Physical Function, Psychosocial Status, and Symptom Burden Among Adults with Plasma Cell Disorders and Associations with Quality of Life.

BACKGROUND: The plasma cell disorders (PCDs), multiple myeloma (MM), and light-chain amyloidosis (AL) are disproportionately diseases of older adults, whose care may be complicated by frailty associated with advancing age. We sought to evaluate the prevalence of functional deficits and symptoms in a cohort of persons with PCDs and associations of demographic, disease-related, functional, and psychosocial measures with quality of life (QoL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Adults with PCDs were recruited into an observational registry in 2018-2020. Patients completed a functional assessment and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL questionnaire (QLQ-C30). Associations of covariates of interest with QoL were evaluated via univariate linear regression. RESULTS: Among 121 adults, the mean age was 68.6. Diagnoses were 74% MM, 14% AL, 7% both MM and AL, and 5% other PCDs. The median time from diagnosis was 34.9 months. Median lines of therapy were 2, with 11% having received ≥4th-line therapy.Patients with functional deficits had lower mean QoL scores: dependence in IADLs (66.3 vs. 79.9, P = .001) and recent falls (56.7 vs. 76.8, P = .001). Patients ≤6 months from diagnosis had lower QoL (66.7) than those ≥2 years from diagnosis (77.3, P = .03). However, patients on later lines of therapy (≥4th-line) had lower QoL (62.2) than those on 1st-line treatment (76.0, P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with physical impairments and more advanced PCDs had lower QoL than those without deficits or earlier in their disease course. Early identification of physical impairments may facilitate interventions that mitigate these deficits and thereby improve QoL for patients with PCDs.

Geriatric-assessment-identified functional deficits among adults with multiple myeloma with normal performance status.

OBJECTIVES: Findings from a brief geriatric assessment (GA) in a cohort of adults with multiple myeloma (MM) are presented, with particular attention to the utility of the GA in identifying important deficits in adults judged to have a normal Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS ≥ 80). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adults age 18 and older with MM were recruited into an observational study from 2018 to 2020. A modified Cancer and Aging Research Group (CARG) GA was administered at enrollment. Enrollees also completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life of Cancer Patients Core 30 questionnaire (QLQ-C30), with subscales of physical, social, role, and cognitive functioning (range 0-100; higher values indicate better function). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics for the full cohort and stratified by concurrent KPS (score < 80 vs ≥ 80). RESULTS: Among 89 adults, the mean age was 69.1 years, 68% were aged ≥65 years, and 70% were white. In this cohort, 78% had KPS ≥ 80. Among those with KPS ≥ 80, functional impairments (Timed Up and Go ≥14 s and dependence in ≥1 instrumental activity of daily living) were seen in 30% and 21%, respectively, with 11% reporting ≥1 fall in the prior 6 months. At least two GA-identified deficits were detected in 50% of the overall cohort and in 41% of those with KPS ≥ 80. Among those with KPS ≥ 80, self-reported physical impairment on EORTC QLQ-C30 was noted by 34%. CONCLUSION: Using a modified CARG GA and EORTC questionnaire, functional impairments were identified among adults considered to have a good performance status based on a KPS (≥ 80). Future studies should focus on using GA measures for therapy assignment and identifying opportunities for intervening upon GA-identified deficits.

Leadership Lessons From the Field: Leading by Saying "No".

Junior officers readily accept new assignments, projects, and challenges suggested by their superiors. The word "no" is not one we are accustomed to saying. Learning when and how to say no may be one of the most effective strategies for young leaders working to shape the future of their organization.

Pericardial relapse of multiple myeloma.

In patients who experience relapse of multiple myeloma, upwards of 30% can have extramedullary disease. The presence of extramedullary multiple myeloma is typically associated with adverse cytogenetics and a poor prognosis. Organs most commonly involved include the liver, skin, central nervous system, pleural effusions, kidney, lymph nodes, and pancreas. We present the case of a 53-year-old man with IgA kappa multiple myeloma with the adverse cytogenetic findings of t(4;14) and 1q21 gain who had achieved a stringent complete (sCR) response after initial therapy with carfilzomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone. Stringent complete response is defined as the normalization of the free light chain ratio in the serum and an absence of clonal cells in the bone marrow in additiion to criteria needed to achieve complete response. Prior to undergoing a planned autologous stem cell transplant, this patient experienced cardiac tamponade secondary to extramedullary relapse of his multiple myeloma which was limited to the pericardium. In response, his treatment regimen was transitioned to pomalidomide, bortezomib, dexamethasone and cyclophosphamide for three cycles after which he again achieved sCR and ultimately underwent autologous stem cell transplant. Post-transplant consolidation therapy was administered in the form of pomalidomide, bortezomib and dexamethasone, followed by pomalidomide and bortezomib maintenance, which he has continued to receive for 3 years without evidence of disease progression.