A Focus on Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable plasma cell disorder that affects nearly 35,000 people annually. Over 149,000 individuals are estimated to live in the United States with MM. Research has generated a greater understanding of the pathology of this disease, now combined with mature clinical trial data that support the use of combination therapy in treatment. This article focuses on updated diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of newly diagnosed patients. While the diagnosis of MM remains based on the 2014 International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) guidelines, we review these and updated recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of myeloma as well as relevant supportive care. The prognosis of patients with newly diagnosed MM relies heavily on the cytogenetic profile of the disease, along with other patient-specific risk factors. There are multiple first-line treatment options that combine three or four novel agents with the goal of reducing plasma cell burden and achieving minimal residual disease (MRD) negative status early in the treatment trajectory. Supportive care interventions aimed at minimizing the risk of infection and thromboembolic events, and protecting bone health are critical for maintaining quality of life and are as important as therapeutic treatment interventions.

Triple MAPK inhibition salvaged a relapsed post-BCMA CAR-T cell therapy multiple myeloma patient with a BRAF V600E subclonal mutation.

BACKGROUND: Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a progressive plasma cell neoplasm characterized by heterogeneous clonal expansion. Despite promising response rates achieved with anti-BCMA CAR-T cell therapy, patients may still relapse and there are currently no clear therapeutic options in post-CAR-T settings. In this report, we present a case of a post-BCMA CAR-T relapsed/refractory (RR) MM patient with skin extramedullary disease (EMD) in which a novel MAPK inhibition combinatorial strategy was implemented based on next-generation sequencing and in vitro experiments. CASE PRESENTATION: A 61-year-old male with penta-refractory MM penta- (IgA lambda), ISS stage 3 with hyperdiploidy, gain of 1q21 and del13 was treated with anti-BCMA CAR-T cell therapy, achieving a best response of VGPR. He progressed after 6 months and was salvaged for a short period with autologous stem cell transplantation. Eventually, he progressed with extramedullary disease manifested as subcutaneous nodules. Based on whole-exome sequencing, we identified a BRAF (V600E) dominant subclone in both bone marrow and cutaneous plasmacytoma. Following in vitro experiments, and according to our previous studies, we implemented a triple MAPK inhibition strategy under which the patient achieved a very good partial response for 110 days, which allowed to bridge him to subsequent clinical trials and eventually achieve a stringent complete response (sCR). CONCLUSION: Here, we show the applicability, effectiveness, and tolerability the triple MAPK inhibition strategy in the context of post-BCMA CAR-T failure in specific subset of patients. The triple therapy could bridge our hospice bound RRMM patient with BRAF (V600E) to further therapeutic options where sCR was achieved. We will further evaluate triple MAPK inhibition in patients with BRAF V600E in a precision medicine clinical trial launching soon.

Subcutaneous daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj in newly diagnosed or relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Daratumumab, a human immunoglobulin G1 kappa monoclonal antibody that targets CD38, is currently approved as monotherapy and in varying combinations with approved anti-myeloma regimens in both newly diagnosed multiple myeloma and relapsed refractory multiple myeloma. Originally developed for intravenous administration, the subcutaneous formulation of daratumumab (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj) was recently approved by the US Federal Drug Administration and European Commission in 2020. In clinical trials, compared with the intravenous formulation, subcutaneous daratumumab (Dara-SC) has significantly shorter administration time (median first dose 7 h versus 3-5 min, respectively), lower rates of infusion-related reactions (median first dose 50% versus less than 10%, respectively), and lower volume of infusion (median 500-1000 ml versus 15 ml, respectively). Otherwise, the pharmacokinetics, safety profile, and efficacy are comparable. This review summarizes the pivotal trials that led to the approval of Dara-SC, highlights important clinical considerations for the use of Dara-SC, and provides practical guidelines for the administration of Dara-SC in the clinic.

A phase II study of pomalidomide, daily oral cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients treated with pomalidomide and dexamethasone have an overall response rate (ORR) of ∼30% and median progression-free survival (PFS) of 4-5 months. Previous studies explored addition of weekly cyclophosphamide, but we hypothesized that daily dosing allows for better synergy. We report the open-label, single-center phase II study of pomalidomide, daily cyclophosphamide and weekly dexamethasone (PCD). Thirty-three patients were evaluable for efficacy and underwent 28-day cycles of pomalidomide (4 mg/day, D1-21), cyclophosphamide (50 mg b.i.d., D1-21) and weekly dexamethasone. All were lenalidomide-refractory and 55% were refractory to lenalidomide and proteasome inhibitor. ORR was 73%; median PFS and overall survival were 13.3 months and 57.2 months respectively. Grade 3/4 toxicities were primarily hematologic but manageable with dose reductions. Early disease progression correlated with MYC expression and flow cytometry demonstrates an activated microenvironment post-PCD. Addition of metronomic cyclophosphamide to pomalidomide and dexamethasone is a cost-effective, oral regimen with encouraging PFS.

Young Adults with Multiple Myeloma.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the salient issues of young adults (YAs) diagnosed with multiple myeloma (MM), a hematologic disease of older adults, that is rare in patients 19-40 years of age. DATA SOURCES: Peer-reviewed journal articles, case reports, single-institution series, and national guidelines. CONCLUSION: Compared to older adults with MM, YAs live longer and are at higher risk for survivorship-related issues, which include treatment adherence, infertility, reproductive concerns, risk of second primary cancers, treatment-related cardiotoxicity, and higher risk of non-cancer-related mortality. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: In addition to understanding disease biology, the oncology nurse should have an understanding of the unique developmental, psychosocial, and medical and psychosocial needs of the young adult with MM. The oncology nurse will then be able to provide targeted education about the disease, its treatment trajectory, and supportive care issues, as well as advocate for therapies, and based on response, toxicities, while taking into consideration patient-centered needs.

Heart and Lung Complications: Assessment and Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism and Cardiovascular Disease in Patients With Multiple Myeloma
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BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) and cardiovascular (CV) disease can occur in patients with multiple myeloma. Although VTE and CV disease are separate medical conditions, they can be serious and even life-threatening.
. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this article are to describe risk factors for cancer-associated VTE, describe the influence of CV disease on patients with multiple myeloma, and review the approaches to VTE and CV disease identification and treatment.
. METHODS: PubMed and CINAHL® databases were used to identify literature to describe VTE and CV in patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma.
. FINDINGS: When present in patients with multiple myeloma, VTE and CV disease can limit patient tolerance for myeloma treatment and, therefore, decrease therapeutic options.

A phase 2 study of panobinostat with lenalidomide and weekly dexamethasone in myeloma.

Phase 3 studies combining histone deacetylase inhibitors with bortezomib were hampered by gastrointestinal (GI) intolerance, which was not observed when combined with immunomodulatory drugs. This study is a single-center phase 2 study of panobinostat with lenalidomide and dexamethasone (FRD). Twenty-seven relapsed multiple myeloma patients were enrolled. Twenty-two patients (81%) were lenalidomide refractory and 9 (33%), 14 (52%), and 7 (26%) were refractory to pomalidomide, bortezomib, and carfilzomib, respectively. High-risk molecular findings were present in 17 (63%) patients. Responses included 2 complete responses (CRs), 4 very good partial responses (VGPRs), 5 partial responses (PRs), and 9 minimal responses (MRs) for an overall response rate of 41%, clinical benefit rate of 74%, and a disease control rate of 96%. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 7.1 months. In the 22 lenalidomide-refractory patients, there were 1 CR, 4 VGPRs, 3 PRs, and 7 MRs, with a median PFS of 6.5 months. Median overall survival was not reached. Grade 3/4 toxicities were primarily hematologic. Gene expression profiling of enrollment tumor samples revealed a set of 1989 genes associated with short (<90 days) PFS to therapy. MAGEA1 RNA and protein expression were correlated with short PFS, and laboratory studies demonstrated a role for MAGE-A in resistance to panobinostat-induced cell death. FRD demonstrates durable responses, even in high-risk, lenalidomide-refractory patients, indicating the essential role of panobinostat in attaining responses. MAGEA1 expression may represent a functional biomarker for resistance to panobinostat. In contrast to PANORAMA 1, there were no significant GI toxicities and primarily expected hematologic toxicities. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00742027.