Belantamab Mafodotin, Pomalidomide, and Dexamethasone in Multiple Myeloma.

BACKGROUND: Triplet or quadruplet therapies incorporating proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulators, and anti-CD38 antibodies have led to prolonged survival among patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma; however, most patients have a relapse. Frontline lenalidomide therapy has increased the number of patients with lenalidomide-refractory disease at the time of the first relapse. METHODS: In this phase 3, randomized, open-label trial, we evaluated belantamab mafodotin, pomalidomide, and dexamethasone (BPd), as compared with pomalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (PVd), in lenalidomide-exposed patients who had relapsed or refractory myeloma after at least one line of therapy. The primary end point was progression-free survival. Disease response and safety were also assessed. RESULTS: A total of 302 patients underwent randomization; 155 were assigned to the BPd group, and 147 to the PVd group. At a median follow-up of 21.8 months (range, <0.1 to 39.2), the 12-month estimated progression-free survival with BPd was 71% (95% confidence interval [CI], 63 to 78), as compared with 51% (95% CI, 42 to 60) with PVd (hazard ratio for disease progression or death, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.37 to 0.73; P<0.001). Data on overall survival were immature. The percentage of patients with a response to treatment (partial response or better) was 77% (95% CI, 70 to 84) in the BPd group and 72% (95% CI, 64 to 79) in the PVd group; 40% (95% CI, 32 to 48) and 16% (95% CI, 11 to 23), respectively, had a complete response or better. Grade 3 or higher adverse events occurred in 94% of the patients in the BPd group and 76% of those in the PVd group. Ocular events occurred in 89% of the patients who received BPd (grade 3 or 4 in 43%) and 30% of those who received PVd (grade 3 or 4 in 2%); ocular events in the BPd group were managed with belantamab mafodotin dose modification. Ocular events led to treatment discontinuation in 9% of the patients in the BPd group and in no patients in the PVd group. CONCLUSIONS: Among lenalidomide-exposed patients with relapsed or refractory myeloma, BPd conferred a significantly greater benefit than PVd with respect to progression-free survival, as well as deeper, more durable responses. Ocular events were common but were controllable by belantamab mafodotin dose modification. (Funded by GSK; DREAMM-8 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04484623; EudraCT number, 2018-004354-21.).

Insight into the mechanism of CD34+ cell mobilisation impairment in multiple myeloma patients treated with anti-CD38 therapy.

Induction therapy followed by CD34+ cell mobilisation and autologous transplantation represents standard of care for multiple myeloma (MM). However, the anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies daratumumab and isatuximab have been associated with mobilisation impairment, yet the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of three different regimens (dara-VCd, isa-KRd and VTd) on CD34+ cells using flow cytometry and transcriptomics. Decreased CD34+ cell peak concentration and yields, longer collection and delayed engraftment were reproduced after dara-VCd/isa-KRd versus VTd induction in 34 patients in total. Using flow cytometry, we detected major changes in the proportion of apheresis product and bone marrow CD34+ subsets in patients treated with regimens containing anti-CD38 therapy; however, without any decrease in CD38high B-lymphoid progenitors in both materials. RNA-seq of mobilised CD34+ cells from 21 patients showed that adhesion genes are overexpressed in CD34+ cells after dara-VCd/isa-KRd and JCAD, NRP2, MDK, ITGA3 and CLEC3B were identified as potential target genes. Finally, direct in vitro effect of isatuximab in upregulating JCAD and CLEC3B was confirmed by quantitative PCR. These findings suggest that upregulated adhesion-related interactions, rather than killing of CD34+ cells by effector mechanisms, could be leading causes of decreased mobilisation efficacy in MM patients treated with anti-CD38 therapy.

Real-World Evidence on Prognostic Value of MRD in Multiple Myeloma Using Flow Cytometry.

Minimal residual disease (MRD) is one of the most important prognostic factors in multiple myeloma (MM) and a valid surrogate for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Recently, MRD negativity was approved as an early clinical endpoint for accelerated drug approval in MM. Nevertheless, there is limited evidence of MRD utility in real-world setting. In this retrospective multicenter study, we report outcomes of 331 newly diagnosed MM patients with MRD evaluation at Day+100 after autologous stem cell transplantation using flow cytometry with a median limit of detection of 0.001%. MRD negativity was reached in 47% of patients and was associated with significantly prolonged median PFS (49.2 months vs. 18.4 months; hazard ratios (HR) = 0.37; p < 0.001) and OS (not reached vs. 74.9 months; HR = 0.50; p = 0.007). Achieving MRD negativity was associated with PFS improvements regardless of age, International Staging System (ISS) stage, lactate dedydrogenase (LDH) level, or cytogenetic risk. Importantly, MRD positive patients benefited from lenalidomide maintenance versus no maintenance (18-months PFS: 81% vs. 46%; HR = 0.24; p = 0.002) while in MRD negative patients such benefit was not observed (p = 0.747). The outcomes of our real-world study recapitulate results from clinical trials including meta-analyses and support the idea that MRD positive patients profit more from lenalidomide maintenance than MRD negative ones.

Daratumumab with lenalidomide and dexamethasone in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma patients - real world evidence analysis.

We performed real world evidence (RWE) analysis of daratumumab, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (Dara-Rd) versus lenalidomide and dexamethasone (Rd) treatment in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients (RRMM). In total, 240 RRMM patients were treated with Dara-Rd from 2016 to 2022 outside of clinical trials in all major Czech hematology centers. As a reference, 531 RRMM patients treated with Rd were evaluated. Patients' data were recorded in the Czech Registry of Monoclonal Gammopathies (RMG). Partial response (PR) or better response (ORR) was achieved in significantly more patients in Dara-Rd than in Rd group (91.2% vs. 69.9%; p < 0.001). The median progression free survival (PFS) was 26.9 months in the Dara-Rd and 12.8 months in the Rd group (p < 0.001). Median overall survival (OS) was not reached in the Dara-Rd compared to 27.2 months in the Rd group (p = 0.023). In patients with 1-3 previous treatment lines, there was significant PFS benefit of Dara-Rd compared to Rd (median PFS not reached vs. 13.2 months; p < 0.001). In patients with > 3 previous treatment lines, there was no significant PFS benefit of Dara-Rd treatment (7.8 months vs. 9.9 months; p = 0.874), similarly in patients refractory to PI + IMIDs (11.5 months vs. 9.2 months; p = 0.376). In RWE conditions, the median PFS in RRMM patients treated with Dara-Rd is shorter when compared to clinical trials. In heavily pretreated RRMM patients, efficacy of Dara-Rd treatment is limited; best possible outcomes of Dara-Rd are achieved in minimally pretreated patients.

Superiority of ceftazidime off-label high-dose regimen in PK/PD target attainment during treatment of extensively drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in cancer patients.

AIM: The objective of this study was to evaluate off-label high-dose ceftazidime population pharmacokinetics in cancer patients with suspected or proven extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections and then to compare the achievement of the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) target after standard and off-label high-dose regimens using population model-based simulations. A further aim was to clinically observe the occurrence of adverse effects during the off-label high-dose ceftazidime treatment. METHODS: In patients treated with off-label high-dose ceftazidime (3 g every 6 h), blood samples were collected and ceftazidime serum levels measured using LC-MS/MS. A pharmacokinetic population model was developed using a nonlinear mixed-effects modelling approach and Monte Carlo simulations were then used to compare standard and high-dose regimens for PK/PD target attainment. RESULTS: A total of 14 cancer patients with serious infection suspected of XDR P. aeruginosa aetiology were eligible for PK analysis. XDR P. aeruginosa was confirmed in 10 patients as the causative pathogen. Population ceftazidime volume of distribution was 13.23 L, while clearance started at the baseline of 1.48 L/h and increased by 0.0076 L/h with each 1 mL/min/1.73 m2 of eGFR. High-dose regimen showed significantly higher probability of target attainment (i.e., 86% vs. 56% at MIC of 32 mg/L). This was translated into a very low mortality rate of 20%. Only one case of reversible neurological impairment was observed. CONCLUSION: We proved the superiority of the ceftazidime off-label high-dose regimen in PK/PD target attainment with very low occurrence of adverse effects. The off-label high-dose regimen should be used to optimize treatment of XDR P. aeruginosa infections.

Identification of patients at high risk of secondary extramedullary multiple myeloma development.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by malignant plasma cell infiltration of the bone marrow. In extramedullary multiple myeloma (EMD), a subclone of these cells migrates out of the bone marrow. Out of 4 985 MM patients diagnosed between 2005 and 2017 in the Czech Republic, we analyzed 234 secondary EMD patients to clarify risk factors of secondary EMD development. We found younger age [<65 years; odds ratio (OR) 4·38, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2·46-7·80, P < 0·0001], high lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels (>5 µkat/l; OR 2·07, 95% CI: 1·51-2·84, P < 0·0001), extensive osteolytic activity (OR 2·21, 95% CI: 1·54-3·15, P < 0·001), and immunoglobulin A (IgA; OR 1·53, 95% CI: 1·11-2·11, P = 0·009) or the non-secretory type of MM (OR 2·83; 95% CI: 1·32-6·04, P = 0·007) at the time of MM diagnosis to be the main risk factors for secondary EMD development. Newly diagnosed MM (NDMM) patients with subsequent EMD had inferior median progression-free (PFS) and overall (OS) survival when compared to NDMM patients without future EMD [mPFS: 13·8 months (95% CI: 11·4-16·3) vs 18·8 months (95% CI: 17·7-19·9), P = 0·006; mOS: 26·7 months (95% CI: 18·1-35·4) vs 58·7 months (95% CI: 54·8-62·6), P < 0·001]. We found that NDMM patients with specific risk factors associated with secondary EMD development have a more aggressive disease course before secondary EMD develops.

Real-world evidence of efficacy and safety of pomalidomide and dexamethasone in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients: Czech registry data.

We assessed the outcomes of pomalidomide and dexamethasone treatment in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) patients with ≥1 prior line of therapy. We analyzed the data of all RRMM patients treated with pomalidomide and dexamethasone at nine Czech centers between 2013 and 2018. The source of the data was the Registry of Monoclonal Gammopathies of the Czech Republic. Primary endpoints included response rates based on International Myeloma Working Group criteria and survival measures, including progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints were toxicities and previous treatment patterns, including refractory to lenalidomide, and their impact on final outcomes. The overall response rate was 51.8% and the clinical benefit rate (including patients with minimal response) was 67.1%, with 0.6% of complete responses, 8.5% of very good partial responses, and 42.1% of partial responses (PR). Overall, 16.5% of patients had a minimal response, and 32.3% had stable disease /progression. Median PFS was 8.8 months and the median OS was 14.2 months. In patients who achieved ≥PR, the median PFS and OS were significantly longer compared to non-responders (median PFS (12.1 vs. 4.5 months, p≤0.001 respectively), median OS (22.1 vs. 7.7 months, p≤0.001, respectively). The most frequent adverse events (AEs) were neutropenia (29.9%) and anemia (18.9%), non-hematological AEs included infections (14.6%) and fatigue (7.3%). Our analysis confirmed the effectiveness of pomalidomide and dexamethasone in a real-world setting. This therapy achieved reasonable outcomes comparable to the data from clinical trials even though this was an unbiased cohort of patients.

Survival benefit of ixazomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (IRD) over lenalidomide and dexamethasone (Rd) in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients in routine clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: We have performed a head to head comparison of all-oral triplet combination of ixazomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (IRD) versus lenalidomide and dexamethasone (RD) in patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) in the routine clinical practice. METHODS: A total of 344 patients treated with IRD (N = 127) or RD (N = 217) were selected for analysis from the Czech Registry of Monoclonal Gammopathies (RMG). Descriptive statistics were used to assess patient's characteristics associated with the respective therapy. The primary endpoint was progression free survival (PFS), secondary end points included response rates and overall survival (OS). Survival endpoints were plotted using Kaplan-Meier methodology at 95% Greenwood confidence interval. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the effect of treatment regimens and the significance of uneven variables. Statistical tests were performed at significance level 0.05. RESULTS: In the whole cohort, median PFS for IRD was 17.5 and for RD was 11.5 months favoring the all-oral triplet, p = 0.005; in patients within relapse 1-3, the median PFS was 23.1 vs 11.6 months, p = 0.001. The hazard ratio for PFS was 0.67 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.51-0.89, p = 0.006). The PFS advantage translated into improved OS for patients treated with IRD, median 36.6 months vs 26.0 months (p = 0.008). The overall response rate (ORR) was 73.0% in the IRD group vs 66.2% in the RD group with a complete response rate (CR) of 11.1% vs 8.8%, and very good partial response (VGPR) 22.2% vs 13.9%, IRD vs RD respectively. The IRD regimen was most beneficial in patients ≤75 years with ISS I, II, and in the first and second relapse. Patients with the presence of extramedullary disease did not benefit from IRD treatment (median PFS 6.5 months). Both regimens were well tolerated, and the incidence of total as well as grade 3/4 toxicities was comparable. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis confirms the results of the TOURMALINE-MM1 study and shows benefit of all-oral triplet IRD treatment versus RD doublet. It demonstrates that the addition of ixazomib to RD improves key survival endpoints in patients with RRMM in a routine clinical setting.

Bortezomib-based therapy for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients ineligible for autologous stem cell transplantation: Czech Registry Data.

OBJECTIVES: This study compared the use of bortezomib in different combination regimens in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients who were transplant ineligible. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed data from the Registry of Monoclonal Gammopathies (RMG) of the Czech Myeloma Group (CMG) to provide real-world evidence of outcome for 794 newly diagnosed MM transplant ineligible patients. The most frequently used regimen was VCd (bortezomib-cyclophosphamide-dexamethasone) (47.5%) over VMP (bortezomib-melphalan-prednisone) (21.7%), BDd (bortezomib-doxorubicin-dexamethasone) (9.8%), and VTd (bortezomib-thalidomide-dexamethasone) (2.9%). RESULTS: The overall response rate (ORR) was 69.2% (478/691), including 12.6% (≥ CR); 34.7% very good partial responses (VGPR); and 21.9% partial responses (PR). Among triplet regimens, VMP was the most effective regimen compared to VCd, BDd, and VTd. Median PFS was 22.3 vs. 18.5 vs. 13.7 vs. 13.8 mo, (P = .275), respectively, and median OS was 49 vs. 41.7 vs. 37.9 vs. 32.2 mo (P = .004), respectively. The most common grade 3-4 toxicities were anemia in 17.4% and infections in 18% of patients. CONCLUSION: Our study confirmed that bortezomib-based treatment is effective and safe in NDMM transplant ineligible patients, especially VMP, which was identified as superior between bortezomib-based induction regimens not only in clinical trials, but also in real clinical practice.

Identification of patients with smouldering multiple myeloma at ultra-high risk of progression using serum parameters: the Czech Myeloma Group model.

Smouldering multiple myeloma (SMM) presents without MM defining symptoms. We aimed to identify patients with SMM with an 80% risk of progression within 2 years using only serum parameters. In total, 527 patients with SMM were included and divided into a training group (287 patients from the Czech Myeloma Group [CMG]) and an independent validation group (240 patients from Heidelberg). The median follow-up was 2·4 and 2·5 years, respectively. Progression to MM occurred in 51·9% of the CMG and 38·8% of the Heidelberg patients, respectively. The median risk of progression was 11·0% (CMG) and 9·7% (Heidelberg) per year, during the 5 years after diagnosis. A serum involved/uninvolved free light-chain ratio of >30, immunoparesis, and serum monoclonal (M) protein of ≥2·3 g/dl emerged as powerful predictors of 2-year progression rate with a hazard ratio (HR) of 2·49 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1·49-4·17), HR of 2·01 (95% CI 1·36-2·96) and HR of 2·00 (95% CI 1·44-2·79) (P < 0·001) in univariate Cox regression analysis, respectively. Based on this, the CMG model identified patients with SMM with a 2-year risk of progression of 78·7% (95% CI 53·1-95·7; HR 6·8; P < 0·001, CMG) and 81·3% (95% CI 47·1-98·8; HR 38·63; P < 0·001, Heidelberg). Serum parameters in the CMG model allow identification of patients with SMM with an 80% risk of progression to symptomatic MM within 2 years.

A multicenter retrospective study of 223 patients with t(14;16) in multiple myeloma.

The t(14;16) translocation, found in 3%-5% of newly diagnosed (ND) multiple myeloma (MM), has been associated with adverse outcomes. However, the studies establishing the characteristics of t(14;16) included solely small cohorts. The goal of the current international, multicenter (n = 25 centers), retrospective study was to describe the characteristics and outcomes of t(14;16) patients in a large, real-world cohort (n = 223). A substantial fraction of patients had renal impairment (24%) and hemoglobin <10 g/dL (56%) on initial presentation. Combined therapy of both immunomodulatory drug and proteasome inhibitor (PI) in the first line was used in 35% of patients. Autologous stem cell transplantation was performed in 42% of patients. With a median follow up of 4.1 years (95% CI 3.7-18.7), the median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) from first line therapy were 2.1 years (95% CI 1.5-2.4) and 4.1 years (95% CI 3.3-5.5), respectively. Worse OS was predicted by age > 60 years (HR = 1.65, 95% CI [1.05-2.58]), as well as revised International Scoring System (R-ISS) 3 (vs R-ISS 2; HR = 2.59, 95% CI [1.59-4.24]). In conclusion, based on the largest reported cohort of t(14;16) patients, quarter of this subset of MM patients initially presents with renal failure, while older age and the R-ISS 3 predict poor survival.

Improved laboratory diagnostics of Streptococcus pneumoniae in respiratory tract samples through qPCR.

The aim of this study was to test the detection performance of the cpsA, lytA and ply genes through qPCR in the identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae in respiratory tract samples. Specificity was tested on a panel of 128 streptococci and other bacteria DNA samples. The qPCR assay was tested on a total of 51 respiratory tract samples from patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The specificity of the cpsA, lytA and ply genes was 100%, 100%, and 86%, respectively. The quantitative assessment, based on lytA, determined a cutoff value of ~2x104, 4x102 and 4x102 DNA copies per 1 mL of valid sputum, tracheal aspirate and bronchial aspirate samples, respectively. The results from the present study suggest that qPCR detection of all three genes would be optimal in the accurate detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Development and validation of a novel risk stratification algorithm for relapsed multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignancy with varying survival outcomes and drivers of disease progression. Existing MM staging tools were developed using data from newly diagnosed patients. As patient characteristics and disease-related factors change between diagnosis and the initiation of second-line (2L) treatment, an unmet need exists for a tool that can evaluate risk of death at first relapse. We have developed a risk stratification algorithm (RSA) using data from patients with MM who were at 2L. Hazard ratios for independent predictors of overall survival (OS) were derived from a Cox models, and individual patient scores were calculated for total risk. K-adaptive partitioning for survival was used to stratify patients into groups based on their scores. Relative risk doubled with ascending risk group; median OSs for patients in group 1 (lowest risk)-4 (highest risk) were 61·6, 29·6, 14·2 and 5·9 months, respectively. Differences in OS between risk groups were significant. Similar stratification was observed when the RSA was applied to an external validation data set. In conclusion, we have developed a validated RSA that can quantify total risk, frailty risk and disease aggressiveness risk, and stratify patients with MM at 2L into groups with profoundly different survival expectations.

Hematogenous extramedullary relapse in multiple myeloma - a multicenter retrospective study in 127 patients.

The current study assesses the characteristics and outcomes of multiple myeloma (MM) patients, treated with novel agents for hematogenous extramedullary (HEMM) relapse. Consecutive patients diagnosed with HEMM between 2010-2018 were included. Patients' characteristics at diagnosis and at HEMM presentation, response to treatment, survival and factors predicting survival were recorded and analyzed. A group of 127 patients, all diagnosed with HEMM by imaging (87.3%) and/or biopsy (79%), were included. Of those, 44% were initially diagnosed with ISS3, 57% presented with plasmacytomas, and 30% had high-risk cytogenetics. Median time to HEMM was 32 months. In multivariate analysis, ISS3 and bone plasmacytoma predicted shorter time to HEMM (P = .005 and P = .008, respectively). Upfront autograft was associated with longer time to HEMM (P = .002). At HEMM, 32% of patients had no BM plasmacytosis, 20% had non-secretory disease and 43% had light-chain disease. Multiple HEMM sites were reported in 52% of patients, mostly involving soft tissue, skin (29%), and pleura/lung (25%). First treatment for HEMM included proteasome inhibitors (50%), immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) (39%), monoclonal antibodies (10%), and chemotherapy (53%). Overall response rate (ORR) was 57%. IMiDs were associated with higher ORR (HR 2.2, 95% CI 1.02-4.7, P = .04). Median survival from HEMM was 6 months (CI 95% 4.8-7.2). Failure to achieve ≥VGPR was the only significant factor for worse OS in multivariate analyses (HR = 9.87, CI 95% 2.35 - 39, P = .001). In conclusion, HEMM occurs within 3 years of initial myeloma diagnosis and is associated with dismal outcome. The IMiDs might provide a higher response rate, and achievement of ≥VGPR predicts longer survival.

Outcome of a Salvage Third Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Multiple Myeloma.

To evaluate the outcomes of salvage third autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma. We analyzed 570 patients who had undergone a third ASCT between 1997 and 2010 (European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation data), of whom 482 patients underwent tandem ASCT and a third ASCT at first relapse (AARA group) and 88 patients underwent an upfront ASCT with second and third transplantations after subsequent relapses (ARARA group). With a median follow-up after salvage third ASCT of 61 months in the AARA group and 48 months in the ARARA group, the day +100 nonrelapse mortality in the 2 groups was 4% and 7%, the incidence of second primary malignancy was 6% and 7%, the median progression-free survival was 13 and 8 months, and median overall survival (OS) was 33 and 15 months. In the AARA group, according to the relapse-free interval (RFI) from the second ASCT, the median OS after the third ASCT was 17 months if the RFI was <18 months, 37 months if the RFI was between 18 and 36 months, and 64 months if the RFI was ≥36 months (P < .001). In the ARARA group, the median OS after the third ASCT was 7 months if the RFI was <6 months, 13 months if the RFI was between 6 and 18 months, and 27 months if the RFI was ≥18 months (P < .001). In a multivariate analysis of the AARA group, the favorable prognostic factor was an RFI after second ASCT of ≥18 months. Progressive disease and a Karnofsky Performance Status score of <70 at third ASCT were unfavorable factors. A salvage third ASCT is of value for patients with relapsed myeloma, particularly for those with a long duration of response and chemosensitive disease at the time of transplantation.

Prognostic indicators in primary plasma cell leukaemia: a multicentre retrospective study of 117 patients.

We report a multicentre retrospective study that analysed clinical characteristics and outcomes in 117 patients with primary plasma cell leukaemia (pPCL) treated at the participating institutions between January 2006 and December 2016. The median age at the time of pPCL diagnosis was 61 years. Ninety-eight patients were treated with novel agents, with an overall response rate of 78%. Fifty-five patients (64%) patients underwent upfront autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). The median follow-up time was 50 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 33; 76), with a median overall survival (OS) for the entire group of 23 months (95% CI 15; 34). The median OS time in patients who underwent upfront ASCT was 35 months (95% CI 24·3; 46) as compared to 13 months (95% CI 6·3; 35·8) in patients who did not receive ASCT (P = 0·001). Multivariate analyses identified age ≥60 years, platelet count ≤100 × 109 /l and peripheral blood plasma cell count ≥20 × 109 /l as independent predictors of worse survival. The median OS in patients with 0, 1 or 2-3 of these risk factors was 46, 27 and 12 months, respectively (P < 0·001). Our findings support the use of novel agents and ASCT as frontline treatment in patients with pPCL. The constructed prognostic score should be independently validated.

Human polyomavirus 9 in immunocompromised patients in the University Hospital in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.

Human polyomaviruses such as JC polyomavirus and BK polyomavirus have long been well known pathogens of immunocompromised patients. Several new members of this viral family have been described during the last decade. Human polyomavirus 9 seems to be a novel pathogen of transplanted patients according to some studies. The aim of our study was to determine the presence of human polyomavirus 9 in patients after kidney or stem cell transplantation (SCT) at the University Hospital in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. Overall 100 patients, 65 after kidney transplantation and 35 after SCT, were included into the study. At least three follow-up samples from each patient were examined for human polyomavirus 9 DNA presentation with the two previously described in-house PCR protocols. Despite the frequent reactivation of human CMV (14.3% in kidney transplantation and 63.3% after SCT) or BK polyomavirus in our patient group, there was no positivity for human polyomavirus 9 either in blood samples or urine samples. One of the possible reasons for this discrepancy versus previous published studies could be a relatively low proportion of patients treated by induction therapy before kidney transplantation in our study cohort.

A first Czech analysis of 1887 cases with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance.

INTRODUCTION: Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is a premalignant condition with a risk of malignant conversion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: With the aim to estimate the cumulative risk MGUS progression to hematologic malignancies, we analyzed a nationwide population-based cohort of 1887 MGUS patients from the Czech Registry of Monoclonal Gammopathies (RMG) between 2007 and 2013. RESULTS: During the follow-up period (median 4 years; range 0.6-34.8), progression to hematologic malignancies was observed in 8.6% (162 of 1887) of patients. Factors associated with progression were as follows: M-protein concentration ≥1.5 g/dL, pathological sFLC (<0.26 or >1.65) ratio, bone marrow plasma cells (BMPCs) in cytology >5%, immunoparesis, age ≥69 years, and the level of serum hemoglobin at baseline <12.0 g/dL. Combining these factors, we propose a new risk model (CMG model). The risk of progression at 10 years was 1.6%, 16.9%, 22.9%, 39.4%, and 52.3%, respectively, if 0 (reference group), one, two, three, or four to five risk factors are present (P<.001) with HR 63 times higher compared to the reference MGUS group. CONCLUSION: The new CMG model was established with an advantage for better identification of MGUS patients at low risk.

Treatment of Multifocal Multisystem BRAF Positive Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis with Cladribine, Surgery and Allogenic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a very rare disease in adults and as well a very rare cause of sellar expansion. The clinical presentation can be heterogeneous, from a single bone lesion to potentially fatal, widespread disease. We describe the difficulties with the diagnosis and treatment of LCH as well as successful treatment with cladribine chemotherapy and allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

[Valvular heart disease in relation to the treatment of hyperprolactinemia with dopamine agonists]. / Chlopenní vady pri lécbe hyperprolaktinemie dopaminovými agonisty.

Adverse effect of dopamine agonists on the heart valves aroused much attention some time ago. Gradually, as data accumulated, the approach to the problem was rationalised and further examinations were only recommended in indicated cases. The paper reviews the current knowledge about the treatment of hyperprolactinemia with dopamine agonists and the risk of valvular disease.Key words: dopamine agonists - ergolines/adverse effects - heart valve diseases - hyperprolactinemia - pituitary neoplasms - prolactinoma.