Carfilzomib, bendamustine, and dexamethasone in patients with advanced multiple myeloma: The EMN09 phase 1/2 study of the European Myeloma Network.

BACKGROUND: Combined therapy with carfilzomib, bendamustine, and dexamethasone was evaluated in this multicenter phase 1/2 trial conducted within the European Myeloma Network (EMN09 trial). METHODS: Sixty-three patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma who had received ≥2 lines of prior therapy were included. The phase 1 portion of the study determined the maximum tolerated dose of carfilzomib with bendamustine set at 70 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8. After 8 cycles, responding patients received maintenance therapy with carfilzomib and dexamethasone until progression. RESULTS: On the basis of the phase 1 results, the recommended phase 2 dose for carfilzomib was 27 mg/m2 twice weekly in weeks 1, 2, and 3. Fifty-two percent of patients achieved a partial response or better, and 32% reached a very good partial response or better. The clinical benefit rate was 93%. After a median follow-up of 21.9 months, the median progression-free survival was 11.6 months, and the median overall survival was 30.4 months. The reported grade ≥3 hematologic adverse events (AEs) were lymphopenia (29%), neutropenia (25%), and thrombocytopenia (22%). The main nonhematologic grade ≥3 AEs were pneumonia, thromboembolic events (10%), cardiac AEs (8%), and hypertension (2%). CONCLUSIONS: In heavily pretreated patients who have relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, combined carfilzomib, bendamustine, and dexamethasone is an effective treatment option administered in the outpatient setting. Infection prophylaxis and attention to patients with cardiovascular predisposition are required.

Full or intensity-reduced high-dose melphalan and single or double autologous stem cell transplant with or without bortezomib consolidation in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

OBJECTIVE: A post hoc subgroup analysis of two phase III trials (NCT00416273, NCT00416208) was carried out to investigate the influence of 100/140 and 200 mg/m² melphalan as well as single/double autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) on progression-free survival (PFS). Additionally, the effect of bortezomib consolidation on PFS was analyzed. METHODS: Following induction therapy and high-dose melphalan with subsequent ASCT, patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) were randomized 1:1 to either four 35-day cycles of bortezomib consolidation (1.6 mg/m² IV on days 1, 8, 15, 22) or observation. RESULTS: Of the 340 patients included in this analysis, 13.5% received 1 × MEL100/140, 22.9% 2 × MEL100/140, 31.2% 1 × MEL200, and 32.4% 2 × MEL200. With higher cumulative melphalan dose, PFS improved (P = .0085). PFS curves of patients treated with 2 × MEL100/140 and 1 × MEL200 were very similar. The superior dose effect of MEL200 over MEL100/140 was non-existent in the bortezomib consolidation arm but pronounced in the observation arm (P = .0015). Similarly, double ASCT was only beneficial in patients without bortezomib consolidation (P = .0569). CONCLUSIONS: Full dose melphalan and double transplantation seem advantageous only as long as patients are not receiving bortezomib consolidation afterwards.

Clinical outcomes and prognostic factors in patients with multiple myeloma in South Tyrol: a retrospective single-center analysis.

High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (HD-ASCT) as well as the introduction of novel agents (NA) significantly improved survival for patients with multiple myeloma (MM). A total of 150 unselected newly diagnosed MM patients treated at our institution from 1998 to 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Median age at diagnosis was 69 years (range 33-93 years) with a median follow-up of 48.6 months. The median overall survival (OS) for the entire cohort was 60.7 months (range 0.3-280.1). Patients who received frontline HD-ASCT (p < 0.01) or NA-based first-line treatment (p = 0.043) had a significantly better OS. According to the revised Myeloma Comorbidity Index (R-MCI), patients were defined as fit (36.5%), intermediate-fit (44.5%), or frail (19%) with a significant difference in OS between these categories (p < 0.01). Multivariate analysis revealed R-MCI as an independent prognostic factor for OS (p < 0.01). Presence of subclinical amyloid deposits (A+) was detected in 18 out of 66 patients (27.3%) and significantly correlated with a serum free light chain (sFLC) ratio ≥ 100 (p = 0.01) and bone marrow plasma cell infiltration > 60% (p = 0.04). Furthermore, patients with A+ had significantly worse OS compared with their counterparts (p = 0.048). Our results corroborate the efficacy of both early HD-ASCT and the use of new agents as initial therapy of MM patients in "real-world" daily clinical practice. The R-MCI is an easily applicable tool to stratify MM patients and may support treatment decisions. The prognostic value of subclinical amyloid deposition should be validated within prospective studies.

Bortezomib consolidation following autologous transplant in younger and older patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma in two phase III trials.

OBJECTIVE: A post hoc analysis of two phase III trials was carried out to explore the influence of age and treatment factors on the effect of bortezomib consolidation on progression-free survival (PFS) post autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). METHODS: Patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma were assigned to one of two trials (ClinicalTrials.gov IDs: NCT00416273, NCT00416208), which were conducted in parallel, based on age (18-60 or 61-75 years, respectively). Following induction and ASCT, patients were randomized 1:1 to four 35-day cycles of bortezomib consolidation (1.6 mg/m2 IV on days 1, 8, 15, 22) or observation only. RESULTS: Median PFS with bortezomib consolidation vs observation was 33.6 vs 29.0 months (P = 0.3599) in patients aged 18-60 years (n = 202), and 33.4 vs 26.4 months (P = 0.0073) in patients aged 61-75 years (n = 155), respectively. Bortezomib consolidation post-ASCT appeared to equalize outcomes between older and younger patients who received prior treatment of differing intensity. This suggests that the effect of consolidation may be relative and may depend on the composition and intensity of induction and high-dose therapy. CONCLUSION: Older patients receiving less intensive prior treatment could experience a larger PFS benefit from bortezomib consolidation.

From transplant to novel cellular therapies in multiple myeloma: European Myeloma Network guidelines and future perspectives.

Survival of myeloma patients has greatly improved with the use of autologous stem cell transplantation and novel agents, such as proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs and monoclonal antibodies. Compared to bortezomib- and lenalidomide-based regimens alone, the addition of high-dose melphalan followed by autologous transplantation significantly improves progression-free survival, although an overall survival benefit was not observed in all trials. Moreover, follow up of recent trials is still too short to show any difference in survival. In the light of these findings, novel agent-based induction followed by autologous transplantation is considered the standard upfront treatment for eligible patients (level of evidence: 1A). Post-transplant consolidation and maintenance treatment can further improve patient outcome (1A). The availability of several novel agents has led to the development of multiple combination regimens such as salvage treatment options. In this context, the role of salvage autologous transplantation and allotransplant has not been extensively evaluated. In the case of prolonged remission after upfront autologous transplantation, another autologous transplantation at relapse can be considered (2B). Patients who experience early relapse and/or have high-risk features have a poor prognosis and may be considered as candidates for clinical trials that, in young and fit patients, may also include an allograft in combination with novel agents (2B). Ongoing studies are evaluating the role of novel cellular therapies, such as inclusion of antibody-based triplets and quadruplets, and chimeric antigen receptor-T cells. Despite encouraging preliminary results, longer follow up and larger patient numbers are needed before the clinical use of these novel therapies can be widely recommended.

Phase II study of bortezomib, cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone as induction therapy in multiple myeloma: DSMM XI trial.

We assessed the safety and efficacy of bortezomib, cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone (VCD) induction therapy in previously untreated multiple myeloma patients. A total of 414 patients received three 21-day cycles of VCD prior to autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT). Most common grade ≥3 adverse events were leucopenia (31·4%) and thrombocytopenia (6·8%). The overall response rate (ORR) by investigator-based assessment was 85·4%. Most patients (74%) underwent successful central laboratory-based molecular cytogenetic analysis. No clinically relevant differences in ORR post-induction were seen between patients with or without high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities (86·2% vs. 84·3%). Further follow-up data are available for 113 patients receiving ASCT who were included in a prospective consolidation trial (median follow-up, 55·5 months); median progression-free survival (PFS) was 35·3 months and median overall survival (OS) was not reached. In patients with high-risk versus standard-risk cytogenetics, median PFS was 19·9 vs. 43·6 months (P < 0·0001), and median OS was 54·7 months versus not reached (P = 0·0022). VCD is an effective and tolerable induction regimen; results suggest that VCD induces high response rates independently of cytogenetic risk status, but after long-term follow-up, cytogenetic high risk is associated with markedly reduced PFS and OS post-ASCT.

Autotransplant with and without induction chemotherapy in older multiple myeloma patients: long-term outcome of a randomized trial.

Autologous transplantation is controversial for older patients with multiple myeloma. The role of age-adjusted high-dose melphalan and the impact of induction chemotherapy cycles is still unclear. A total of 434 patients aged 60-70 years were randomly assigned to 4 cycles of standard anthracycline-based induction chemotherapy or no induction. For all patients, double autologous transplantation after melphalan 140 mg/m2 (MEL140) was planned. The primary end point was progression-free survival. Of 420 eligible patients, 85% received a first transplant and 69% completed double transplantation. Treatment duration was short with a median of 7.7 months with induction chemotherapy cycles and 4.6 months without induction. On an intention-to-treat basis, median progression-free survival with induction chemotherapy cycles (207 patients) was 21.4 months versus 20.0 months with no induction cycles (213 patients) (hazard ratio 1.04, 95% confidence interval 0.84-1.28; P=0.36). Per protocol, progression-free survival was 23.7 months versus 23.0 months (P=0.28). Patients aged 65 years or over (55%) did not have an inferior outcome. Patients with low-risk cytogenetics [absence of del17p13, t(4;14) and 1q21 gains] showed a favorable overall survival and included the patients with sustained first remission. MEL140 was associated with a low rate of severe mucositis (10%) and treatment-related deaths (1%). Based on hazard ratio, the short treatment arm consisting of mobilization chemotherapy and tandem MEL140 achieved 96% of the progression-free survival, demonstrating its value as an independent component of therapy in older patients with multiple myeloma who are considered fit for autologous transplantation. (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: 02288741).

European Myeloma Network recommendations on the evaluation and treatment of newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma management has undergone profound changes in the past thanks to advances in our understanding of the disease biology and improvements in treatment and supportive care approaches. This article presents recommendations of the European Myeloma Network for newly diagnosed patients based on the GRADE system for level of evidence. All patients with symptomatic disease should undergo risk stratification to classify patients for International Staging System stage (level of evidence: 1A) and for cytogenetically defined high- versus standard-risk groups (2B). Novel-agent-based induction and up-front autologous stem cell transplantation in medically fit patients remains the standard of care (1A). Induction therapy should include a triple combination of bortezomib, with either adriamycin or thalidomide and dexamethasone (1A), or with cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone (2B). Currently, allogeneic stem cell transplantation may be considered for young patients with high-risk disease and preferably in the context of a clinical trial (2B). Thalidomide (1B) or lenalidomide (1A) maintenance increases progression-free survival and possibly overall survival (2B). Bortezomib-based regimens are a valuable consolidation option, especially for patients who failed excellent response after autologous stem cell transplantation (2A). Bortezomib-melphalan-prednisone or melphalan-prednisone-thalidomide are the standards of care for transplant-ineligible patients (1A). Melphalan-prednisone-lenalidomide with lenalidomide maintenance increases progression-free survival, but overall survival data are needed. New data from the phase III study (MM-020/IFM 07-01) of lenalidomide-low-dose dexamethasone reached its primary end point of a statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival as compared to melphalan-prednisone-thalidomide and provides further evidence for the efficacy of lenalidomide-low-dose dexamethasone in transplant-ineligible patients (2B).

The proteogenomic landscape of multiple myeloma reveals insights into disease biology and therapeutic opportunities.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell malignancy of the bone marrow. Despite therapeutic advances, MM remains incurable, and better risk stratification as well as new therapies are therefore highly needed. The proteome of MM has not been systematically assessed before and holds the potential to uncover insight into disease biology and improved prognostication in addition to genetic and transcriptomic studies. Here we provide a comprehensive multiomics analysis including deep tandem mass tag-based quantitative global (phospho)proteomics, RNA sequencing, and nanopore DNA sequencing of 138 primary patient-derived plasma cell malignancies encompassing treatment-naive MM, plasma cell leukemia and the premalignancy monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, as well as healthy controls. We found that the (phospho)proteome of malignant plasma cells are highly deregulated as compared with healthy plasma cells and is both defined by chromosomal alterations as well as posttranscriptional regulation. A prognostic protein signature was identified that is associated with aggressive disease independent of established risk factors in MM. Integration with functional genetics and single-cell RNA sequencing revealed general and genetic subtype-specific deregulated proteins and pathways in plasma cell malignancies that include potential targets for (immuno)therapies. Our study demonstrates the potential of proteogenomics in cancer and provides an easily accessible resource for investigating protein regulation and new therapeutic approaches in MM.

Testing G-CSF responsiveness predicts the individual susceptibility to infection and consecutive treatment in recipients of high-dose chemotherapy.

The individual risk of infection and requirements for medical treatment after high-dose chemotherapy have been unpredictable. In this prospective, multicenter, open-label study we investigated the potential of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) responsiveness as a predictor. A total of 168 patients with multiple myeloma or lymphoma received a single dose of subcutaneous G-CSF (lenograstim, 263 µg) after high-dose chemotherapy. Highly variable leukocyte peaks were measured and grouped as low (quartile 1; leukocytes 100-10 100/µL), medium (quartile 2; leukocytes > 10 100-18 300/µL), and high (quartiles 3/4; leukocytes > 18 300-44 800/µL). G-CSF responsiveness (low vs medium vs high) was inversely correlated with febrile neutropenia (77% vs 60% vs 48%; P = .0037); the rate of infection, including fever of unknown origin (91% vs 67% vs 54%; P < .0001); days with intravenous antibiotics (9 vs 6 vs 5; P < .0001); and antifungal therapy (P = .042). In multivariate analysis, G-CSF responsiveness remained the only factor significantly associated with infection (P = .016). In addition, G-CSF responsiveness was inversely correlated with grade 3/4 oral mucositis (67% vs 33% vs 23%; P < .0001). G-CSF responsiveness appears as a signature of the myeloid marrow reserve predicting defense against neutropenic infection after intensive chemotherapy. This study is registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01085058.

CD4(+) CD28(+) lymphocytes on day 5 after high-dose melphalan for multiple myeloma predict a low risk of infections during severe neutropenia and are associated with the number of reinfused T lymphocytes of the autologous stem cell graft.

BACKGROUND AIMS: Neutropenia following high-dose chemotherapy is associated with a substantial risk of infectious complications. The aim of this study was to identify variables in residual leukocyte subsets during neutropenia that are predictive for neutropenic fever. METHODS: Residual leukocytes in the peripheral blood on day 5 after autologous blood stem cell transplantation were analyzed by three-color flow cytometry in 55 consecutive patients with multiple myeloma. Furthermore, the number of T cells transfused with the autografts was determined. RESULTS: Neutrophil counts at day 5 and neutrophil engraftment were similar in patients with and without neutropenic fever. Low absolute lymphocyte, CD4(+) CD28(+) and CD45RO(+) CD28(+) counts at day 5 were associated with neutropenic fever. T-cell counts at day 5 correlated with the CD3(+) cell number in the graft. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that the absolute lymphocyte, CD4(+) CD28(+) and CD45RO(+) CD28(+) counts play a role in host defense during severe neutropenia. The T-cell number in the graft may help to identify patients at high risk of neutropenic infections.

Kinetics of Renal Function during Induction in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma: Results of Two Prospective Studies by the German Myeloma Study Group DSMM.

BACKGROUND: Preservation of kidney function in newly diagnosed (ND) multiple myeloma (MM) helps to prevent excess toxicity. Patients (pts) from two prospective trials were analyzed, provided postinduction (PInd) restaging was performed. Pts received three cycles with bortezomib (btz), cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone (dex; VCD) or btz, lenalidomide (len), and dex (VRd) or len, adriamycin, and dex (RAD). The minimum required estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was >30 mL/min. We analyzed the percent change of the renal function using the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) criteria and Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO)-defined categories. RESULTS: Seven hundred and seventy-two patients were eligible. Three hundred and fifty-six received VCD, 214 VRd, and 202 RAD. VCD patients had the best baseline eGFR. The proportion of pts with eGFR <45 mL/min decreased from 7.3% at baseline to 1.9% PInd (p < 0.0001). Thirty-seven point one percent of VCD versus 49% of VRd patients had a decrease of GFR (p = 0.0872). IMWG-defined "renal complete response (CRrenal)" was achieved in 17/25 (68%) pts after VCD, 12/19 (63%) after RAD, and 14/27 (52%) after VRd (p = 0.4747). CONCLUSIONS: Analyzing a large and representative newly diagnosed myeloma (NDMM) group, we found no difference in CRrenal that occurred independently from the myeloma response across the three regimens. A trend towards deterioration of the renal function with VRd versus VCD may be explained by a better pretreatment "renal fitness" in the latter group.

Gorlin syndrome associated with small bowel carcinoma and mesenchymal proliferation of the gastrointestinal tract: case report and review of literature.

UNLABELLED: BACKGROUND AND CASE PRESENTATION: A patient with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (Gorlin syndrome) presented with two unusual clinical features, i.e. adenocarcinoma of the small bowel and extensive mesenchymal proliferation of the lower gastrointestinal tract. CONCLUSIONS: We discuss the possibility that these two features are pathogenetically linked to the formerly undescribed patient's PTCH germ line mutation.

How to treat multiple myeloma - a representative multicentre treatment survey.

BACKGROUND: The present survey was undertaken to gain insights in the changes of disease management of multiple myeloma (MM) over time and the implementation of new guidelines into daily practice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Diagnosis and treatment of MM were evaluated based on a 3-month representative multicentre survey including 386 patients from 35 centres in Germany in 2008. The results were compared to similar surveys in 2004 and 2006. RESULTS: At the time of first diagnosis, most patients (62.5%) were already in stage III (Durie-Salmon). The presence of deletion 13q was determined in 22% of patients only. However, determination of other prognostic factors has become increasingly well established. These include the levels of ß2-microglobulin and serum albumin, each of which was determined in more than 2/3 of patients. Overall, 35% of patients were considered for high-dose chemotherapy. As a consequence of the development of innovative substances, there are remarkable shifts in first line, second line, and third line therapy with an increase in the use of bortezomib at all levels of therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Regarding diagnostic measures, deviations from recommended guidelines became evident. Also, high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell support was considered in a minority of patients only. Novel substances, however, were rapidly integrated into the treatment of MM.

[Recurrent Therapy of Multiple Myeloma - Individualized Concepts from The Arsenal of Diverse Options]. / Rezidivtherapie des Multiplen Myeloms ­ Individualisierte Konzepte aus dem Arsenal vielfältiger Optionen.

The prognosis of patients with multiple myeloma has improved significantly over the past 20 years. However, the patient population in the relapse situation is very heterogeneous due to increasing age and the previous course of the disease and therapy. In particular, the approval of new targeted substances offers numerous treatment options that can be adapted to the individual situation.In relapsed multiple myeloma, disease- and patient-specific factors must be considered for an individually adapted therapy. Suitable patients can also receive an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) or, in the case of early relapse after ASCT, an allogenic stem cell transplant, if possible as part clinical studies. Proteasome or immunomodulator-based triple combinations are the standard in recurrence. In frail patients, a combination of two can also be used. The new substances also offer very good therapeutic options for high-risk cytogenetics or renal insufficiency. The monoclonal antibodies Daratumumab and Elotuzumab are well tolerated except for infusion reactions and are highly effective in various combinations, even in high-risk cytogenetics.

Autologous stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma patients: utilization patterns and hospital effects.

Evidence on volume outcome associations for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in multiple myeloma (MM) is limited. We investigated ASCT utilization patterns and volume outcome associations in the German National Registry for Stem Cell Transplants (DRST). MM patients with an upfront ASCT between 1998 and 2014 registered in the DRST were included. ASCT utilization increased strongly from 6% to 17% between 1999 and 2013 with the largest increase for patients aged 60-64 years (8-34%). The mean number of ASCTs conducted in the hospitals per year varied (quintiles, Q1:0.0-8.2 to Q5:31.0-102.7). Center volume was not associated with survival after upfront ASCT (lowest vs. highest center volume, hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals: 0.95 (0.76-1.18), p = 0.92). Our findings may reflect a high standard of care and degree of specialization of centers performing ASCT for MM in Germany.

Insights on Multiple Myeloma Treatment Strategies.

The introduction of new agents and management strategies over the past decade has resulted in a major step change in treatment outcomes with deepening responses and increased survival for patients with multiple myeloma. In daily clinical practice, healthcare professionals are now faced with challenges including, optimal treatment sequencing and changing treatment goals. In light of this, a group of experts met to discuss diagnostic and treatment guidelines, examine current clinical practice, and consider how new clinical trial data may be integrated into the management of multiple myeloma in the future.

Allogeneic transplantation in multiple myeloma: long-term follow-up and cytogenetic subgroup analysis.

This phase 3 trial compared tandem autologous stem cell transplantation (autoSCT) versus autoSCT followed by reduced-intensity conditioning allogeneic stem cell transplantation (auto/alloSCT) in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) with deletion of (del) chromosome 13q (del13q). The availability/absence of a human leukocyte antigen-matched-related or matched-unrelated donor (MUD) determined the nature of the second SCT. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) in the intention-to-treat population (n = 199). Auto/alloSCT was performed in 126 patients; 74 received MUD allografts. After 91 months median follow-up, median PFS with auto/allo versus tandem autoSCT was 34.5 versus 21.8 months (P = 0.003; adjusted hazard ratio 0.55, 95% confidence interval 0.36-0.84). Median overall survival (OS) was 70.2 versus 71.8 months (P = 0.856). Two-year non-relapse mortality with auto/allo versus tandem autoSCT was 14.3% versus 4.1% (P = 0.008). In patients harboring both del13q and del17p, median PFS and OS were 37.5 and 61.5 months with auto/allo (n = 19) versus 6.1 and 23.4 months with tandem autoSCT (n = 6) (P = 0.0002 and 0.032). Our findings suggest that auto/alloSCT significantly extends PFS versus tandem autoSCT in del13q MM, and indicate some survival benefit for first-line alloSCT in high-risk MM.

European myeloma network recommendations on diagnosis and management of patients with rare plasma cell dyscrasias.

The introduction of novel agents in the management of multiple myeloma and related plasma cell dyscrasias has changed our treatment approaches and subsequently the outcome of patients. Due to current advances, the European Myeloma Network updated the diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations for patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM), AL-amyloidosis, monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition disease (MIDD), POEMS syndrome, and primary plasma cell leukemia. For patients with WM, the combination of rituximab with chemotherapy remains the treatment cornerstone, while the Bruton-tyrosine kinase inhibitor ibrutinib has been introduced and approved for relapsed/refractory disease. The management of light chain amyloidosis depends on the presence and severity of heart disfunction. If present, intensification with an autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is not recommended. Further aggregation of misfolded light chains could be prevented by doxycycline or monoclonal antibodies targeting amyloid deposits. Initial treatment generally consists of melphalan/dexamethasone or bortezomib-based regimens. For relapsing patients, one can consider proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory agents, melphalan or daratumumab. Because intact or light-chain immunoglobulins are also the culprits for MIDD, the small monoclonal plasma cells' clones should be treated and generally respond well to bortezomib-based treatment. POEMS syndrome is a well-defined clinical entity that can present as solitary bone lesions or disseminated disease. Radiation therapy is used for patients with localized disease and result in long-lasting response. Systemic treatment should be proposed to patients with disseminated disease, but regimens that can worsen a pre-existing polyneuropathy should be avoided. PPCL is located at the other end of the spectrum of plasma cell disorders and is associated with an aggressive disease course and poor prognosis. It requires an imminent, multi-phase and novel agents-based therapy, including induction, ASCT, consolidation and maintenance, with short treatment-free intervals. Patients not eligible for transplant procedures require personalized, intensive therapeutic approach. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation can be used in selected patients.

Patient-centered practice in elderly myeloma patients: an overview and consensus from the European Myeloma Network (EMN).

Multiple myeloma is a disease typical of the elderly, and, because of the increase in life expectancy of the general population, its incidence is expected to grow in the future. Elderly patients represent a particular challenge due to their marked heterogeneity. Many new and highly effective drugs have been introduced in the last few years and results from clinical trials are promising. Besides the availability of novel agents, a careful evaluation of elderly patients showed to be a key factor for the success of therapy. A geriatric assessment is a valid strategy to better stratify patients. In particular, different scores are available today to appropriately assess elderly patients and define their fitness/frailty status. The choice of treatment-transplantation, triplets, doublets, or reduced-dose therapies including novel agents-should depend on the patient's fitness status (fit, intermediate-fit or frail). Second-generation novel agents have also been evaluated as salvage therapy in the elderly, and these new agents certainly represent a further step forward in the treatment armamentarium for elderly patients with multiple myeloma.