide maintenance (lenalidomide 10 mg continuously) until progression or toxicity in both arms. (VRD: bortezomib 1.3 mg/m2 intravenously days 1, 4, 8, 11; lenalidomide 25 mg orally days 1 - 21; dexamethasone 20 mg orally days 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12 of a 28 days cycle). Primary study end points were progression-free survival (PFS) from R1 and PFS from R2. A first planned interim analysis for R2 was performed in July 2016 when at least 33% (= 172) of the required events for PFS had been observed. Results From February 2011 to April 2014, 1510 pts aged ≤ 65 years with symptomatic MM were enrolled, of whom 1499 were eligible. Of these, 1211 were randomized (stratification by ISS stage) to VMP (505 pts) or HDM (1 or 2 ASCT) (706 pts). For R2 903 eligible patients were randomized to consolidation (459 pts) or no consolidation (444 pts). Median follow up from R2 was 25 months (maximum 53). Response status at time of R2 was ≥ CR (23%), ≥ VGPR (67%), ≥ PR (93%), and will be updated for status at start of maintenance. At the time of analysis, 258 events for PFS after R2 had been reported. 3-year. PFS from R2 was 62% in all patients, i.e., 60% without consolidation and 65% in patients with consolidation, and median PFS had not yet been reached. PFS from R2 with adjustment for R1 was prolonged in pts randomized to VRD (HR=0.78; 95% CI=0.61-1.00; P=0.045), a benefit retained across predefined subgroups with revised ISS stage III (HR=0.67; P=0.26) and in patients randomized in R1 to VMP (HR=0.76; P=0.19) and to HDM (HR=0.79; P=0.13). The benefit of consolidation was observed in patients with low-risk cytogenetics (HR=0.68; P=0.03), but not in patients with high-risk cytogenetics (del(17p) and/or t(4;14) and/or t(14;16); HR=1.03; P=0.91). At 3 years OS from R2 was 86% and 87%, respectively. Toxicity from VRD was limited with 5% CTCAE grade 4, mainly hematological. Conclusions Consolidation treatment with VRD followed by Lenalidomide maintenance until progression or toxicity shows promising results as compared to maintenance alone for younger NDMM pts, but further study follow-up is needed. This trial was registered at www.trialregister.nl as NTR 2528, EudraCT 2009-017903-28 This trial was supported by unrestricted grants from Celgene and Janssen. Disclosures Sonneveld: Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria. Dimopoulos:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Genesis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Carella:Millenium: Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Speakers Bureau. Ludwig:Janssen: Speakers Bureau; BMS: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Driessen:janssen: Consultancy; celgene: Consultancy; Mundipharma-EDO: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Gay:Celgene: Honoraria; Mundipharma: Other: Advisory Board; Amgen: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria; Janssen-Cilag: Other: Advisory Board; Takeda: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board. Mellqvist:Mundipharma: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Zweegman:Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding. Schjesvold:Janssen: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Palumbo:Takeda: Employment, Honoraria; Janssen Cilag: Honoraria. Cavo:Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria.

The faster hematopoietic recovery after autologous peripheral blood SCT (APBSCT) in patients with AML may be offset by an increased relapse risk as compared with autologous BMT (ABMT). The EORTC and GIMEMA Leukemia Groups conducted a trial (AML-10) in which they compared, as second randomization, APBSCT and ABMT in first CR patients without an HLA compatible donor. A total of 292 patients were randomized. The 5-year DFS rate was 41% in the APBSCT arm and 46% in the ABMT arm with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.17; 95% confidence interval = 0.85-1.59; P = 0.34. The 5-year cumulative relapse incidence was 56% vs 49% (P = 0.26), and the 5-year OS 50% and 55% (P = 0.6) in the APBSCT and ABMT groups, respectively. APBSCT was associated with significantly faster recovery of neutrophils and platelets, shorter duration of hospitalization, reduced need of transfusion packed RBC and less days of intravenous antibiotics. In both treatment groups, higher numbers of mobilized CD34+ cells were associated with a significantly higher relapse risk irrespective of the treatment given after the mobilization. Randomization between APBSCT and ABMT did not result in significantly different outcomes in terms of DFS, OS and relapse incidence.

Summary The most effective post-remission treatment to maintain complete remission (CR) in adults aged between 46 and 60 years with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is uncertain. Previously untreated patients with AML in CR after induction chemotherapy with daunorubicin and cytarabine were randomized between two intensive courses of consolidation therapy containing high-dose cytarabine, combined with amsacrine or daunorubicin and a standard consolidation and maintenance therapy containing standard dose cytarabine and daunorubicin. One hundred fifty-eight CR patients were assigned to the intensive group and 157 patients to the standard group. After a median follow-up of 7.5 years, the 4-year survival rate was 32 % in the intensive group versus 34 % in the standard group ( P = 0.29). In the intensive group, the 4-year relapse incidence was lower than in the standard group: 55 and 75 %, respectively ( P = 0.0003), whereas treatment-related mortality incidence was higher: 22 versus 3 % ( P < 0.0001). Two intensive consolidation courses containing high-dose cytarabine as post-remission treatment in patients with AML aged between 46 and 60 years old did not translate in better long-term outcome despite a 20 % lower relapse incidence. Better supportive care and prevention of treatment-related complications may improve the overall survival after intensified post-remission therapy in this age group.

This report describes our experience with various techniques for the freezing of platelet-rich plasma, removed from the final product after leukapheresis procedures performed on 14 hematological patients. A total of 194 platelet units were frozen for subsequent autologous transfusion, by the following four methods: (1) 6% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO); (2) a combination of 5% DMSO/6% hydroxyethyl starch; (3) 3% glycerol; (4) 5% glycerol/4% glucose. Each technique was evaluated by measuring the percentage of platelet recovery, malondialdehyde (MDA) production, and lactate dehydrogenase release. To investigate the safety and therapeutic effectiveness of the previously frozen platelets, in vivo comparison of four platelet freezing methods was made in 8 thrombocytopenic patients, using corrected platelet increment (CCI), determined at 24 h. Our in vitro results indicate that the cryopreservation with 6% DMSO, without controlled cooling rate, provides significantly (p less than 0.05) greater platelet recovery (75%) as compared to other systems. The decrease of MDA production and the increase in plasma lactate measured after the thawing process was less in the DMSO-frozen units than in the other platelet units. When platelets, cryopreserved by this method, were subsequently transfused into patients, a significantly better CCI (greater than 5,000/microliters) was obtained. In our series, 6 patients were entirely supported with frozen autologous platelets. It appears from this study that a better understanding of the physical and biochemical events occurring during the freezing process will improve platelet cryopreservation, allowing a more systematic use of frozen platelets in the support of thrombocytopenic patients.

A single dose of 200 mg/day rufloxacin was investigated for preventing infection and for its impact on the commensal flora in a pilot study of 62 patients undergoing cytotoxic treatment for cancer. No infection caused by Gram-negative bacilli occurred among 54 assessable patients but prophylaxis was replaced by empirical treatment for fever in 19 cases and because of an adverse event, in a further three cases. The remaining 32 patients completed prophylaxis. The number of oral Branhamella spp., faecal Enterobacteriaceae and Bacteriodes spp. were significantly reduced whereas there was little effect of rufloxacin on the numbers of the other oral and faecal microflora. However, resistance to rufloxacin increased among both oral viridans streptococci, coagulase negative staphylococci and the faecal enterococci. These preliminary data suggest that selective oral antimicrobial prophylaxis for patients with cancer might be achieved with once-daily rufloxacin.