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Background: In adults with B-ALL, multi-agent combination chemotherapy produce high complete remission (CR) rates of 80-90%, but a significant proportion of patients relapse and the long-term cure rate is 40-50%. Monoclonal antibodies have improved survival in B-ALL both in the frontline and relapsed/refractory (R/R) setting. Blinatumomab (Blina) is a bispecific T-cell engaging (BiTE) CD19-CD3 antibody effective in the treatment of R/R B-ALL and for eradication of measurable residual disease (MRD). Better outcomes are observed when Blina is administered earlier in the course of the disease. We hypothesized that early incorporation of Blina in sequential combination with the Hyper-CVAD regimen in newly diagnosed B-ALL would improve the rates of MRD eradication, decrease the need for intensive chemotherapy, and improve survival. Methods: This is a single-arm phase 2 clinical trial for patients (pts) ≥ 14 year-old with newly diagnosed B-ALL. Untreated pts or pts who had received ≤ 1 course of chemotherapy with PS of 0-3 and normal organ function are eligible. The treatment protocol consists of 4 alternating cycles of Hyper-CVAD and high-dose methotrexate (MTX) / cytarabine (AraC) followed by 4 consecutive cycles of Blina. Pts with CD20+ B-ALL (≥ 1% cells) receive 8 doses of rituximab (375 mg/m2) or ofatumumab (2000 mg); all pts receive 8 prophylactic intrathecal injections of MTX and AraC during the Hyper-CVAD cycles. The maintenance phase consists of 12 cycles of POMP. Blina is administered as a maintenance in all pts after every 3 cycles of POMP for 3 cycles. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) is offered for high-risk pts. On June 5th 2017 after treating 10 patients, the protocol was amended: pts with high-risk features (i.e. Ph-like ALL, complex karyotype, t(4;11), low-hypodiploidy / near triploidy [Ho-Tr] or persistent MRD+) start Blina earlier after 2 cycles of Hyper-CVAD. The primary outcome is relapse-free survival (RFS) and secondary outcomes include CR rates, MRD negativity (MRD-) rates and overall survival (OS). MRD is assessed by 6-color multiparameter flow cytometry with a sensitivity of 10-4. Safety is evaluated by frequency and grading of adverse events according to the CTCAE v4.0. Results: As of July 3rd 2019, 27 pts were enrolled and treated, including 5 pts who were already in CR at study entry. The baseline characteristics of the pts are summarized in Table 1. The median age was 38 years (range, 18-59). Twenty (74%) pts had CD20+ expression. Fifteen (56%) pts had high-risk features at baseline: 9 (33%) with TP53 mutation, 4 (15%) with Ph-like, 5 (19%) with Ho-Tr, 1 (4%) with t(4;11) and 1 (4%) with complex karyotype. The overall CR rate was 100% with 18/22 (82%) achieved CR after 1 cycle of Hyper-CVAD. The median time to CR was 23 days (range, 16-100). MRD negativity was achieved in 26/27 (96%) pts, of them 16/22 (73%) pts after 1 cycle of Hyper-CVAD. The only patient who did not achieve MRD- has not received Blina on protocol because of relapse after 4 cycles of Hyper-CVAD. Pts have received a median of 3 cycles (range, 2-4) of Hyper-CVAD and 2 cycles (range, 0-4) of Blina. Eight (30%) pts have undergone HSCT for high-risk features. With a median follow-up of 17 months (range, 2-30), 4 relapses and 2 deaths were reported. One patient died from pulmonary complications after HSCT and one patient died of sepsis during re-induction chemotherapy after relapse. The 12-month estimated RFS was 76% (95% CI, 60-97%) (Figure 1) and the 12-month estimated OS was 89% (95% CI, 76-100%) (Figure 2). The 60-day mortality rate was 0% and no death has been reported during Hyper-CVAD + Blina treatment. Grade 3-4 neurological adverse events related to Blina were reported in 4/23 (17%) pts and one grade 3 cytokine release syndrome was reported. These events were all manageable and reversible with dexamethasone and Blina interruption. Treatment has been resumed without recurrence in all but one patient with recurring grade 2 dysphasia and confusion who required discontinuation of Blina therapy. Reduction in the number of Hyper-CVAD cycles allowed to decrease the incidence of myelosuppression and febrile neutropenia. Conclusion: The sequential combination of Hyper-CVAD and Blina in newly diagnosed B-ALL is safe and highly effective. This regimen produced CR in all pts and MRD eradication in 96% of pts. The preliminary survival outcomes are favorable. The study continues to accrue patients. Disclosures Kantarjian: Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Ariad: Research Funding; Daiichi-Sankyo: Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria; Agios: Honoraria, Research Funding; Astex: Research Funding; Cyclacel: Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; Actinium: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Immunogen: Research Funding; Jazz Pharma: Research Funding; AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding. Short:Takeda Oncology: Consultancy, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Amgen: Honoraria. Ravandi:Macrogenix: Consultancy, Research Funding; Selvita: Research Funding; Cyclacel LTD: Research Funding; Menarini Ricerche: Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Xencor: Consultancy, Research Funding. Garcia-Manero:Astex: Consultancy, Research Funding; Onconova: Research Funding; H3 Biomedicine: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Amphivena: Consultancy, Research Funding; Helsinn: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding. Cortes:Merus: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Astellas Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Forma Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Biopath Holdings: Consultancy, Honoraria; Immunogen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Sun Pharma: Research Funding; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; BiolineRx: Consultancy; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Research Funding. Jain:AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Precision Biosciences: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Verastem: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Cellectis: Research Funding; Servier: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pharmacyclics, an AbbVie company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Konopleva:Eli Lilly: Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Cellectis: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; F. Hoffman La-Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Genentech: Honoraria, Research Funding; Ascentage: Research Funding; Kisoji: Consultancy, Honoraria; Reata Pharmaceuticals: Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties; Ablynx: Research Funding; Astra Zeneca: Research Funding; Agios: Research Funding; Forty-Seven: Consultancy, Honoraria; Stemline Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Calithera: Research Funding. Takahashi:Symbio Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy. Sasaki:Otsuka: Honoraria; Pfizer: Consultancy. Wierda:Genentech: Research Funding; GSK/Novartis: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics LLC: Research Funding; Acerta Pharma Inc: Research Funding; Gilead Sciences: Research Funding; Oncternal Therapeutics Inc.: Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; Miragen: Research Funding; Xencor: Research Funding; Juno Therapeutics: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Loxo Oncology Inc.: Research Funding; KITE pharma: Research Funding; Sunesis: Research Funding; Cyclcel: Research Funding. Jabbour:Adaptive: Consultancy, Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Cyclacel LTD: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding. OffLabel Disclosure: Blinatumomab is not approved for the treatment of newly diagnosed untreated acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Background Multi-agent combination chemotherapy regimens for the treatment of ALL are considered a cancer success story in the pediatric setting. For adults, the same magnitude of success has not been realized using similar strategies. These regimens produce high complete remission (CR) rates of 80-90% but the cure rates are 40-50%. The incorporation of targeted agents (tyrosine kinase inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies) has improved survival and cure rates in adult ALL subsets. Blinatumomab, a bispecific T-cell engaging (BiTE) CD19-CD3 antibody, is effective in patients with relapsed/refractory disease and in patients with measurable residual disease (MRD). Better outcomes were obtained when blinatumomab was administered earlier in the course of the disease. We hypothesized that incorporating blinatumomab in sequential combination with Hyper-CVAD in previously untreated patients with ALL would improve the eradication of MRD, decrease the need for intensive chemotherapy, and improve survival. Methods Patients were eligible to participate in this phase 2 single-arm study if they were at least 14 years old, had newly diagnosed untreated Philadelphia-negative B-ALL or B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma, had ECOG performance status (PS) of 0-3, and normal liver, kidney and cardiac function. Patients in CR after one prior course of chemotherapy were also eligible. Therapeutic regimen consisted of 4 alternating cycles of Hyper-CVAD (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin and dexamethasone, cycles 1 & 3) and high-dose methotrexate/cytarabine (cycles 2 & 4) followed by 4 consecutive cycles of blinatumomab (4 weeks every 6 week-cycle). All patients received 8 prophylactic intrathecal injections with methotrexate and cytarabine during the first 4 cycles of treatment. Additionally, patients with CD20+ ALL (≥ 1% cells) received a total of 8 doses of rituximab (375 mg/m2) or ofatumumab (2000 mg) during the hyper-CVAD cycles. Maintenance phase consisted of POMP (6-mercaptopurine, vincristine, methotrexate, prednisone) on cycles 1-3, 5-7, 9-11 and 13-15 alternating with blinatumomab on cycles 4, 8 and 12. The primary outcome was relapse-free survival (RFS) and secondary outcomes were overall survival (OS), overall response rate and MRD negativity rate. Results To date, 17 patients were treated, three of them enrolled in CR after 1 cycle of Hyper-CVAD. Patient's characteristics are summarized in Table 1. Median age is 43 years (range, 20-59). All but one patient had CD20 expression. Six patients (35%) had TP53 mutations. Four patients (24%) had low hypodiploidy-near triploidy. One patient (6%) had CRLF2 overexpression. All 14 evaluable patients achieved CR for an overall response rate of 100%. Minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity, assessed by 6-color multicolor flow, was achieved in 93% of the patients after one cycle of therapy. No early death within 6 weeks was reported. Patients have received a median of 4 cycles (1-4) of chemotherapy and 4 cycles (0-4) of blinatumomab. Two patients had early relapse during the Hyper-CVAD cycles after 2 and 4 cycles, respectively. Three patients underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) (1 with histiocytic proliferation in the bone marrow, 1 with t(4;11) and 1 with CRLF2+ ALL). A total of 14 patients have initiated the blinatumomab phase. Nine patients received the total 8 courses of hyper-CVAD and blinatumomab and are currently receiving maintenance in CR. The treatment was well tolerated. Grade 3-4 adverse events attributed to blinatumomab occurred in 2 patients (12%) and were manageable and reversible. One patient developed transient Grade 3 cytokine release syndrome and one had Grade 3 ataxia. Both recovered after holding blinatumomab therapy and dexamethasone administration. Treatment was resumed thereafter with no recurrence. With a median follow up of 14 months (range, 3-20 months), 16 patients (94%) are alive (14 of them in first CR); one patient died after HSCT of a transplant-related complication. The 1-year RFS rate was 77% (95% CI 42-93%) (Figure 1A) and the 1-year OS rate was 90% (95% CI 47-99%) (Figure 1B). Conclusion The sequential combination of Hyper-CVAD and blinatumomab in newly diagnosed adult patients with B-ALL is safe and highly effective. These early results are favorable. The study continues to accrue patients. Disclosures Short: Takeda Oncology: Consultancy. Ravandi:Abbvie: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Macrogenix: Honoraria, Research Funding; Orsenix: Honoraria; Orsenix: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Jazz: Honoraria; Xencor: Research Funding; Macrogenix: Honoraria, Research Funding; Jazz: Honoraria; Sunesis: Honoraria; Astellas Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Xencor: Research Funding; Astellas Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Sunesis: Honoraria. Cortes:Astellas Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Research Funding; Arog: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding. Jain:BMS: Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding; Servier: Research Funding; Astra Zeneca: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Verastem: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Infinity: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Infinity: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Cellectis: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Adaptive Biotechnologioes: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astra Zeneca: Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Servier: Research Funding; Astra Zeneca: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Verastem: Research Funding; Verastem: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Cellectis: Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Adaptive Biotechnologioes: Research Funding; Servier: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novimmune: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astra Zeneca: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Verastem: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; ADC Therapeutics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Servier: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novimmune: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Konopleva:Stemline Therapeutics: Research Funding. Sasaki:Otsuka Pharmaceutical: Honoraria. Jabbour:Abbvie: Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Research Funding.

Background: For patients (pts) with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-negative B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), combination chemotherapy achieves complete remission rates of 80-90%; however, many pts ultimately relapse, leading to a cure rate of only 40-50%. Blinatumomab is highly effective in both the relapsed/refractory setting and for eradication of measurable residual disease (MRD). We hypothesized that early incorporation of blinatumomab in pts with newly diagnosed Ph-negative B-cell ALL would decrease the need for intensive chemotherapy, lead to deeper and more durable responses, and improve survival. Methods: Pts 14-59 years of age with newly diagnosed Ph-negative pre-B-cell ALL, including pts who had received no more than 1 prior cycle of chemotherapy, were eligible. Pts were required to have a performance status of ≤3, total bilirubin ≤2 mg/dl and creatinine ≤2 mg/dl. Pts received hyper-CVAD alternating with high-dose methotrexate and cytarabine for up to 4 cycles, followed by 4 cycles of blinatumomab at standard doses. Pts with CD20+ disease (≥1% cells) received 8 doses of ofatumumab (2000 mg) or rituximab (375 mg/m2). Eight administrations of prophylactic IT chemotherapy were given in the first 4 cycles. Maintenance was with alternating blocks of POMP (given in maintenance cycles 1-3, 5-7, 9-11, and 13-15) and blinatumomab (given in maintenance cycles 4, 8, and 12). After 2 pts with high-risk features experienced early relapse prior to blinatumomab administration, for pts #10+ the protocol was amended so that pts with high-risk disease features (e.g. CRLF2+ by flow cytometry, complex karyotype, KMT2A rearranged, low-hypodiploidy/near triploidy, TP53 mutation, or persistent MRD) started blinatumomab after 2 cycles of hyper-CVAD. Results: 39 pts have been treated, 34 of whom are evaluable for efficacy (5 too early for assessment). 6 pts were in complete remission (CR) at enrollment and unevaluable for morphologic response. Pt characteristics of the 34 evaluable pts are summarized in Table 1. Median age was 36 years (range, 17-59 years). At least one high-risk feature was present in 19 pts (56%), including TP53 mutation in 27%, CRLF2+ in 20%, and an adverse-risk karyotype in 26%. 82% of pts received ofatumumab or rituximab. Among 28 pts with active disease at study entry, 100% achieved CR, with 82% achieving CR after the first cycle. MRD negativity by 6-color flow cytometry was achieved in 20/23 responding pts (87%) after 1 cycle and 33/34 pts (97%) overall. There were no early deaths, and the 60-day mortality rate was 0%. With a median follow-up of 22 months (range, 1-40 months), the 2-year continuous remission and OS rates were 79% and 86%, respectively (Figure 1). Overall, 5 pts (15%) relapsed, 12 (35%) underwent allogeneic SCT in first remission (including 1 additional pt who relapsed post-SCT), and 17 (50%) remain in continuous remission and are currently on treatment or have completed maintenance. All relapses occurred in pts with established poor-risk features, including 2 pts with KMT2A rearrangement, 2 pts with TP53 mutation (1 of whom was low hypodiploid), and 1 pt with baseline WBC count of 32 x 109/L. Two of these relapses occurred during hyper-CVAD cycles before the amendment allowing for earlier integration of blinatumomab for pts with high-risk disease features. Treatment was overall well-tolerated. Four pts developed grade 2-3 cytokine release syndrome (grade 2, n=3; grade 3, n=1) which resolved with corticosteroids and interruption of blinatumomab. Overall, 14 (41%) pts had a neurological AE of any grade due to blinatumomab. Only one pt discontinued blinatumomab due to blinatumomab-related adverse event (grade 2 encephalopathy and dysphasia). Conclusion: Sequential combination of hyper-CVAD and blinatumomab is highly effective as frontline treatment of Ph-negative B-cell ALL, with a CR rate of 100% and 97% of pts achieving MRD negativity. Survival data are promising with an estimated 2-year OS of 86%, which compares favorably to historical controls. This study continues to accrue pts. Disclosures Short: Astellas: Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria; AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Takeda Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Kantarjian:Jazz: Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Daiichi-Sankyo: Honoraria, Research Funding; Oxford Biomedical: Honoraria; Aptitute Health: Honoraria; BioAscend: Honoraria; Delta Fly: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Actinium: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Immunogen: Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; Adaptive biotechnologies: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria, Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Ascentage: Research Funding. Ravandi:Astellas: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Macrogenics: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Xencor: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Orsenix: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Kadia:Abbvie: Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Honoraria, Research Funding; Cyclacel: Research Funding; Astellas: Research Funding; Cellenkos: Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Pulmotec: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Genentech: Honoraria, Research Funding; Ascentage: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; JAZZ: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria; Astra Zeneca: Research Funding. Thompson:Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Consultancy, Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy; Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria; AbbVie: Research Funding. Alvarado:Tolero Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Daiichi-Sankyo: Research Funding; Astex Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Sun Pharma: Research Funding; BerGenBio ASA: Research Funding; MEI Pharma: Research Funding; FibroGen: Research Funding. Jain:Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Precision Bioscienes: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Fate Therapeutics: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; AbbVie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Genentech: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Servier: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Cellectis: Research Funding; Verastem: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BeiGene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Aprea Therapeutics: Research Funding. Yilmaz:Pint Pharma: Honoraria; Pfizer: Research Funding; Daicho Sankyo: Research Funding. Konopleva:Calithera: Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy; Reata Pharmaceutical Inc.;: Patents & Royalties: patents and royalties with patent US 7,795,305 B2 on CDDO-compounds and combination therapies, licensed to Reata Pharmaceutical; Agios: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Research Funding; Cellectis: Research Funding; Stemline Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Forty-Seven: Consultancy, Research Funding; Rafael Pharmaceutical: Research Funding; Eli Lilly: Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Research Funding; Ascentage: Research Funding; F. Hoffmann La-Roche: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kisoji: Consultancy; Sanofi: Research Funding; Ablynx: Research Funding. Garcia-Manero:AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Research Funding; Astex Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Acceleron Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amphivena Therapeutics: Research Funding; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Merck: Research Funding; H3 Biomedicine: Research Funding; Helsinn Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Onconova: Research Funding. O'Brien:Amgen, Astellas, Celgene, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen Oncology, Aptose Biosciences Inc. Vaniam Group, AbbVie, Alexion, Verastem, Eisai, Juno Therapeutics, Vida Ventures: Consultancy; Kite, Regeneron, Acerta: Research Funding; Gilead, Pharmacyclics, TG Therapeutics, Pfizer, Sunesis: Consultancy, Research Funding. Jabbour:Takeda: Other: Advisory role, Research Funding; AbbVie: Other: Advisory role, Research Funding; Pfizer: Other: Advisory role, Research Funding; Genentech: Other: Advisory role, Research Funding; BMS: Other: Advisory role, Research Funding; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Other: Advisory role, Research Funding; Amgen: Other: Advisory role, Research Funding. OffLabel Disclosure: Blinatumomab - frontline therapy for ALL

Background The outcome of hyperfractionated cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone plus ofatumumab hyper‐CVAD + ofatumumab (hyper‐CVAD + ofatumumab) has not been compared with the outcome of hyperfractionated cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone plus ofatumumab hyper‐CVAD plus rituximab (hyper‐CVAD + Rituximab) in Philadelphia chromosome–negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in a randomized clinical trial. Methods The authors compared the outcomes of 69 patients treated with hyper‐CVAD + ofatumumab and 95 historical‐control patients treated with hyper‐CVAD + Rituximab. Historical‐control patients were treated with hyper‐CVAD + Rituximab if they had CD20 expression ≥ 20%. Ofatumumab (day 1 of course 1, 300 mg intravenously; subsequent doses, 2000 mg intravenously) was administered on days 1 and 11 of courses 1 and 3 and on days 1 and 8 of courses 2 and 4 for a total of 8 doses. A propensity score analysis with inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was performed to adjust for baseline covariates between groups. Results The median event‐free survival with stem cell transplantation (SCT) censoring was 33 and 65 months with hyper‐CVAD + Rituximab and hyper‐CVAD + ofatumumab, respectively (crude P = .064; IPTW P = .054). The median overall survival with SCT censoring was 52 months and not reached, respectively (crude P = .087; IPTW P = .097). Conclusions Hyper‐CVAD + ofatumumab was associated with better outcomes than hyper‐CVAD + Rituximab among patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome–negative ALL.