Simpson, Lijo

Abstract Background: While the therapeutic armamentarium for plasma cell disorders have expanded recently with introduction of thalidomide, lenalidomide and bortezomib, these diseases are still incurable and more agents are needed. We have previously demonstrated expression of CD 52 on plasma cells in MM, MGUS and AL amyloidosis. Based on this data we conducted a Phase II Study of Campath (Alemtuzumab; Monoclonal Anti-CD52 Antibody) in Primary Systemic Amyloidosis and Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma. Methods: The study was an IRB approved, Phase II protocol, with a two stage design and interim analysis at 14 patients, to assess the efficacy and toxicity of Alemtuzumab. The regimen involved a dose escalation during week one (Day I 3 mg SQ; Day II 10 mg SQ; Day III 30 mg SQ; then 30 mg SQ three times a week for a planned total of 17 additional weeks). All patients received concurrent Co-Trimoxazole, Fluconazole and Valacyclovir prophylaxis. The planned accrual was 32 patients. Results: A total of 14 patients were accrued, 8 patients with MM and 6 patients with AL. There were 8 females and 6 males in the study. The median age was 62 years (range: 50–78) years. The patients were heavily pretreated with the median number of treatments being 4. There were 5 grade 3–4 toxicities (CMV viremia (2 pts), skin rash (2 pts), and febrile neutropenia (1 pt)). Seven patients had evidence of disease progression and were removed from study. One patient completed the treatments with a mixed response. One patient had a sudden death while on study. The median duration of therapy was 6 weeks (range 3 weeks to 17 weeks). The accrual was stopped after 14 patients when the interim analysis showed a lack of anti-tumor efficacy and significant toxicity. Conclusion: This phase II study in patients with relapsed / refractory myeloma or amyloidosis demonstrated no evidence of clinical activity with use of Campath. In addition it was also associated with significant toxicity in this population. We do not recommend use of campath as a primary treatment modality in these patients. The lack of efficacy despite demonstrated expression of CD52 on clonal plasma cells once again highlights the need for combining treatments with multiple mechanisms in order to improve the response and outcome in these patients. Whether it can synergize with other therapies at lower doses without significant toxicity remains unknown.

Abstract Background: In patients (pts) with newly diagnosed myeloma (MM) eligible for high dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), the standard approach is 4–6 months of induction therapy followed by ASCT. The combination of thalidomide and dexamethasone is one of the commonly used induction regimens, and has superior response rates compared to dexamethasone or VAD. Almost all patients undergoing an ASCT relapse at a median interval of 18–24 months. The choice of treatments at first relapse is variable, but re-application of the original induction regimen, if effective is often considered. It is not clear if the responses obtained at the time of induction therapy can be replicated at the time of relapse. We studied the response of thalidomide based regimens when used as first treatment after relapse from an ASCT in patients receiving thalidomide as induction treatment. Methods: Pts who received thalidomide and dexamethasone as induction therapy, and thalidomide ± dexamethasone at first relapse after ASCT were identified for the current study. A group of patients receiving dexamethasone as induction therapy and thalidomide ± dexamethasone at first relapse after ASCT was used as the control group. Results: There were 20 pts in the study group (group 1) and 14 patients in the control group (group 2) identified between 2002 and 2007. There were 15 (75%) males in group 1 and 10 (71%) in group 2. In group 1 there was 1(5%) complete response (CR), 5 (25%) very good partial response (VGPR) and 14 (70%) partial responses (PR) to induction therapy. In group 2 there was 1 (7%)VGPR, 12 (86%) PR and 1 (7%)stable disease following dexamethasone induction. Upon treatment with thalidomide based regimens at first relapse after ASCT, there was a high rate of treatment failures in group 1 as compared to group 2 (no response in 14 out of 20 patients (70%) versus 5 of 14 pts (35%), respectively, p = 0.04). Of the 10 patients with progressive disease in group 1 post transplant, 30% had previously achieved a VGPR and 70% had previously achieved a PR to thalidomide/dexamethasone pre-ASCT. Conclusions: Our study provides evidence toward the lack of efficacy of thalidomide based regimens on post ASCT relapse in patients who had thalidomide responsive disease prior to ASCT. It is possible that this applies to other induction regimens when used at post ASCT relapse and raises the possibility of selection of drug resistant clones with initial therapy. Response rates seen with drug regimens prior to ASCT may not be reproducible at the time of relapse after ASCT.

8118 Background: Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) improves survival and remains the standard of care for patients with newly diagnosed myeloma considered eligible for transplant. However, ASCT is not curative and patients relapse after a median interval of 24–30 months. While new therapeutic options have become available for relapsed MM, repeat ASCT remains an option especially when previously collected stem cells are available. The outcome of pts going to a second SCT in the relapsed setting has not been studied extensively. Methods: We identified pts with myeloma who received a second SCT from a prospectively maintained database. Planned tandem ASCTs were excluded. 56 pts received a second SCT for relapsed MM, including 11 allogeneic SCTs. Among the 45 second ASCTs, 5 were followed by reduced intensity allogeneic SCT and were analyzed with the allogeneic group. Results: The median age at second ASCT was 60.2 yrs (range, 41.3–74.4) and 27 (68%) were males. The median time to second ASCT from diagnosis, first ASCT and relapse were 47.4 mos (22.8–158.6), 36.3 mos (13.5–129.8) and 7.2 mos (1–32) respectively. Among patients receiving second APBSC, 14 (35%) patients were alive with a median follow up of 10.5 mos (1–45 mos). All patients received melphalan conditioning. The median time to neutrophil engraftment was 15 days and platelet engraftment was 16 days. The median hospitalization was 4 days (range 0–33) and there was one transplant related death in the group. The best response included 13 pts with CR (33%), 4 with VGPR (10%), and 19 with PR (48%). MM has relapsed in 22 (55%) pts with a median PFS of 12.5 mos from second ASCT. The median estimated OS from diagnosis, first ASCT and second ASCT were 100.5 mos, 65.9 mos, and 30.6 mos respectively. Among the 16 pts receiving allogeneic SCT, 8 pts (50%) were alive at analysis with a median PFS and OS from transplant of 17.9 mos and 33.5 mos respectively. Conclusions: Second ASCT as salvage therapy for relapsed MM is a viable approach and has a favorable outcome in this selected group of patients. The toxicity, engraftment kinetics, hospitalization and the response rates are comparable to patients undergoing initial ASCT. Allogeneic SCT with or with out a preceding ASCT results in comparable survival in selected patients with high risk disease. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Abstract Background: Obesity is a prevalent health problem and significant heterogeneity is seen in the body weight and BMI among adult patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT). At least two critical steps of the SCT are influenced by the body weight. Stem cell collection targets are usually determined based on the actual body weight and conditioning chemotherapy doses are usually determined based on corrected ideal body weight. One could hypothesize that since the stem cells home to bone marrow, the ideal body weight (IBW) being based on the height may be a better indicator of the stem cell numbers required rather than the actual body weight (ABW). Since chemotherapy doses are calculated based on corrected ideal body weight, and the volume of distribution is higher in obese patients, these patients may have decreased drug exposure and hence a higher risk of progression. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the engraftment kinetics and response outcome of 306 SCTs done at our institution between March 1998 and October 2001. These included patients who had undergone SCT for multiple myeloma (46%), NHL (34%), HD (6%) and AL amyloidosis (14%). Body weight, height, stem cell dose and engraftment data was obtained from medical records. The stem cell dose received was calculated based on their ABW as well as IBW and correlated with the time to white cell and platelet engraftment. We also evaluated the effect of BMI on the progression free survival after the stem cell transplant using various cut offs. Results: The mean (range) for the ABW, IBW and BMI were 46.6 kg to 189 Kg; 45.5 kg to 94 kg; and 17.5 to 55.8 respectively. Using logistic regression, we estimated the ability of CD34 cell dose by actual and ideal body weight to predict the likelihood of platelet engraftment (50,000) by day 21 post transplant. The coefficients using both the doses were very similar (.391 for ideal and 0.361 for actual). Using Receiver operating characteristic analysis (ROC analysis); we determined the stem cell dose cutoff that best predicted for failure to engraft neutrophils by 21 days post transplantation, median CD34 dose by ABW of 3.6 million/Kg and by IBW of 4.2 million/Kg. Similarly, for failure to engraft platelets by day 30 the cutoffs were 2.89 million/Kg by actual weight and 3.77 million/kg by ideal weight. Among the individuals with actual body weight more than 25% of ideal body weight (n=122, 40%), we calculated the optimal total CD34 dose required and compared to the actual dose infused using both the cutoff sets (286 million vs. 446 million, P < 0.001 using ANC cutoff and 251 million vs. 446 million using the platelet cutoff, P < 0.001). We then examined the effect of BMI on progression free and overall survival from transplant. The progression free and overall survival post transplant was similar for patients with BMI over 30 kg/m2 compared to those below this cutoff. There was no difference when patients with myeloma or lymphoma were studied separately. Conclusion: This study, as in previous studies, confirms that stem cell dose determined on the basis of ideal body weight is comparable to that by actual body weight in terms of engraftment kinetics. In patients significantly above the ideal body weight, it is reasonable to use a target based on ideal body weight which will allow for collection of less numbers of CD34 cells, thus conserving resources. Among patient undergoing stem cell transplant, the practice of using corrected ideal body weight does not appear to compromise the outcome of stem cell transplant.