Cilta-cel or Standard Care in Lenalidomide-Refractory Multiple Myeloma.

BACKGROUND: Ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel), a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed CAR T-cell therapy, is effective in heavily pretreated patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. We investigated cilta-cel in earlier treatment lines in patients with lenalidomide-refractory disease. METHODS: In this phase 3, randomized, open-label trial, we assigned patients with lenalidomide-refractory multiple myeloma to receive cilta-cel or the physician's choice of effective standard care. All the patients had received one to three previous lines of treatment. The primary outcome was progression-free survival. RESULTS: A total of 419 patients underwent randomization (208 to receive cilta-cel and 211 to receive standard care). At a median follow-up of 15.9 months (range, 0.1 to 27.3), the median progression-free survival was not reached in the cilta-cel group and was 11.8 months in the standard-care group (hazard ratio, 0.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.18 to 0.38; P<0.001). Progression-free survival at 12 months was 75.9% (95% CI, 69.4 to 81.1) in the cilta-cel group and 48.6% (95% CI, 41.5 to 55.3) in the standard-care group. More patients in the cilta-cel group than in the standard-care group had an overall response (84.6% vs. 67.3%), a complete response or better (73.1% vs. 21.8%), and an absence of minimal residual disease (60.6% vs. 15.6%). Death from any cause was reported in 39 patients and 46 patients, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.5 to 1.2). Most patients reported grade 3 or 4 adverse events during treatment. Among the 176 patients who received cilta-cel in the as-treated population, 134 (76.1%) had cytokine release syndrome (grade 3 or 4, 1.1%; no grade 5), 8 (4.5%) had immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (all grade 1 or 2), 1 had movement and neurocognitive symptoms (grade 1), 16 (9.1%) had cranial nerve palsy (grade 2, 8.0%; grade 3, 1.1%), and 5 (2.8%) had CAR-T-related peripheral neuropathy (grade 1 or 2, 2.3%; grade 3, 0.6%). CONCLUSIONS: A single cilta-cel infusion resulted in a lower risk of disease progression or death than standard care in lenalidomide-refractory patients with multiple myeloma who had received one to three previous therapies. (Funded by Janssen and Legend Biotech; CARTITUDE-4 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04181827.).

Efficacy and safety of cilta-cel in patients with progressive multiple myeloma after exposure to other BCMA-targeting agents.

B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeting therapies, including bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), are promising treatments for multiple myeloma (MM), but disease may progress after their use. CARTITUDE-2 is a phase 2, multicohort study evaluating the safety and efficacy of cilta-cel, an anti-BCMA chimeric antigen receptor T therapy, in various myeloma patient populations. Patients in cohort C progressed despite treatment with a proteasome inhibitor, immunomodulatory drug, anti-CD38 antibody, and noncellular anti-BCMA immunotherapy. A single cilta-cel infusion was given after lymphodepletion. The primary end point was minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity at 10-5. Overall, 20 patients were treated (13 ADC exposed; 7 BsAb exposed; 1 in the ADC group also had prior BsAb exposure). Sixteen (80%) were refractory to prior anti-BCMA therapy. At a median follow-up of 11.3 months (range, 0.6-16.0), 7 of 20 (35%) patients were MRD negative (7 of 10 [70.0%] in the MRD-evaluable subset). Overall response rate (95% confidence interval [CI]) was 60.0% (36.1-80.9). Median duration of response and progression-free survival (95% CI) were 11.5 (7.9-not estimable) and 9.1 (1.5-not estimable) months, respectively. The most common adverse events were hematologic. Cytokine release syndrome occurred in 12 (60%) patients (all grade 1-2); 4 had immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (2 had grade 3-4); none had parkinsonism. Seven (35%) patients died (3 of progressive disease, 4 of adverse events [1 treatment related, 3 unrelated]). Cilta-cel induced favorable responses in patients with relapsed/refractory MM and prior exposure to anti-BCMA treatment who had exhausted other therapies. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04133636.

Treatment with low-dose, single-agent belantamab mafodotin is safe and provides long-term responses in heavily pretreated multiple myeloma patients.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether low-dose belantamab mafodotin (B-MAF) dosing results in lower toxicity and better overall outcome. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated nine consecutive patients treated with low-dose (1.9 mg/kg) B-MAF. RESULTS: The median age was 70 years. Most patients were penta-refractory. Ocular toxicity was observed in 77.7%. Adverse events resulting in treatment delays were recorded in 9 out of 124 cycles being given. Overall response rate was 66% (6/9), and all responding patients achieved very good partial response or better. Within a median follow-up of 12 (range 0.5-13.8) months, median progression-free survival and overall survival were 14 (CI95% 6-22) and 20 (95%CI 0-41) months, respectively. CONCLUSION: Low-dose B-MAF regimen showed high-efficacy and low-toxicity profile.

Dual anti-viral treatment for persistent COVID-19 in immunocompromised hemato-oncological patients is associated with a favorable prognosis and minor side effects.

In hemato-oncological patients, COVID-19 can present as a persistent infection with ongoing symptoms and viral replication over a prolonged period of time. Data are scarce on the preferred treatment options for these patients. We describe our experience with a five-day course of dual anti-viral treatment with remdesivir and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir for hemato-oncological immunocompromised patients with persistent COVID-19. Fifteen patients with a history of lymphoma, CLL, and MM were included. Eight were male, median age was 74. All patients had an immediate clinical and virological response. In 73 % of patients, PCR for SARS-CoV-2 became negative at the end of treatment and the rest had an increase in PCR cycle threshold (CT) values, with a median increase of 6 cycles. After a follow-up of three months, 60 % of patients remained in full clinical and virological remission. None required invasive mechanical ventilation or died. The side effects we observed, neutropenia, lactatemia and elevated transaminases, were mild and almost all transient in nature. We conclude that dual anti-viral treatment appears to be a valid treatment option for persistent COVID-19.

Real-world experience with belantamab mafodotin therapy for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma: A multicentre retrospective study.

Belantamab mafodotin, an immuno-conjugate targeting B-cell maturation antigen, showed single-agent activity in phase 1 and 2 studies, and was recently approved for heavily pretreated relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) patients. Real-world data and long-term follow-up are scarce. We conducted a multisite retrospective study aimed to assess safety and efficacy of belantamab mafodotin monotherapy administered via the GSK expanded access compassionate care programme. One-hundred and six RRMM patients were treated with belantamab mafodotin between July 2019 and March 2021. The median age was 69.4 years. Patients were heavily pretreated with a median of six (range 2-11) prior therapy lines. Major adverse effects included ocular toxicity (keratopathy 68.4%, grade ≥3: 40.5%; blurred vision 36.8%, grade ≥3: 6.3%), thrombocytopenia (27.4%, grade ≥3: 17.9%) and infections (11.3%, grade ≥3: 7.5%). Median follow-up time was 11.9 [95% confidence interval (CI) 10.0-13.8] months. Overall response rate was 45.5%. Median progression-free survival was 4.7 (95% CI 3.5-5.9) months in the entire cohort and 8.8 (95% CI 6.6-10.9) months among responders. Median overall survival was 14.5 (95% CI 9.5-19.6) months, and not reached for responders. To conclude, in a real-world setting, belantamab mafodotin monotherapy showed efficacy comparable with the prospective clinical trials, with a tolerable toxicity profile.

Management and outcome of 500 multiple myeloma patients treated for first relapse outside clinical studies.

Treatment options for multiple myeloma (MM) at 1st relapse are expanding. The current study compared common 2nd line regimens administered in a real-world setting. MM patients registered in Maccabi health care services and treated with second line therapy during 2014-2020 were evaluated, analyzing factors affecting time to third line therapy (TT3T). The study included 500 MM patients, previously treated with proteasome inhibitor (PI)-based induction. Median age at second line treatment was 68.5 years (IQR: 61.6-76.4). Most patients received a triplet based induction composed of PI (n = 471, 94.2%), with (n = 71) or without IMID (n = 400), followed by second line treatment composed of lenalidomide-dexamethasone (RD) (n = 225, 45%) or lenalidomide-dexamethasone-daratumumab (RD-Dara (n = 104, 20.8%)). Multivariable analysis confirmed treatment type (RD-Dara vs. IMID) to be associated with a lower risk to progress to third line therapy; (HR = 0.5, 95% CI 0.3-0.86, p = 0.012). Within a median follow-up period of 22.5 months (intraquartile range 11.1-39.4 m), median TT3T was not reached in patients receiving RD-Dara vs. 32.4 months (95% CI 18.0-46.8 m) with IMID, 18 months (95% CI 10.4-25.6 m) with IMID-PI and 12.1 months (95% CI 5.6-18.7 m) with PI-based regimen. In contrast, PI vs. IMID-based therapy and increased body weight were associated with a higher likelihood of progression (HR = 2.56 (95% CI 1.49-4.42); HR = 1.43, (95% CI 0.96-2.14), p = 0.08). To conclude, second line therapy with RD-Dara was associated with a significantly longer TT3T compared with IMID-based regimen, longer than obtained with PI-IMID and PI-based regimens, in patients treated outside clinical studies and previously exposed to bortezomib.

Humoral response rate and predictors of response to BNT162b2 mRNA COVID19 vaccine in patients with multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) patients are at excess risk for clinically significant COVID19 infection. BNT162b2 mRNA COVID19 (BNT162b2) vaccine provides effective protection against COVID19 for the general population, yet its effect in MM patients may be compromised due to disease and therapy-related factors and was not yet evaluated. This single-centre prospective study included MM patients tested for serological response 14-21 days post second vaccine. Vaccinated healthy volunteers served as controls. In all, 171 MM patients, median age 70 (38-94) were included; 159 active MM and 12 smouldering myeloma (SMM). Seropositive response rate (median titer) was 76% (91 U/ml) in active MM patients vs 98% (992 U/ml) in the 64 controls (P < 0·0001), and 100% (822 U/ml) in SMM patients. Multivariate analysis revealed older age (P = 0·009), exposure to ≥4 novel anti-myeloma drugs (P = 0·02) and hypogammaglobulinaemia (P = 0·002) were associated with lower response rates. None of the novel agents significantly decreased response rate, whereas daratumumab trended towards reduced response (P = 0·08). Adverse events occurred in 53% and 55% of the MM patients and controls, respectively, all transient grade 1-2. In conclusion, BNT162b2 vaccine was safe and provided a high seropositivity rate in MM patients, independent of treatment type. Older, hypogammaglobulinaemic and heavily pretreated patients had lower response rates.

Correlation between BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 vaccine-associated hypermetabolic lymphadenopathy and humoral immunity in patients with hematologic malignancy.

PURPOSE: Vaccine-associated hypermetabolic lymphadenopathy (VAHL) is frequently observed on [18F]FDG PET-CT following BNT162b2 administration. Recent data suggest a prominent B cell germinal-center (GC) response elicited by mRNA vaccines in draining lymph nodes. Thus, in this study we aimed to explore the correlation between VAHL and humoral immunity as reflected by post-vaccination serologic testing and by comparing the incidence of VAHL between lymphoma patients treated recently with B cell depleting therapy and those that were not. METHODS: A total of 137 patients with hematologic malignancy that had post-vaccination [18F]FDG PET-CT were included (All-PET group), 86 received both vaccine doses before imaging (PET-2 group). Their VAHL status and grade on imaging were recorded. Among 102 lymphoma patients, 34 (33.3%) were treated during the year prior vaccination with anti-CD20 antibody containing therapy. A subgroup of 54 patients also underwent serologic testing 2-3 weeks after the booster dose, and their anti-spike titers were recorded and graded as well. RESULTS: The overall incidence of VAHL in patients with hematologic malignancy was 31.4%. The 34 lymphoma patients treated during the year prior vaccination with anti-CD20 antibody containing therapy had significantly lower rates of VAHL comparted with all other lymphoma patients (8.8 versus 41.2% in all-PET patients, Pv < 0.01). VAHL rates were 10% in patients with negative serology, 31.3% in patients with low anti-spike titers, and 72.2% in patients with high anti-spike titers. The positive predictive values of VAHL were 90 and 93.3% in all-PET and PET-2 patients, respectively. A positive statistically significant correlation was found between VAHL and serology ranks in All-PET patients (rs = 0.530, Pv < 0.001), and stronger correlation was found in PET-2 patients (rs = 0.642, Pv < 0.001). CONCLUSION: VAHL on [18F]FDG PET-CT of patients with hematologic malignancy may reflect GC B cell proliferation and an effective humoral response elicited by BNT162b2 vaccine.

Daratumumab for relapsed AL amyloidosis-When cumulative real-world data precedes clinical trials: A multisite study and systematic literature review.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with relapsed/refractory AL amyloidosis (RRAL) have poor prognosis, but emerging data shows promising results with the use daratumumab. We evaluated daratumumab treatment in RRAL in real-world setting. METHODS: A retrospective multisite study of RRAL patients treated with daratumumab alone and in combinations. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients, diagnosed between 1.1.2008 and 1.2.2018 were included; 27% also had multiple myeloma (MM). Revised Mayo score was ≥ 3 in 67%. Hematologic overall response rate was 81%, 64% achieved very good partial response (VGPR) or better. Concurrent active MM was associated with lower rates of VGPR (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.04-0.81; P = .03) in a multi-variate analysis. Cardiac and renal responses were 74% and 73%, respectively. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 28.4 months and median overall survival (OS) was not reached; 2-year PFS and OS were 68.6 ± 7.5% and 90.4 ± 4.6%, respectively. Hematologic response correlated with prolonged PFS and OS. Daratumumab was safe and well tolerated, no patients discontinued therapy due to toxicity. Our data was aligned with outcomes from a systematic literature review, which identified 10 case series (n = 517) and 2 clinical trials (n = 62) meeting prespecified criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Our data support favorable safety tolerability and efficacy of daratumumab among non-selective RRAL patients in a real-world setting.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of oligosecretory and non-secretory multiple myeloma.

Secretion of monoclonal immunoglobulins (MIg) detected in the serum and/or urine is one of the typical features of multiple myeloma (MM). However, some patients secrete MIg in quantities below "measurable" (termed oligosecretory MM) and others have no detectable MIgs by standard serum and urine immunofixation (termed non-secretory MM). In a cohort of 852 consecutive patients with active myeloma, we identified 100 (11.7%) patients with oligo/non-secretory MM, including 20 (2.3%) with non-secretory MM. Compared to patients with secretory MM, these were younger, less anemic, and had less often renal dysfunction and less extensive bone marrow infiltration. Presence and extent of bone disease were similar, however, hypercalcemia was less common and more often is ISS (International Staging System)-1 and, in those with available FISH (Fluoresense In Situ Hybridization) , high-risk cytogenetics were less common. FLCs (Free Light Chains) were available in 17 patients with non-secretory MM: only 3 had normal FLC ratio; the others had abnormal ratio and 9/14 had involved FLC ≥ 100 mg/L. The 4-year OS for patients with oligo/non-secretory disease was 64% vs 58% for secretory MM. In multivariate analysis, oligo/non-secretory disease was not an independent prognostic factor per se. Thus, 12% of MM patients present with oligo/non-secretory disease at diagnosis and have different biologic characteristics but similar outcome to other MM patients.

Ixazomib-based regimens for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma: are real-world data compatible with clinical trial outcomes? A multi-site Israeli registry study.

Ixazomib, the first oral proteasome inhibitor (PI), has been approved for the treatment of relapsed refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, based on the TOURMALINE-MM1 phase 3 trial, which demonstrated the efficacy and safety of this all-oral triplet, compared with lenalidomide-dexamethasone. However, clinical trial outcomes do not always translate into real-world outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the outcomes of ixazomib-based combination for treatment of patients with RRMM in a real-world setting. All consecutive RRMM patients who received at least one cycle of ixazomib-based treatment combination between June 2013 and June 2018 were identified. Data was extracted from medical charts focusing on demographics, disease characteristics, prior treatment, and responses. Primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS); secondary endpoints included overall response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), safety, and tolerability. A total of 78 patients across 7 sites were retrospectively included. Median follow-up was 22 months. Median age was 68 (range 38-90). Sixty-four percent received ixazomib in 2nd line, 19% in 3rd line. Overall, 89% of patients had been exposed to PIs (bortezomib 87%) prior to IRd, 41% to IMiDs. Twenty-nine (48%, of 60 available) had high (t(4:14), t(14:16), del17p) or intermediate (+1q21) risk aberrations. Most patients (82%) received ixazomib in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone. An exploratory assessment for disease aggressiveness at diagnosis was classified by a treating physician as indolent (rapid control to protect from target organ damage not required) vs aggressive (imminent target organ damage) in 63% vs 37%, respectively. Treatment was well tolerated, with a low discontinuation rate (11%). Median PFS on ixazomib therapy was 24 months (95% CI 17-30). PFS was 77% and 47% at 12 and 24 months, respectively. Median OS was not reached; OS was 91% and 80% at 12 and 24 months, respectively. Higher LDH, older age, and worse clinical aggressiveness were associated with worse PFS, whereas a deeper response to ixazomib (≥ VGPR) and a longer response to first-line bortezomib (≥ 24 m) were associated with an improved PFS on ixazomib. No effect on PFS was found for cytogenetic risk by FISH, ISS/rISS, and prior anti-myeloma treatment. Ixazomib-based combinations are efficacious and safe regimens in RRMM patients in the real-world setting, regardless to cytogenetic risk, with a PFS of 24 months comparable with clinical trial data. This regimen had most favorable outcomes among patients who remained progression-free more than 24 months after a bortezomib induction and for those who have a more indolent disease phenotype.

Ofranergene obadenovec (VB-111) in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer; favorable response rates in a phase I/II study are associated with an immunotherapeutic effect.

OBJECTIVE: Report final results of a phase I/II study of VB-111, a targeted anti-cancer gene therapy with a dual mechanism: anti angiogenic/vascular disruption and induction of an anti-tumor directed immune response, in combination with paclitaxel in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. METHODS: Study NCT01711970 was a prospective, open label, dose escalation study assessing combination treatment of VB-111 and weekly paclitaxel. In the Phase I part of the study, patients were treated with escalating doses of intravenous VB-111 and paclitaxel. In Phase 2, patients were treated with therapeutic doses of VB-111 and paclitaxel 80 mg/m2. Assessments included safety, overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS), and tumor response (CA-125 and RECIST). RESULTS: 21 patients with recurrent platinum-resistant ovarian cancer were enrolled. 17/21 received the therapeutic dose. Patients had a median of 3 prior lines of therapy. Half of the subjects were platinum refractory, and half were previously treated with antiangiogenics. No DLTs were observed. VB-111 was well tolerated and associated with mild flu-like symptoms. In the therapeutic dose cohort, a 58% CA-125 GCIG response rate was seen in evaluable patients. The median OS was 16.6 months in patients treated with therapeutic dose compared to 5.8 months in sub-therapeutic dose (p = 0.028). Tumor specimens taken after treatment demonstrated tumor infiltrated with cytotoxic CD8 T-cells in regions of apoptotic cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with VB-111 in combination with paclitaxel was safe and well tolerated. Favorable tumor responses and overall survival outcomes were associated with induction of an immunotherapeutic effect.

Bortezomib washout duration prior to stem cell mobilization in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine the impact of washout period in patients with multiple myeloma between bortezomib-based induction regimens and the collection of stem cells. METHODS: This was a single-center historical prospective study, including all sequential newly diagnosed patients with myeloma between 2012 and 2017 that were given a first-line bortezomib-based induction therapy (≤6 cycles) followed by stem cell collection (n = 75). RESULTS: We found a statistically significant correlation between the days from last dose of bortezomib and both CD34+ cells/kg yield on the first collection day and the overall collected CD34+ cells/kg (r = .466, P < .001, and r = .341, P = .03, respectively). The optimal receiver operating curve's cutoff point was 8.5 days (79% sensitivity and 71% specificity, P = .001). On multivariate analysis, timing of last dose of bortezomib remained statistically significant (P = .01). Based on this, we developed a model to predict the total collected CD34+ cells/kg = 11.76 + 0.13 (timing in days of last dose of bortezomib) -0.1 (age) -1.39 (if female) -0.01 (≥PR) -1.35 (if prior radiation). CONCLUSIONS: Timing of last dose of bortezomib may predict a successful collection. A washout period of 9 days is associated with a better collection yield. A prospective validation of this novel finding is required.

Real-world data on incidence, clinical characteristics and outcome of patients with macrofocal multiple myeloma (MFMM) in the era of novel therapies: A study of the Greco-Israeli collaborative myeloma working group.

We investigated incidence, characteristics and outcome of patients with macrofocal multiple myeloma (MFMM) treated mainly with novel therapies. Based on definition (BMPCs <20% and lytic lesions/plasmacytomas, without anemia, renal insufficiency or hypercalcemia) we identified 140 patients with MFMM, among 4650 myeloma patients (3%). Twice the number of patients with typical myeloma were used as controls; 60% were <65 years and 70% had advanced bone disease. Plasmacytomas were more frequent in MFMM compared with standard myeloma (68% vs 15%, P < .05). Adverse prognostic parameters (high lactate dehydrogenase, advanced stage, high risk cytogenetics, immunoparesis) were less common in patients with MFMM compared with controls (P < .05); 90% received novel agents and 47% underwent autologous transplantation upfront; 90% achieved an objective response; 70% had at least very good partial response which was significantly higher compared with controls (P < .05). After a median follow-up of 52 months, 33 patients have died. Early death (<12 months) was infrequent in MFMM. Median progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) were 46 and 129 months respectively, both significantly longer compared with controls (P < .001). Proteasome inhibitor (PI)-based therapy was the only independent predictor for OS in the multivariate analysis (HR: 3.9; P < .001). In conclusion, MFMM is a distinct entity presented in young and elderly subjects, characterized by limited bone marrow infiltration, advanced bone disease and frequent presence of plasmacytomas; MFMM patients have less often adverse prognostic features and achieve excellent responses and prolonged OS especially when treated with PI-based therapies. Novel imaging will help in a more accurate classification of this entity.

Hematogenous extramedullary relapse in multiple myeloma - a multicenter retrospective study in 127 patients.

The current study assesses the characteristics and outcomes of multiple myeloma (MM) patients, treated with novel agents for hematogenous extramedullary (HEMM) relapse. Consecutive patients diagnosed with HEMM between 2010-2018 were included. Patients' characteristics at diagnosis and at HEMM presentation, response to treatment, survival and factors predicting survival were recorded and analyzed. A group of 127 patients, all diagnosed with HEMM by imaging (87.3%) and/or biopsy (79%), were included. Of those, 44% were initially diagnosed with ISS3, 57% presented with plasmacytomas, and 30% had high-risk cytogenetics. Median time to HEMM was 32 months. In multivariate analysis, ISS3 and bone plasmacytoma predicted shorter time to HEMM (P = .005 and P = .008, respectively). Upfront autograft was associated with longer time to HEMM (P = .002). At HEMM, 32% of patients had no BM plasmacytosis, 20% had non-secretory disease and 43% had light-chain disease. Multiple HEMM sites were reported in 52% of patients, mostly involving soft tissue, skin (29%), and pleura/lung (25%). First treatment for HEMM included proteasome inhibitors (50%), immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) (39%), monoclonal antibodies (10%), and chemotherapy (53%). Overall response rate (ORR) was 57%. IMiDs were associated with higher ORR (HR 2.2, 95% CI 1.02-4.7, P = .04). Median survival from HEMM was 6 months (CI 95% 4.8-7.2). Failure to achieve ≥VGPR was the only significant factor for worse OS in multivariate analyses (HR = 9.87, CI 95% 2.35 - 39, P = .001). In conclusion, HEMM occurs within 3 years of initial myeloma diagnosis and is associated with dismal outcome. The IMiDs might provide a higher response rate, and achievement of ≥VGPR predicts longer survival.

Cohort-Controlled Comparison of Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation Using Carlecortemcel-L, a Single Progenitor-Enriched Cord Blood, to Double Cord Blood Unit Transplantation.

Umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplantation has a high early mortality rate primarily related to transplanted stem cell dose. To decrease early mortality and enhance engraftment, a portion of selected cord blood units (20% to 50%) was expanded with cytokines and the copper chelator tetraethylenepentamine (carlecortemcel-L) and transplanted with the unmanipulated fraction after myeloablative conditioning. The primary endpoint was 100-day survival, which was compared with a contemporaneous double-unit cord blood transplantation (DUCBT) group. We enrolled 101 patients at 25 sites; the DUCBT comparison (n = 295) was selected from international registries using study eligibility criteria. Baseline carlecortemcel-L study group unit nucleated cell (NC) and CD34+ were 3.06 × 107 cell dose/kg and 1.64 × 105 cell dose/kg. Median NC and CD34+ fold expansion were 400 and 77, with a mean total CD34 infused of 9.7 × 105/kg. The 100-day survival was 84.2% for the carlecortemcel-L study group versus 74.6% for the DUCBT group (odds ratio, .50; 95% CI, .26 to .95; P = .035). Survival at day 180 was similar for the 2 groups; the major cause of death after day 100 was opportunistic infections. Faster median neutrophil (21 days versus 28 days; P < .0001), and platelet (54 days versus 105 days; P = .008) engraftment was seen in the carlecortemcel-L study group; acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease rates were similar. In this multinational comparative study, transplanting expanded CD34+ stem cells from a portion of a single UCB unit, with the remaining unmanipulated fraction improved 100-day survival compared with DUCBT control patients while facilitating myeloid and platelet engraftment. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00469729.

Treatment patterns and clinical outcomes in high-risk newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients carrying the 17p deletion: An observational multi-center retrospective study.

Del17p is a genomic imbalance occurring in ∼7%-10% of myeloma at diagnosis newly diagnosed myeloma patients (NDMM) and comprises a poor prognostic factor. The goal of this study is to analyze real world data and outcomes among NDMM patients carrying 17p deletion. We report an observational, retrospective, multicenter study. Sixty consecutive patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma in the 8 participating centers diagnosed between 1/2008 and 1/2016 proven to carry 17p deletion by means of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were identified. Most received a bortezomib-based induction, over half underwent autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT); 30% of the patients gained early access to new novel agents via clinical trials, access programs or private insurance. Overall response rate (ORR) after induction was 85%; 94% for transplant eligible (TE); and 75% for transplant ineligible (NTE), and declined in subsequent treatment lines, 64% achieved ≥ VGPR. Median overall survival (OS) was 43 months; median progression free survival (PFS) was 11 months, 19 months for TE and 7 for NTE. In multivariate analysis: higher M-Spike, presence of extramedullary disease, and >50% of cells baring del17p were associated with adverse PFS; Autologous HCT and higher hemoglobin were associated with longer PFS; OS was 59 months for patients with early access to newer agents. Older age and higher M-Spike levels were associated with adverse OS, Autologous HCT was associated with favorable OS, 59.7 vs 28.7 months for NTE patients. Despite the improvement achieved with autologous HCT and new novel agents, the prognosis of patients with 17p deletion is still inferior, emphasizing the need for novel approaches.

Serum free immunoglobulin light chain fingerprint identifies a subset of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients with worse outcome.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a multi-subclonal malignancy with relatively high heterogeneity. Patients who initially presented with both monoclonal-protein (MP) and free light chain (FLC) secretion but then relapsed with a light chain escape pattern have been shown to reflect disease clonal evolution and to bare a worse prognosis. We hypothesized that a discordant MP/FLC pattern at diagnosis may reflect a similar clonal evolution that had occurred prior to diagnosis of active myeloma, conferring a worse outcome. We analyzed 255 consecutive newly diagnosed MM patients who received first line bortezomib-based therapy between 2007 and 2014, hypothesizing that their MP/FLC fingerprint at diagnosis reflects clonal heterogeneity and, therefore, affects outcome. An involved FLC level ≥ 700 mg/L and MP ≥ 2.5 g/L were used as cutoffs for low vs high FLC and MP levels, respectively. Patients were divided into 4 subgroups according to their involved FLC and MP blood levels at diagnosis: HiLC and HiMP for patients with either a predominant FLC or a predominant MP, respectively, and HiLC-MP and LoLC-MP when both FLC and MP were increased or decreased, respectively. There were 68 (27%) patients with HiLC, which presented more often with International Staging System-3 stage (P < .0001). Multivariate analysis showed that HiLC was associated with a 5.1-fold risk for mortality in a multivariate model (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.34-19.68). Both HiLC and HiLC-MP phenotypes were associated with shorter progression-free survival (hazard ratio of 2.66 [95% CI, 1.33-5.32] and 2.82 [95% CI, 1.37-5.83], respectively), independently of other prognostic factors, including the use of autograft. Thus, we identified an LC predominant secretory fingerprint (HiLC phenotype) at diagnosis as a potential independent risk factor that may affect disease control and survival in newly diagnosed MM patients treated with bortezomib-based induction therapy; this may represent increased subclonal heterogeneity.

Efficacy and safety of autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation in elderly patients with multiple myeloma: a retrospective national multi-site cohort study.

We aimed to test the efficacy and toxicity of autologous hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) in Multiple Myeloma (MM) patients aged ≥65 years compared to patients aged 60-64. Two hundred twenty consecutive patients (age ≥65, n = 87) with MM aged 60 and above, who underwent HCT as part of an upfront MM treatment, at four Israeli centers between 2000 and 2014 were included. A melphalan dose of 200 mg/m2 was more frequent in the 60-64 age group vs. the ≥65 age group (77 vs. 57%, p = 0.002). There were no differences between groups in median day of neutrophil engraftment, incidence of infections, grades 3-4 mucositis, cardiovascular events, or non-relapse mortality at 100 days post HCT (4.7, vs. 5%, p = 0.9). A similar rate of improvement in response level was observed (36, vs. 35%, p = 0.87). At 3 years post HCT progression-free survival (PFS) was higher in the 60-64 age group (42 vs. 29%, p = 0.04); however, it was no longer so after adjustment for disease status prior to HCT (p = 0.49). In a Multivariate analysis, melphalan doses and age did not predict PFS. There was no difference in overall survival (OS) between age groups (p = 0.2). We conclude that toxicity profile, response, PFS, and OS of HCT in aged ≥65 patients with myeloma is similar to patients aged 60-64.

18F-FDG-PET/CT Pulmonary Infiltrates in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients Treated with Combined Immunochemotherapy: Incidence and Clinical Characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary infiltrates (PIs) detected in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) may present a diagnostic challenge due to their wide differential diagnosis, including infection, pulmonary lymphoma and immunochemotherapy-associated pulmonary toxicity. OBJECTIVES: To characterize therapy-associated PIs by positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging. METHODS: We conducted a historical analysis of fluorodeoxyglucose-PET/CT (18F-FDG-PET/CT) PIs in NHL patients treated with combined immunochemotherapy including rituximab. Incidence of PIs, radiological features, patients' characteristics, underlying NHL type, rituximab/chemotherapy dosing schedules, and symptoms were recorded. Therapy-associated PIs were defined as new or worsening PIs appearing after treatment onset, without evidence of active pulmonary lymphoma or infection. RESULTS: Among 80 patients who met the pre-specified criteria, therapy-associated PIs were identified in 17 (21%), 6 of whom had accompanying symptoms. Increased FDG uptake was observed in nine, and PI resolution in six. The incidence of PIs was higher in females and in patients with aggressive lymphoma, at advanced stages, and in those who had received treatment consisting of a combination of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone every 14 days (R-CHOP-14). CONCLUSIONS: This characterization of therapy-associated PIs may support the clinician managing NHL patients. Further prospective studies are needed to establish the role of each therapeutic component and the natural history of this phenomenon.