Multivariate time-dependent comparison of the impact of lenalidomide in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes with chromosome 5q deletion.

The impact of lenalidomide treatment on long-term outcomes of patients with lower risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and chromosome 5q deletion (del(5q)) is unclear. This study used time-dependent multivariate methodology to analyse the influence of lenalidomide therapy on overall survival (OS) and acute myeloblastic leukaemia (AML) progression in 215 patients with International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) low or intermediate-1 risk and del(5q). There were significant differences in several relevant characteristics at presentation between patients receiving (n = 86) or not receiving lenalidomide (n = 129). The 5-year time-dependent probabilities of OS and progression to AML were 62% and 31% for patients receiving lenalidomide and 42% and 25% for patients not receiving lenalidomide; differences were not statistically significant in multivariate analysis that included all variables independently associated with those outcomes (OS, P = 0·45; risk of AML, P = 0·31, respectively). Achievement of RBC transfusion independency (P = 0·069) or cytogenetic response (P = 0·021) after lenalidomide was associated with longer OS in multivariate analysis. These data clearly show that response to lenalidomide results in a substantial clinical benefit in lower risk MDS patients with del(5q). Lenalidomide treatment does not appear to increase AML risk in this population of patients.

Real-World Evidence of Daratumumab Monotherapy in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma Patients and Efficacy on Soft-Tissue Plasmacytomas.

INTRODUCTION: Daratumumab is an anti-CD38 agent that was first investigated as single agent in GEN501 and SIRIUS trials in patients with advanced multiple myeloma (MM). Overall response rate (ORR) was 30% with positive impact on progression-free survival (PFS). However, there is a lack of information regarding plasmacytoma response. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Here, we described a heavily pretreated group of 43 patients who received daratumumab monotherapy after EMA approval and focused on plasmacytoma response. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 26 months, median time to best response was 2.9 months (range 0.8-13.1), median PFS was 5.2 months (95% CI 2.5 - 8.8) and median OS was 11.2 months (95% CI 6.3 - 17.0). Patients who achieved at least partial response had longer median PFS and OS (12.8 and 20.2 months, respectively) than those who achieved minimal response or stable disease (5.3 and 11.2 months, respectively). Ten patients (23%) had plasmacytomas (70% paraskeletal, 30% extramedullary). The clinical benefit for patients with and without plasmacytomas was 20% versus 42%. A dissociation between serological and plasmacytoma response was observed in 40% of the patients. Thus, 50% of the patients with plasmacytomas achieved at least serological minimal response but only 20% had plasmacytoma response. CONCLUSION: This is the first real-world study of daratumumab monotherapy that focuses on efficacy data regarding soft-tissue plasmacytomas in patients with relapsed/refractory mieloma, showing a limited benefit in this patient population.