Indolent CD4+ CAR T-Cell Lymphoma after Cilta-cel CAR T-Cell Therapy.

Indolent CD4+ cytotoxic chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell lymphoma involving the small intestine was diagnosed in a patient who had previously received ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel) CAR T-cell therapy for treatment of myeloma. Targeted messenger RNA sequencing revealed the presence of CAR gene product in tumor cells. Whole-genome sequencing of samples of tumor and peripheral blood identified a single lentiviral insertion site within the second intron of the SSU72 gene. In addition, numerous genetic alterations that may have contributed to malignant transformation were identified in the tumor sample. (Funded by MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.).

Differentiation of BCMA-specific induced pluripotent stem cells into rejuvenated CD8αß+ T cells targeting multiple myeloma.

ABSTRACT: A major hurdle in adoptive T-cell therapy is cell exhaustion and failure to maintain antitumor responses. Here, we introduce an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) strategy for reprogramming and revitalizing precursor exhausted B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-specific T cells to effectively target multiple myeloma (MM). Heteroclitic BCMA72-80 (YLMFLLRKI)-specific CD8+ memory cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) were epigenetically reprogrammed to a pluripotent state, developed into hematopoietic progenitor cells (CD34+ CD43+/CD14- CD235a-), differentiated into the T-cell lineage and evaluated for their polyfunctional activities against MM. The final T-cell products demonstrated (1) mature CD8αß+ memory phenotype, (2) high expression of activation or costimulatory molecules (CD38, CD28, and 41BB), (3) no expression of immune checkpoint and senescence markers (CTLA4, PD1, LAG3, and TIM3; CD57), and (4) robust proliferation and polyfunctional immune responses to MM. The BCMA-specific iPSC-T cells possessed a single T-cell receptor clonotype with cognate BCMA peptide recognition and specificity for targeting MM. RNA sequencing analyses revealed distinct genome-wide shifts and a distinctive transcriptional profile in selected iPSC clones, which can develop CD8αß+ memory T cells. This includes a repertoire of gene regulators promoting T-cell lineage development, memory CTL activation, and immune response regulation (LCK, IL7R, 4-1BB, TRAIL, GZMB, FOXF1, and ITGA1). This study highlights the potential application of iPSC technology to an adaptive T-cell therapy protocol and identifies specific transcriptional patterns that could serve as a biomarker for selection of suitable iPSC clones for the successful development of antigen-specific CD8αß+ memory T cells to improve the outcome in patients with MM.

Loss of GABARAP mediates resistance to immunogenic chemotherapy in multiple myeloma.

ABSTRACT: Immunogenic cell death (ICD) is a form of cell death by which cancer treatments can induce a clinically relevant antitumor immune response in a broad range of cancers. In multiple myeloma (MM), the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib is an ICD inducer and creates durable therapeutic responses in patients. However, eventual relapse and resistance to bortezomib appear inevitable. Here, by integrating patient transcriptomic data with an analysis of calreticulin (CRT) protein interactors, we found that GABA type A receptor-associated protein (GABARAP) is a key player whose loss prevented tumor cell death from being perceived as immunogenic after bortezomib treatment. GABARAP is located on chromosome 17p, which is commonly deleted in patients with high risk MM. GABARAP deletion impaired the exposure of the eat-me signal CRT on the surface of dying MM cells in vitro and in vivo, thus reducing tumor cell phagocytosis by dendritic cells and the subsequent antitumor T-cell response. Low GABARAP was independently associated with shorter survival in patients with MM and reduced tumor immune infiltration. Mechanistically, we found that GABARAP deletion blocked ICD signaling by decreasing autophagy and altering Golgi apparatus morphology, with consequent defects in the downstream vesicular transport of CRT. Conversely, upregulating autophagy using rapamycin restored Golgi morphology, CRT exposure, and ICD signaling in GABARAPKO cells undergoing bortezomib treatment. Therefore, coupling an ICD inducer, such as bortezomib, with an autophagy inducer, such as rapamycin, may improve patient outcomes in MM, in which low GABARAP in the form of del(17p) is common and leads to worse outcomes.

BET bromodomain inhibition as a therapeutic strategy to target c-Myc.

MYC contributes to the pathogenesis of a majority of human cancers, yet strategies to modulate the function of the c-Myc oncoprotein do not exist. Toward this objective, we have targeted MYC transcription by interfering with chromatin-dependent signal transduction to RNA polymerase, specifically by inhibiting the acetyl-lysine recognition domains (bromodomains) of putative coactivator proteins implicated in transcriptional initiation and elongation. Using a selective small-molecule bromodomain inhibitor, JQ1, we identify BET bromodomain proteins as regulatory factors for c-Myc. BET inhibition by JQ1 downregulates MYC transcription, followed by genome-wide downregulation of Myc-dependent target genes. In experimental models of multiple myeloma, a Myc-dependent hematologic malignancy, JQ1 produces a potent antiproliferative effect associated with cell-cycle arrest and cellular senescence. Efficacy of JQ1 in three murine models of multiple myeloma establishes the therapeutic rationale for BET bromodomain inhibition in this disease and other malignancies characterized by pathologic activation of c-Myc.

Ubiquitin receptor PSMD4/Rpn10 is a novel therapeutic target in multiple myeloma.

PSMD4/Rpn10 is a subunit of the 19S proteasome unit that is involved with feeding target proteins into the catalytic machinery of the 26S proteasome. Because proteasome inhibition is a common therapeutic strategy in multiple myeloma (MM), we investigated Rpn10 and found that it is highly expressed in MM cells compared with normal plasma cells. Rpn10 levels inversely correlated with overall survival in patients with MM. Inducible knockout or knockdown of Rpn10 decreased MM cell viability both in vitro and in vivo by triggering the accumulation of polyubiquitinated proteins, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis associated with the activation of caspases and unfolded protein response-related pathways. Proteomic analysis revealed that inhibiting Rpn10 increased autophagy, antigen presentation, and the activation of CD4+ T and natural killer cells. We developed an in vitro AlphaScreen binding assay for high-throughput screening and identified a novel Rpn10 inhibitor, SB699551 (SB). Treating MM cell lines, leukemic cell lines, and primary cells from patients with MM with SB decreased cell viability without affecting the viability of normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells. SB inhibited the proliferation of MM cells even in the presence of the tumor-promoting bone marrow milieu and overcame proteasome inhibitor (PI) resistance without blocking the 20S proteasome catalytic function or the 19S deubiquitinating activity. Rpn10 blockade by SB triggered MM cell death via similar pathways as the genetic strategy. In MM xenograft models, SB was well tolerated, inhibited tumor growth, and prolonged survival. Our data suggest that inhibiting Rpn10 will enhance cytotoxicity and overcome PI resistance in MM, providing the basis for further optimization studies of Rpn10 inhibitors for clinical application.

High-dose melphalan treatment significantly increases mutational burden at relapse in multiple myeloma.

High-dose melphalan (HDM) improves progression-free survival in multiple myeloma (MM), yet melphalan is a DNA-damaging alkylating agent; therefore, we assessed its mutational effect on surviving myeloma cells by analyzing paired MM samples collected at diagnosis and relapse in the IFM 2009 study. We performed deep whole-genome sequencing on samples from 68 patients, 43 of whom were treated with RVD (lenalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone) and 25 with RVD + HDM. Although the number of mutations was similar at diagnosis in both groups (7137 vs 7230; P = .67), the HDM group had significantly more mutations at relapse (9242 vs 13 383, P = .005). No change in the frequency of copy number alterations or structural variants was observed. The newly acquired mutations were typically associated with DNA damage and double-stranded breaks and were predominantly on the transcribed strand. A machine learning model, using this unique pattern, predicted patients who would receive HDM with high sensitivity, specificity, and positive prediction value. Clonal evolution analysis showed that all patients treated with HDM had clonal selection, whereas a static progression was observed with RVD. A significantly higher percentage of mutations were subclonal in the HDM cohort. Intriguingly, patients treated with HDM who achieved complete remission (CR) had significantly more mutations at relapse yet had similar survival rates as those treated with RVD who achieved CR. This similarity could have been due to HDM relapse samples having significantly more neoantigens. Overall, our study identifies increased genomic changes associated with HDM and provides rationale to further understand clonal complexity.

CDK7 controls E2F- and MYC-driven proliferative and metabolic vulnerabilities in multiple myeloma.

Therapeutic targeting of CDK7 has proven beneficial in preclinical studies, yet the off-target effects of currently available CDK7 inhibitors make it difficult to pinpoint the exact mechanisms behind MM cell death mediated by CDK7 inhibition. Here, we show that CDK7 expression positively correlates with E2F and MYC transcriptional programs in cells from patients with multiple myeloma (MM); its selective targeting counteracts E2F activity via perturbation of the cyclin-dependent kinases/Rb axis and impairs MYC-regulated metabolic gene signatures translating into defects in glycolysis and reduced levels of lactate production in MM cells. CDK7 inhibition using the covalent small-molecule inhibitor YKL-5-124 elicits a strong therapeutic response with minimal effects on normal cells, and causes in vivo tumor regression, increasing survival in several mouse models of MM including a genetically engineered mouse model of MYC-dependent MM. Through its role as a critical cofactor and regulator of MYC and E2F activity, CDK7 is therefore a master regulator of oncogenic cellular programs supporting MM growth and survival, and a valuable therapeutic target providing rationale for development of YKL-5-124 for clinical use.

A MIR17HG-derived long noncoding RNA provides an essential chromatin scaffold for protein interaction and myeloma growth.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) can drive tumorigenesis and are susceptible to therapeutic intervention. Here, we used a large-scale CRISPR interference viability screen to interrogate cell-growth dependency to lncRNA genes in multiple myeloma (MM) and identified a prominent role for the miR-17-92 cluster host gene (MIR17HG). We show that an MIR17HG-derived lncRNA, named lnc-17-92, is the main mediator of cell-growth dependency acting in a microRNA- and DROSHA-independent manner. Lnc-17-92 provides a chromatin scaffold for the functional interaction between c-MYC and WDR82, thus promoting the expression of ACACA, which encodes the rate-limiting enzyme of de novo lipogenesis acetyl-coA carboxylase 1. Targeting MIR17HG pre-RNA with clinically applicable antisense molecules disrupts the transcriptional and functional activities of lnc-17-92, causing potent antitumor effects both in vitro and in vivo in 3 preclinical animal models, including a clinically relevant patient-derived xenograft NSG mouse model. This study establishes a novel oncogenic function of MIR17HG and provides potent inhibitors for translation to clinical trials.

Early relapse within 18 months is a powerful dynamic predictor for prognosis and could revise static risk distribution in multiple myeloma.

BACKGROUND: The duration of response to treatment is a major prognostic factor, and early relapse (ER) strongly predicts inferior survival in multiple myeloma (MM). However, the definitions of ER in MM vary from study to study and how to dynamically integrate risk distribution is still unsolved. METHODS: This study evaluated these ER definitions and further investigated the underlying relationship with static risk distribution in 629 newly diagnosed MM (NDMM) patients from the National Longitudinal Cohort of Hematological Diseases in China (NCT04645199). RESULTS: These data indicated that early relapse within 18 months (ER18) after initial treatment was the best time point for identifying early progression and dynamic high-risk in MM. The ER18 population (114 of 587, 19.4%) presented with more aggressive biologic features and the inferior response to treatment compared to a reference cohort (p < .001), with a significantly short median overall survival (OS) of 28.9 months. Multivariate analyses confirmed the most significant prognostic value of ER18 on OS in the context of International Staging System stage, elevated lactate dehydrogenase, thrombocytopenia, cytogenetic abnormalities, and treatment (hazard ratio, 4.467; p < .001). The authors also described the specific transitions from static risk profile to dynamic risk distribution and then constructed a mixed-risk-pattern to identify four novel populations with distinct survival (p < .001). Additionally, the authors proposed a second-state model that predicts dynamic risk changes, enabling a complementary role to the Revised International Staging System model in facilitating individualized systematic treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, this study concludes that ER18 is a simple and dynamic prognostic predictor in MM. In addition to static risk assessment, dynamic risk plays an important role in survival prediction.

Unbiased cell surface proteomics identifies SEMA4A as an effective immunotherapy target for myeloma.

The accessibility of cell surface proteins makes them tractable for targeting by cancer immunotherapy, but identifying suitable targets remains challenging. Here we describe plasma membrane profiling of primary human myeloma cells to identify an unprecedented number of cell surface proteins of a primary cancer. We used a novel approach to prioritize immunotherapy targets and identified a cell surface protein not previously implicated in myeloma, semaphorin-4A (SEMA4A). Using knock-down by short-hairpin RNA and CRISPR/nuclease-dead Cas9 (dCas9), we show that expression of SEMA4A is essential for normal myeloma cell growth in vitro, indicating that myeloma cells cannot downregulate the protein to avoid detection. We further show that SEMA4A would not be identified as a myeloma therapeutic target by standard CRISPR/Cas9 knockout screens because of exon skipping. Finally, we potently and selectively targeted SEMA4A with a novel antibody-drug conjugate in vitro and in vivo.

The International Consensus Classification of Mature Lymphoid Neoplasms: a report from the Clinical Advisory Committee.

Since the publication of the Revised European-American Classification of Lymphoid Neoplasms in 1994, subsequent updates of the classification of lymphoid neoplasms have been generated through iterative international efforts to achieve broad consensus among hematopathologists, geneticists, molecular scientists, and clinicians. Significant progress has recently been made in the characterization of malignancies of the immune system, with many new insights provided by genomic studies. They have led to this proposal. We have followed the same process that was successfully used for the third and fourth editions of the World Health Organization Classification of Hematologic Neoplasms. The definition, recommended studies, and criteria for the diagnosis of many entities have been extensively refined. Some categories considered provisional have now been upgraded to definite entities. Terminology for some diseases has been revised to adapt nomenclature to the current knowledge of their biology, but these modifications have been restricted to well-justified situations. Major findings from recent genomic studies have impacted the conceptual framework and diagnostic criteria for many disease entities. These changes will have an impact on optimal clinical management. The conclusions of this work are summarized in this report as the proposed International Consensus Classification of mature lymphoid, histiocytic, and dendritic cell tumors.

Isatuximab-pomalidomide-dexamethasone versus pomalidomide-dexamethasone in patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma: final overall survival analysis.

The primary and prespecified updated analyses of ICARIA-MM (clinicaltrial gov. Identifier: NCT02990338) demonstrated improved progression-free survival (PFS) and a benefit in overall survival (OS) was reported with the addition of isatuximab, an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, to pomalidomide-dexamethasone (Pd) in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Here, we report the final OS analysis. This multicenter, randomized, open-label, phase III study included patients who had received and failed ≥2 previous therapies, including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor. Between January 10, 2017, and February 2, 2018, 307 patients were randomized (1:1) to isatuximab-pomalidomide-dexamethasone (Isa-Pd; N=154) or Pd (N=153), stratified based on age (<75 vs. ≥75 years) and number of previous lines of therapy (2-3 vs. >3). At data cutoff for the final OS analysis after 220 OS events (January 27, 2022), median follow-up duration was 52.4 months. Median OS was 24.6 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 20.3-31.3) with Isa-Pd and 17.7 months (95% CI: 14.4- 26.2) with Pd (hazard ratio=0.78; 95% CI: 0.59-1.02; 1-sided P=0.0319). Despite subsequent daratumumab use in the Pd group and its potential benefit on PFS in the first subsequent therapy line, median PFS2 was significantly longer with Isa-Pd versus Pd (17.5 vs. 12.9 months; log-rank 1-sided P=0.0091). In this analysis, Isa-Pd continued to be efficacious and well tolerated after follow-up of approximately 52 months, contributing to a clinically meaningful, 6.9-month improvement in median OS in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Development and validation of an individualized and weighted Myeloma Prognostic Score System (MPSS) in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

Current standard predictive models of disease risk do not adequately account for the heterogeneity of survival outcomes in patients with new-diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM). In this retrospective, multicohort study, we collected clinical and genetic data from 1792 NDMM patients and identified the prognostic impact of all features. Using the top-ranked predictive features, a weighted Myeloma Prognostic Score System (MPSS) risk model was formulated and validated to predict overall survival (OS). In the training cohort, elevated lactate dehydrogenase level (LDH), International Staging System (ISS) Stage III, thrombocytopenia, and cumulative high-risk cytogenetic aberration (HRA) numbers were found to have independent prognostic significance. Each risk factor was defined as its weighted value respectively according to their hazard ratio for OS (thrombocytopenia 2, elevated LDH 1, ISS III 2, one HRA 1, and ≥2 HRA 2, points). Patients were further stratified into four risk groups: MPSS I (22.5%, 0 points), II (17.6%, 1 points), III (38.6%, 2-3 points), and IV (21.3%, 4-7 points). MPSS risk stratification showed optimal discrimination, as well as calibration, of four risk groups with median OS of 91.0, 69.8, 45.0, and 28.0 months, for patients in MPSS I to IV groups (p < .001), respectively. Importantly, the MPSS model retained its prognostic value in the internal validation cohort and an independent external validation cohort, and exhibited significant risk distribution compared with conventional prognostic models (R-ISS, R2-ISS, and MASS). Utilization of the MPSS model in clinical practice could improve risk estimation in NDMM patients, thus prompting individualized treatment strategies.

Exploring the anti-myeloma potential of composite nanoparticles As4S4/Fe3O4: Insights from in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo studies.

Given the profound multiple myeloma (MM) heterogeneity in clonal proliferation of malignant plasma cells (PCs) and anti-MM therapeutic potential of nanotherapies, it is inevitable to develop treatment plan for patients with MM. Two composite nanoparticles (NPs), As4S4/Fe3O4 (4:1) and As4S4/Fe3O4 (1:1) demonstrated effective anti-MM activity in in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo in xenograft mouse model. Composite NPs triggered activation of p-ERK1/2/p-JNK, and downregulation of c-Myc, p-PI3K, p-4E-BP1; G2/M cell cycle arrest with increase in cyclin B1, histones H2AX/H3, activation of p-ATR, p-Chk1/p-Chk2, p-H2AX/p-H3; and caspase- and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis induction. NPs attenuated the stem cell-like side population in MM cells, both alone and in the presence of stroma. For a higher clinical response rate, As4S4/Fe3O4 (4:1) observed synergism with dexamethasone and melphalan, while As4S4/Fe3O4 (1:1) showed synergistic effects in combination with bortezomib, lenalidomide and pomalidomide anti-MM agents, providing the framework for further clinical evaluation of composite NPs in MM.

Dysfunctions of innate and adaptive immune tumor microenvironment in Waldenström macroglobulinemia.

Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma characterized by malignant lymphoplasmacytic cells in the bone marrow (BM). To dissect the pathophysiology of WM, we evaluated clonal cells by mapping of B cell lymphomagenesis with adaptive and innate immune tumor microenvironment (TME) in the BM of WM patients using mass cytometry (CyTOF). In-depth immunophenotypic profiling of WM cells exhibited profound expansion of clonal cells in both unswitched and switched memory B cells and also plasma cells with aberrant expression variations. WM B lymphomagenesis was associated with reduction of most B cell precursors assessed with the same clonally restricted light chain and phenotypic changes. The immune TME was infiltrated by mature monocytes, neutrophils and adaptive T cells, preferentially subsets of effector T helper, effector CTL and effector memory CTL cells that were associated with superior overall survival (OS), in contrast to progenitors of T cells and myeloid/monocytic lineage subsets that were suppressed in WM cohort. Moreover, decrease in immature B and NKT cells was related to worse OS in WM patients. Innate and adaptive immune subsets of WM TME were modulated by immune checkpoints, including PD-1/PD-L1&PD-L2, TIGIT/PVR, CD137/CD137-L, CTLA-4, BTLA and KIR expression. The response of ibrutinib treatment to the reduction of clonal memory B cell was associated with high levels of immature B cells and effector memory CTL cells. Our study demonstrates that CyTOF technology is a powerful approach for characterizing the pathophysiology of WM at various stages, predicting patient risk and monitoring the effectiveness of treatment strategies.

IgM-MM is predominantly a pre-germinal center disorder and has a distinct genomic and transcriptomic signature from WM.

Immunoglobulin M (IgM) multiple myeloma (MM) is a rare disease subgroup. Its differentiation from other IgM-producing gammopathies such as Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) has not been well characterized but is essential for proper risk assessment and treatment. In this study, we investigated genomic and transcriptomic characteristics of IgM-MM samples using whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing to identify differentiating characteristics from non-IgM-MM and WM. Our results suggest that IgM-MM shares most of its defining structural variants and gene-expression profiling with MM, but has some key characteristics, including t(11;14) translocation, chromosome 6 and 13 deletion as well as distinct molecular and transcription-factor signatures. Furthermore, IgM-MM translocations were predominantly characterized by VHDHJH recombination-induced breakpoints, as opposed to the usual class-switching region breakpoints; coupled with its lack of class switching, these data favor a pre-germinal center origin. Finally, we found elevated expression of clinically relevant targets, including CD20 and Bruton tyrosine kinase, as well as high BCL2/BCL2L1 ratio in IgM-MM, providing potential for targeted therapeutics.

The HCK/BTK inhibitor KIN-8194 is active in MYD88-driven lymphomas and overcomes mutated BTKCys481 ibrutinib resistance.

Activating mutations in MYD88 promote malignant cell growth and survival through hematopoietic cell kinase (HCK)-mediated activation of Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK). Ibrutinib binds to BTKCys481 and is active in B-cell malignancies driven by mutated MYD88. Mutations in BTKCys481, particularly BTKCys481Ser, are common in patients with acquired ibrutinib resistance. We therefore performed an extensive medicinal chemistry campaign and identified KIN-8194 as a novel dual inhibitor of HCK and BTK. KIN-8194 showed potent and selective in vitro killing of MYD88-mutated lymphoma cells, including ibrutinib-resistant BTKCys481Ser-expressing cells. KIN-8194 demonstrated excellent bioavailability and pharmacokinetic parameters, with good tolerance in rodent models at pharmacologically achievable and active doses. Pharmacodynamic studies showed sustained inhibition of HCK and BTK for 24 hours after single oral administration of KIN-8194 in an MYD88-mutated TMD-8 activated B-cell diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (ABC DLBCL) and BCWM.1 Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) xenografted mice with wild-type BTK (BTKWT)- or BTKCys481Ser-expressing tumors. KIN-8194 showed superior survival benefit over ibrutinib in both BTKWT- and BTKCys481Ser-expressing TMD-8 DLBCL xenografted mice, including sustained complete responses of >12 weeks off treatment in mice with BTKWT-expressing TMD-8 tumors. The BCL_2 inhibitor venetoclax enhanced the antitumor activity of KIN-8194 in BTKWT- and BTKCys481Ser-expressing MYD88-mutated lymphoma cells and markedly reduced tumor growth and prolonged survival in mice with BTKCys481Ser-expressing TMD-8 tumors treated with both drugs. The findings highlight the feasibility of targeting HCK, a key driver of mutated MYD88 pro-survival signaling, and provide a framework for the advancement of KIN-8194 for human studies in B-cell malignancies driven by HCK and BTK.

miR-15a/16-1 deletion in activated B cells promotes plasma cell and mature B-cell neoplasms.

Chromosome 13q deletion [del(13q)], harboring the miR-15a/16-1 cluster, is one of the most common genetic alterations in mature B-cell malignancies, which originate from germinal center (GC) and post-GC B cells. Moreover, miR-15a/16 expression is frequently reduced in lymphoma and multiple myeloma (MM) cells without del(13q), suggesting important tumor-suppressor activity. However, the role of miR-15a/16-1 in B-cell activation and initiation of mature B-cell neoplasms remains to be determined. We show that conditional deletion of the miR-15a/16-1 cluster in murine GC B cells induces moderate but widespread molecular and functional changes including an increased number of GC B cells, percentage of dark zone B cells, and maturation into plasma cells. With time, this leads to development of mature B-cell neoplasms resembling human extramedullary plasmacytoma (EP) as well as follicular and diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. The indolent nature and lack of bone marrow involvement of EP in our murine model resembles human primary EP rather than MM that has progressed to extramedullary disease. We corroborate human primary EP having low levels of miR-15a/16 expression, with del(13q) being the most common genetic loss. Additionally, we show that, although the mutational profile of human EP is similar to MM, there are some exceptions such as the low frequency of hyperdiploidy in EP, which could account for different disease presentation. Taken together, our studies highlight the significant role of the miR-15a/16-1 cluster in the regulation of the GC reaction and its fundamental context-dependent tumor-suppression function in plasma cell and B-cell malignancies.

Clinical perspectives on the optimal use of lenalidomide plus bortezomib and dexamethasone for the treatment of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

To improve the outcomes of patients with the otherwise incurable hematologic malignancy of multiple myeloma (MM), a key paradigm includes initial treatment to establish disease control rapidly followed by maintenance therapy to ensure durability of response with manageable toxicity. However, patients' prognosis worsens after relapse, and the disease burden and drug toxicities are generally more challenging with subsequent lines of therapy. It is therefore particularly important that patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) receive optimal frontline therapy. The combination of lenalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (RVd) has consistently demonstrated a tolerable safety profile with significant and clinically relevant benefit, including deep and durable responses with improved survival in patients with NDMM regardless of their transplant eligibility. Furthermore, comparative studies evaluating this triplet regimen against both doublet and other triplet regimens have established RVd as a standard of care in this setting based upon its remarkable and concordant efficacy. Given the breadth of clinical data, physician familiarity, inclusion in treatment guidelines, and the emerging potential of RVd-containing quadruplet regimens, RVd will likely continue as a key cornerstone of the treatment of NDMM, and its role will therefore likely continue to grow as a therapeutic backbone in the initial treatment of MM.

Isatuximab plus pomalidomide and low-dose dexamethasone versus pomalidomide and low-dose dexamethasone in patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (ICARIA-MM): follow-up analysis of a randomised, phase 3 study.

BACKGROUND: The primary analysis of the ICARIA-MM study showed significant improvement in progression-free survival with addition of isatuximab to pomalidomide-dexamethasone in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. Here, we report a prespecified updated overall survival analysis at 24 months after the primary analysis. METHODS: In this randomised, multicentre, open-label, phase 3 study adult patients (aged ≥18 years) with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma who had received at least two previous lines of therapy, including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor, and had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-2 were recruited from 102 hospitals in 24 countries across Europe, North America, and the Asia-Pacific regions. Patients were excluded if they had anti-CD38 refractory disease or previously received pomalidomide. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1), using an interactive response technology with permuted blocked randomisation (block size of four) and stratified by number of previous treatment lines (2-3 vs >3) and aged (<75 vs ≥75 years), to isatuximab-pomalidomide-dexamethasone (isatuximab group) or pomalidomide-dexamethasone (control group). In the isatuximab group, intravenous isatuximab 10 mg/kg was administered on days 1, 8, 15, and 22 of the first 4-week cycle, and then on days 1 and 15 of subsequent cycles. Both groups received oral pomalidomide 4 mg on days 1-21 of each cycle, and weekly oral or intravenous dexamethasone 40 mg (20 mg if aged ≥75 years) on days 1, 8, 15, and 22 of each cycle. Treatment was continued until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or withdrawal of consent. Here' we report a prespecified second interim analysis of overall survival (time from randomisation to any-cause death), a key secondary endpoint, in the intention-to-treat population (ie, all patients who provided informed consent and allocated a randomisation number) at 24 months after the primary analysis. Safety was assessed in all patients who received at least one dose or part dose of study treatment. The prespecified stopping boundary for the overall survival analysis was when the derived p value was equal to or less than 0·0181. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02990338, and is active, but not recruiting. FINDINGS: Between Jan 10, 2017, and Feb 2, 2018, 387 patients were screened and 307 randomly assigned to either the isatuximab (n=154) or control group (n=153). Median follow-up at data cutoff (Oct 1, 2020) was 35·3 months (IQR 33·5-37·4). Median overall survival was 24·6 months (95% CI 20·3-31·3) in the isatuximab group and 17·7 months (14·4-26·2) in the control group (hazard ratio 0·76 [95% CI 0·57-1·01]; one-sided log-rank p=0·028, not crossing prespecified stopping boundary). The most common grade 3 or worse treatment-emergent adverse events in the isatuximab group versus the control group were neutropenia (76 [50%] of 152 patients vs 52 [35%] of 149 patients), pneumonia (35 [23%] vs 31 [21%]), and thrombocytopenia (20 [13%] vs 18 [12%]). Serious treatment-emergent adverse events were observed in 111 (73%) patients in the isatuximab group and 90 (60%) patients in the control group. Two (1%) treatment-related deaths occurred in the isatuximab group (one due to sepsis and one due to cerebellar infarction) and two (1%) occurred in the control group (one due to pneumonia and one due to urinary tract infection). INTERPRETATION: Addition of isatuximab plus pomalidomide-dexamethasone resulted in a 6·9-month difference in median overall survival compared with pomalidomide-dexamethasone and is a new standard of care for lenalidomide-refractory and proteasome inhibitor-refractory or relapsed multiple myeloma. Final overall survival analysis follow-up is ongoing. FUNDING: Sanofi.