Superior outcomes and high-risk features with carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone combination therapy for patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma: Results of the multicenter KMMWP2201 study.

Carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (KRd) combination therapy improves the survival of patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). Nonetheless, evidence on the use of KRd in Asian populations remains scarce. Accordingly, this study aimed at investigating this regimen's efficacy in a large group of patients. This retrospective study included patients with RRMM who were treated with KRd at 21 centers between February 2018 and October 2020. Overall, 364 patients were included (median age: 63 years). The overall response rate was 90% in responseevaluable patients, including 69% who achieved a very good partial response or deeper responses. With a median follow-up duration of 34.8 months, the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 23.4 months and overall survival (OS) was 59.5 months. Among adverse factors affecting PFS, highrisk cytogenetics, extramedullary disease, and doubling of monoclonal protein within 2 to 3 months prior to start of KRd treatment significantly decreased PFS and overall survival (OS) in multivariate analyses. Patients who underwent post-KRd stem cell transplantation (i.e.delayed transplant) showed prolonged PFS and OS. Grade 3 or higher adverse events (AEs) were observed in 56% of the patients, and non-fatal or fatal AE's that resulted in discontinuation of KRd were reported in 7% and 2% of patients, respectively. Cardiovascular toxicity was comparable to that reported in the ASPIRE study. In summary, KRd was effective in a large real-world cohort of patients with RRMM with long-term follow-up. These findings may further inform treatment choices in the treatment of patients with RRMM.

Immunophenotypic classification regarding prognosis in peripheral T cell lymphoma, NOS, and nodal T follicular helper T cell lymphoma, angioimmunoblastic-type.

This study aimed to determine the clinicopathological predictive factors of peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL, NOS), and nodal T-follicular helper cell lymphoma, angioimmunoblastic-type (nTFH, AI-type). In this single-centered, retrospective study, medical records of 59 patients who were diagnosed with PTCL, NOS, or nTFH, AI-type from March 2007 to September 2022 were reviewed. The clinicopathological variables, including immunohistochemistry(IHC) subgroups, distinguishing TBX21 from the GATA3 subgroups were analyzed. Overall, 28 patients (75.7%) in the TBX21 group were PTCL, NOS. There were 9 (24.3%) patients in the GATA3 group. In univariable analyses, lymphoma subtype, age, and performance status were associated with progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). In multivariable analyses, lymphoma subtype, and performance status were related to PFS and OS (P = 0.012, P < 0.001, P = 0.006, and P < 0.001, respectively). The GATA3 subgroup tended to have a worse prognosis in univariable analyses; however, it became more insignificant in multivariable when lymphoma subtype and performance status were adjusted (P = 0.065, P = 0.180, P = 0.972, and P = 0.265, respectively). The double-positive group showed variable prognoses of better PFS and worse OS. PD-1 and PD-L1 were associated with the EBV in situ hybridization (P = 0.027, and P = 0.005), and PD-1 was associated with CD30 expression (P = 0.043). This study demonstrated the potential of IHC classification to predict prognosis for PTCL, NOS, as well as nTFH AI-type, although further validation is necessary. Treatments targeting CD30, PD-1, and PD-L1 appear promising for lymphoma treatment.

Tixagevimab/cilgavimab (AZD7442/Evusheld) prevent from COVID19 in patients with hematologic malignancies under active chemotherapy.

Despite the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, patients with hematologic malignancy may still be fatal from COVID19. Therefore, we prospectively performed the analysis of administration of tixagevimab/cilgavimab in the real-world. In August 2022, 94 patients under active chemotherapy for lymphoma, multiple myeloma, or acute leukemia received a single dose AZD7442/Evusheld (two consecutive intramuscular injections of tixagevimab and cilgavimab, 300 mg each). Quantitative measurement of anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (anti-S) and viral nucleocapsid (anti-N) titers were conducted before administration of tixagevimab/cilgavimab and at 1, 3, and 6 months after administration. Twenty-five patients (26.6%) had previously confirmed COVID-19 infection. Fifty-eight patients (61.7%) had previously received COVID-19 vaccinations, with a median of two doses (range, 1-5). The median anti-S Ab level increased from baseline (997.05 AU/mL) to 1 month (20,967.25 AU/mL), then decreased at 3 months (13,145.0 AU/mL), and 6 months (7123.0 AU/mL) (p < 0.001). There was no significant safety issue with tixagevimab/cilgavimab. With a median follow-up time of 6 months, thirteen patients (13.8%) had documented SARS-Cov-2 infection. A 20.2% rate of anti-N positivity was observed six months after the administration of tixagevimab/cilgavimab. The results of this study support the potential role of tixagevimab/cilgavimab for the prevention of symptomatic and severe COVID-19.Trial registration: KCT0007617; August 16, 2022.

Nation-Wide Retrospective Analysis of Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Multiple Myeloma: A Study from Korean Multiple Myeloma Working Party (KMM1913).

PURPOSE: The role of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) in multiple myeloma (MM) treatment remains controversial. We conducted a retrospective, multicenter, nationwide study in Korea to evaluate the outcomes of alloSCT in Asian patients with MM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Overall, 109 patients with MM who underwent alloSCT between 2003 and 2020 were included in this study. Data were collected from the Korean Multiple Myeloma Working Party Registry. RESULTS: The overall response rate and stringent complete response plus complete response (CR) rates were 67.0 and 46.8%, respectively, after alloSCT. At a median follow-up of 32.5 months, the 3-year probability of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 69.3% and 71.8%, respectively. The 3-year probabilities of OS rates in the upfront alloSCT, tandem auto-alloSCT, and later alloSCT groups were 75.0%, 88.9%, and 61.1%, respectively. Patients who achieved CR before or after alloSCT had significantly longer OS (89.8 vs. 18 months and 89.8 vs. 15.2 months, respectively). Even though patients who did not achieve CR prior to alloSCT, those who achieve CR after alloSCT had improved PFS and OS compared to those who had no achievement of CR both prior and after alloSCT. Patients who underwent alloSCT with 1-2 prior treatment lines had improved PFS (22.4 vs. 4.5 months) and OS (45.6 vs. 15.3 months) compared to those with three or more prior treatment lines. CONCLUSION: AlloSCT may be a promising therapeutic option especially for younger, chemosensitive patients with earlier implementation from relapse.

Research use only and cell population data items obtained from the Beckman Coulter DxH800 automated hematology analyzer are useful in discriminating MDS patients from those with cytopenia without MDS.

We investigated the performance of research use only/cell population data (RUO/CPD) items obtained from the Beckman Coulter DxH800 automated hematologic analyzer in discriminating MDS patients from cytopenic patients without MDS.Total of 14 routine CBC, 18 research use only (RUO) items, and 70 CPD items were obtained retrospectively at diagnosis. The results were then compared between 94 MDS patients and 100 cytopenic patients without MDS. In items with statistically significant differences, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed and the results were compared.Four CBC/RUO items [red cell distribution width-standard deviation (RDW-SD), immature reticulocyte fraction (IRF), mean sphered cell volume (MSCV), high light scatter reticulocytes (HLR)], and two CPD items [mean volume of neutrophils (NE-V-Mean) and mean volume of early granulated cells (EGC-V-Mean)] showed area-under the curve (AUC) scores > 0.750. Notably, four RUO/CPD items (MSCV > 81.4/HLR > 0.15%/NE-V-Mean > 145/EGC-V-Mean > 156) showed high sensitivity (91.9%/93.6%/88.1%/90.2%, respectively) in discriminating MDS patients from cytopenic patients without MDS. With these six items, scores ≥ 4 (defined as ≥ 4 items exceeding cutoff values out of six items) showed AUC scores/sensitivity/specificity/accuracy (0.891/87.3%/79.0%/83.0%, respectively).Six CBC/RUO/CPD items showed satisfactory AUC scores of > 0.750, and four RUO/CPD items showed high sensitivity in discriminating MDS patients from cytopenic patients without MDS. Scoring system with six items showed high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy with decision criteria of ≥ 4 scores. Therefore, DxH800 RUO/CPD items would be useful in discriminating MDS patients from cytopenic patients without MDS.