SummaryPatients with asymptomatic/smouldering Waldenström macroglobulinaemia (SWM) have a variable risk of progression to active WM. Our study evaluated 143 patients with SWM consecutively seen between January 1996 and December 2013. With a median [95% confidence interval (CI)] follow‐up of 9·5 [8·1–11·5] years, the cumulative rate of progression was 11% at 1 year, 38% at 3 years and 55% at 5 years. On multivariate analysis, haemoglobin (Hb) ≤123 g/l [risk ratio (RR) 2·08; P = 0·009] and β2‐microglobulin (β2M) ≥2·7 µg/ml (RR 2·0; P = 0·01) were independent predictors of a shorter time‐to‐progression (TTP) to active WM. Patients with myeloid differentiation factor 88 wild type (MYD88WT) genotype (n = 11) demonstrated a trend toward shorter TTP [median (95% CI) 1·7 (0·7–8·7) vs. 4·7 (2·4–7·7) years for the MYD88L265P cohort, n = 42; P = 0·11]. The presence of C‐X‐C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) mutation (n = 29) did not impact the TTP (median: 3 years for CXCR4WT vs. 5·6 years for CXCR4MUT, P = 0·34). The overall survival (OS) for patients with SWM (median: 18·1 years) was comparable to an age‐, sex‐ and calendar year‐matched USA population (median: 20·3 years, P = 0·502). In conclusion, Hb and β2M at diagnosis represent independent predictors of progression to active WM. Comparable survival of SWM and a matched USA population argues against pre‐emptive intervention in this patient population.
Treatment and outcome of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients > 75 years old: a retrospective analysis
Abstract Multiple myeloma (MM) is a heterogeneous disease that may be evaluated by a broad array of imaging and laboratory techniques to measure disease activity and predict prognosis. Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scanning has been shown to be predictive of patient outcomes throughout the disease course. We sought to corroborate these findings by examining the prognostic impact of PET/CT scanning in the posttransplant setting. We retrospectively analyzed PET/CT scans in 229 MM patients receiving an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) near day 100, and correlated these findings with time to progression(TTP) and overall survival (OS) to assess the impact of day 100 PET/CT scan findings as an independent prognostic factor. The median OS for the entire cohort was 61.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 49-75) and the median TTP was 18.5 months (95% CI, 15.4-21.8). Among patients with abnormal day 100 PET findings (PET+), median TTP was 12.4 months vs 24 months among those with normal PET findings (PET−) (P < .0001). The median OS in the PET+ group was 46 months compared with 99 months in the PET− group (P < .0001). We conclude that an abnormal PET/CT scan near day 100 post-ASCT is predictive of shorter TTP and OS, with prognostic significance retained after adjusting for disease response and other prognostic variables in MM.
Venetoclax for the treatment of multiple myeloma: Outcomes outside of clinical trials
AbstractMultiple myeloma (MM) remains an incurable disease despite incorporation of novel agents. Venetoclax, a B‐cell lymphoma 2 (BCL‐2) inhibitor is approved for some hematologic malignancies but not yet for MM, although clinical trials have shown efficacy in patients with MM, particularly those harboring t(11;14). We reviewed the medical records of relapsed and/or refractory MM patients to study the efficacy and safety of venetoclax used outside of clinical trials at Mayo Clinic between December, 2016 and March, 2019. The data cut‐off date was August 06, 2020. We identified 56 patients of whom 42 (75%) harbored t(11;14). The median number of prior therapies was six (range 1–15) and 14% of patients had received ≥10 prior lines of therapy. Fifty‐three (95%) patients were refractory to an immunomodulatory drug and proteasome inhibitor. Venetoclax was used as monotherapy or doublet, in combination with dexamethasone in 55% (n = 31) and a triplet or quadruplet in 45% of patients. No patient experienced tumor lysis syndrome. Overall response rate in 52 evaluable patients was 44%. The median time to best response was 2 months and median duration of response was 13.6 months. The median PFS for the entire cohort was 5.8 (95% CI 4.9–10.3) months and median OS was 28.4 (95% CI 14.6‐not reached) months. The presence of t(11;14) was associated with improved PFS (median 9.7 months vs. 4.2 months, p = 0.019) and OS (median not reached vs. 10.8 9 months, p = 0.015). Venetoclax demonstrates encouraging activity in heavily‐treated patients with relapsed/refractory MM, particularly the t(11;14) patient‐population.
Impact of stratifying levels of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) at diagnosis on the overall survival (OS) in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM).
e20016 Background: An elevated serum LDH level is an adverse prognostic factor in NDMM. However, this category includes quantitative serum LDH levels that range from just over the upper limit of normal (ULN) to levels that may be 2 or more-fold higher than the ULN. This binary classification of serum LDH level of “normal versus elevated” fails to discriminate between the different disease biology that exists among NDMM patients with elevated serum LDH levels. Thus, we attempted to further stratify NDMM patients by the level of their serum LDH and determine its impact on OS. Methods: The cohort included patients diagnosed with NDMM from the Mayo Clinic, Rochester from 2003 - 2017 who were treated with novel agent induction therapy and had serum LDH levels measured at the time of diagnosis. The serum LDH levels were stratified into three levels: Normal (LDH < 222 U/L), Elevated (LDH 223-444 U/L), and Very Elevated (LDH >444 U/L or >2x upper limit of normal). Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and compared via the log-rank method. Results: The cohort consists of 1,196 NDMM patients with a median age of 65 (22 – 95). R-ISS classification and cytogenetic risk were available for 968 and 970 patients respectively. The median serum LDH level was (162 U/L (3- 1260)) and an elevated LDH was present in 199 patients (17%). The median OS for patients with normal (N = 997; 83%), elevated (N = 170; 13%) and very elevated (N = 29; 3%) LDH levels were 76 months, 57 months and 23 months respectively (P < 0.001). The impact of these different levels of LDH on OS by R-ISS stage and cytogenetic risk is shown in the Table. Conclusions: A very small subset of NDMM patients has very elevated LDH levels that confer an exceptionally poor OS irrespective of R-ISS stage and cytogenetic risk. Future studies elucidating their disease biology responsible for such poor OS outcomes are warranted.[Table: see text]
Prognostic impact of depth of response in Waldenström macroglobulinemia patients treated with fixed duration chemoimmunotherapy.
8049 Background: The treatment paradigm of Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) continues to evolve as new therapies expand our options for this indolent and incurable disease. While more profound responses are generally associated with longer treatment-free intervals, the impact of depth of response from fixed duration therapy in WM patients' survival needs further evaluation. In this international, multicenter cohort study, we report the prognostic impact of depth of response in WM. Methods: 319 WM patients treated with frontline fixed duration therapy [Dexamethasone/Rituximab/Cyclophosphamide (DRC), Bendamustine/Rituximab (BR), or Bortezomib/Dexamethasone/Rituximab (BDR)] were included. Response at the completion of therapy (6 months) was used in a landmark analysis for progression-free survival (PFS), time to next treatment (TTNT), and overall survival (OS) (defined as time from 6 months post treatment response to event or censor). Response was defined by modified IWWM-6 criteria. Associations between clinical variables and outcomes were evaluated using Cox proportional-hazard models. Results: The median age at the time of treatment initiation was 64 years (range: 29-94), 59% were men, and risk category by International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS)-WM was low (n=67, 23%), intermediate (n=83, 29%), and high-risk (n=141, 48%). Evaluable responses at 6 months from frontline therapy [DRC (n=105; 41%), BR (n=83; 32%), BDR (n=68; 27%)] were available in 256 patients and included in the landmark analysis. Median follow-up was 63 months (95% CI: 59-70). The rate of major response (PR or better) at 6 months was 74% for the entire cohort. Five-year PFS rates from completion of therapy for patients who attained major response vs. those who did not were 71% and 43%, respectively (p<0.001). Five-year TTNT rates for patients who attained major response vs. not were 84% and 54%, respectively (p<0.001). Five-year OS rates for patients who attained major response vs. not were 92% and 77%, respectively (p<0.001). In multivariable analyses including other WM prognostic factors evaluated at initiation of frontline therapy, attaining a major response at 6 months was associated with superior PFS (HR 0.33, p<0.001), TTNT (HR 0.23, p<0.001), and OS (HR 0.31, p=0.001–Table). Conclusions: Achieving a major response at 6 months after frontline chemoimmunotherapy emerges as a significant prognostic factor for PFS, TTNT and OS in patients with WM.[Table: see text]
Assessment of fixed‐duration therapies for treatment‐naïve
Waldenström
macroglobulinemia
Abstract Comparative data guiding initial therapy for Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM), an infrequently encountered non‐Hodgkin lymphoma, are sparse. We evaluated three commonly used rituximab‐based frontline regimens: rituximab‐bendamustine (R‐Benda); dexamethasone, rituximab, cyclophosphamide (DRC); and bortezomib, dexamethasone, rituximab (BDR) in 220 treatment‐naïve patients with WM, seen at Mayo Clinic between November 1, 2000 and October 31, 2019. The median follow‐up was 4.5 (95%CI: 4–5) years. The R‐Benda cohort (n = 83) demonstrated superior overall response rate (ORR: 98%), in comparison to DRC (n = 92, ORR: 78%) or BDR (n = 45, ORR: 84%) cohorts, p = 0.003. Similarly, longer progression‐free survival (PFS) was evident with R‐Benda use [median 5.2 vs. 4.3 (DRC) and 1.8 years (BDR), p < 0.001]. The time‐to‐next therapy (TTNT) favored R‐Benda [median, not‐reached, 4.4 (DRC) and 2.6 years (BDR), p < 0.001). These endpoints were comparable between the DRC and BDR cohorts. Overall survival (OS) was similar across the three cohorts, p = 0.77. In a subset analysis of 142 patients genotyped for MYD88 L265P mutation, the ORR, PFS and TTNT were unaffected by the patients' MYD88 signature within each cohort. In conclusion, ORR, PFS and TTNT with R‐Benda are superior compared to DRC or BDR in treatment‐naïve patients with active WM. The patient outcomes with any one of these three regimens are unaffected by the MYD88 L265P mutation status.
Prognostic restaging after treatment initiation in patients with AL amyloidosis
Abstract The utility of systemic light chain (AL) amyloidosis staging systems has been validated for newly diagnosed patients, but their role in restaging after treatment has not been explored. We designed this study to evaluate whether the currently used systems are of prognostic value at 3 and 6 months of starting first-line treatment, and whether stage migration from diagnosis impacts survival. This is a retrospective study including Mayo Clinic patients with AL amyloidosis diagnosed between 1 January 2006 and 30 June 2019; 536 and 204 patients had restaging data for at least 1 system at 3 and 6 months, respectively. Using modified Mayo 2004 staging at 3 months, median overall survival (OSs) were 11.8, 10.8, 4.6, and 1.1 years for stage I, II, IIIa, and IIIb, respectively. Using Mayo 2012, median OSs were 11.8, 9.0, 5.2, and 0.8 years for stage I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Using modified Mayo 2004 staging at 6 months, median OSs were not reached (NR), NR, 5.4, and 0.9 years for stage I, II, IIIa, and IIIb, respectively. Using Mayo 2012, OSs were NR, NR, 4.6, and 0.9 years for stage I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Worsening stage at 3 or 6 months was associated with worse survival than retaining baseline stage. In conclusion, the current staging systems can be used for restaging at 3 and 6 months from treatment initiation. Migration to higher stage predicts poor prognosis.
Prognostic Impact of PET Findings Post-Transplant in Multiple Myeloma
Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a heterogeneous disease that may be evaluated by a broad array of imaging and laboratory techniques to measure disease activity and predict prognosis. FDG PET/CT has been shown to be predictive of patient outcomes throughout the disease course, with several studies demonstrating that PET/CT is an independent prognostic factor for progression free survival and overall survival (OS). We sought to corroborate these findings by specifically examining the prognostic impact of PET/CT in the post-transplant setting. We retrospectively analyzed PET/CT in MM patients after consolidation therapy with autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) and correlated these findings with time to progression (TTP) and OS to assess the impact of day 100 PET/CT findings as an independent prognostic factor. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 231 myeloma patients who underwent ASCT between 2003-2016 and had a FDG PET/CT exam available for analysis at an average of day 104 post-transplant. We recorded the findings on PET/CT prior to transplant, where available. PET/CT without evidence of active/residual disease (PET-) was defined per IMWG guidelines (disappearance of every area of increased tracer uptake found on preceding PET/CT, or uptake < mediastinal blood pool, or decrease < surrounding normal tissue). PET/CT indicating active disease (PET+) was defined as any abnormal uptake or incompletely resolved uptake from previous exam. A Kaplan-Meier model was used to estimate median TTP and OS and the 2-sided log-rank test to compare groups. TTP and OS were calculated from the date of ASCT to the date of confirmed disease progression or death, respectively. Outcomes were then compared among patients with a PET/CT versus those without a PET/CT post-ASCT to assess for the presence of selection bias. A proportional hazards fit model was used for multivariate analysis. Results: The median length of follow-up for the entire cohort was 49 months (range: 43-58 mo), median TTP was 18.5 months (95% CI; 15.4-21.8), and median OS was 61.5 months (95% CI; 49-75). Among the entire cohort (n=231), 150 (65%) patients had a positive PET/CT exam at day 100 post-ASCT while 81 (35%) had a negative PET exam. There were 195 (84%) patients with a PET/CT exam prior to ASCT available for comparison, of which 161 (85%) were PET+ and 29 (15%) were PET-. Median time between PET/CT exams was 4.1 months (range 1.4-55). Median TTP among PET+ patients near day 100 was 12.4 months vs. 24 months PET- patients (p<.0001, Fig 1, panel A). Median OS in the PET+ group was 46 months compared to 99 months in the PET- group (p<.0001, Fig 1, panel B). Among patients with a prior PET/CT (195, 84%), median TTP was longer in patients with both exams negative compared to those who were day 100 PET- and previously PET+ (42.6 mo vs. 21.1 mo respectively; p<.0001). TTP was shorter in those who were day 100 PET+ and previously PET- compared to those with persistently PET+ on both exams (4.5 vs. 12.3 mo; p<.0001, Figure 2). Since PET/CT was not routinely ordered post ASCT, we also compared the outcomes between patients getting a PET/CT (n=231) and remaining patients undergoing ASCT (n=1764). Among patients with a day 100 PET/CT vs. those without a PET/CT exam, there was a slightly longer median TTP and OS in the group who did not have a post-ASCT PET/CT. Hazard ratios (HR) after adjusting for disease response (CR at day 100 vs. non-CR) were as follows: TTP PET+ HR 1.76 (1.2-2.4; p=0.003), OS PET+ HR 1.8 (1.2-2.6; p=.0016). Conclusions: MM is a heterogeneous disease that relies on different assessments for determining response, activity, and prognosis. Among these, PET/CT has shown promise in predicting prognosis, independent of disease state and conventional prognostic factors. Our study confirms these findings, demonstrating that an abnormal PET/CT near day 100 post-transplant is predictive of shorter TTP and OS. This prognostic significance remained even after adjusting for disease response (CR vs. non-CR), which could be explained by the sometimes patchy distribution of myeloma in the bone marrow, and identification of extramedullary disease by PET/CT. Taken together, these results demonstrate a possible role for incorporating PET/CT in the post-transplant setting as an independent prognostic variable in stratifying disease risk. Disclosures Dingli: Apellis: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Rigel: Consultancy; Millenium: Consultancy; Karyopharm Therapeutics: Research Funding; Sanofi-Genzyme: Consultancy; Bristol Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Alexion: Consultancy. Gertz:NCI SPORE MM: Research Funding; International Waldenstrom Foundation: Research Funding; Amyloidosis Foundation: Research Funding; Springer Publishing: Patents & Royalties; i3Health: Consultancy; Advisory Board for Proclara: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Advisory Board for Pharmacyclics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; DAVA oncology: Speakers Bureau; Johnson and Johnson: Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy; Data Safety Monitoring board from Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Physicians Education Resource: Consultancy; Medscape: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy; Appellis: Consultancy; Annexon: Consultancy; Spectrum: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy; Prothena: Consultancy; Alnylam: Consultancy; Ionis/Akcea: Consultancy. Dispenzieri:Janssen: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Alnylam: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Intellia: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding. Kapoor:Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Sanofi: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria; Cellectar: Consultancy; GlaxoSmithKline: Research Funding. Lin:Sorrento: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Vineti: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bluebird Bio: Consultancy, Research Funding; Juno: Consultancy; Legend BioTech: Consultancy; Merck: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Gamida Cells: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Research Funding. Kumar:Amgen: Consultancy, Other: Research funding for clinical trials to the institution, Consulting/Advisory Board participation with no personal payments, Research Funding; Merck: Consultancy, Research Funding; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Consultancy; Janssen Oncology: Other: Research funding for clinical trials to the institution, Consulting/Advisory Board participation with no personal payments; Genentech/Roche: Other: Research funding for clinical trials to the institution, Consulting/Advisory Board participation with no personal payments; Dr. Reddy's Laboratories: Honoraria; Novartis: Research Funding; Kite Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Oncopeptides: Consultancy, Other: Independent Review Committee; IRC member; AbbVie: Other: Research funding for clinical trials to the institution, Consulting/Advisory Board participation with no personal payments; Takeda: Other: Research funding for clinical trials to the institution, Consulting/Advisory Board participation with no personal payments; Cellectar: Other; Tenebio: Other, Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding; Celgene/BMS: Other: Research funding for clinical trials to the institution, Consulting/Advisory Board participation with no personal payments; Carsgen: Other, Research Funding; Genecentrix: Consultancy; MedImmune: Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding.
Sequential Comparison of Conventional Serum Immunofixation (IFE) to Mass Spectrometry-Based Assessment (MASS FIX) in Patients with Multiple Myeloma (MM)
Background: The absence of residual monoclonal protein in the serum and urine by IFE using specific antibodies to individual heavy and light chains has been an important part of response assessment and is required for categorizing patients as in complete response. MASS FIX has been shown to be more sensitive in picking up small amounts of monoclonal protein and represents an advancement in the field. Ongoing studies are examining the clinical significance of this increased sensitivity. We designed the following study using clinically obtained test results to examine this question. Patients and methods: The clinical laboratory at Mayo Clinic changed the process from IFE to MASS FIX in July 2018. We identified patients who had sequential testing before and after this date and collected test results from the last IFE prior to the date of transition and the first MASS FIX after the date of transition. Patients were grouped based on the paired results and outcomes compared between groups. Time to next therapy (TTNT) was defined as the time from the first MASS FIX date to the start of next therapy. Survival was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and these curves were compared using log rank test. Results: Overall, 739 patients with MM, who had a MASS FIX within 12 months of the IFE were studied; 380 (51%) patients had a negative IFE prior to implementation of MASS FIX. These patients had a MASS FIX test performed at a median of 3.7 (0.03-12) months from the last available IFE. The gap between IFE and MASS FIX was <6 months and < 3 months in 71% and 54% of the patients. Among the patients with a negative IFE, 130 (34%) tested positive on the subsequent MASS FIX. Limiting the analysis to those with a MASS FIX within 6 and 3 months yielded 32% in each group that turned positive from previous negative IFE. The median TTNT from the MASS FIX date was significantly shorter for those who became positive on MASSFIX; median was not reached for either group (P=0.002) (Figure). We then limited the analysis to those patients with a gap of <6 months and <3 months between the tests. The results were consistent: P= 0.012 for those with a gap of < 6 months and P=0.01 for those with a gap < 3 months. Conclusion: The results suggest that the additional sensitivity offered by MASS FIX have clinical significance in patients with MM, given that patients with residual disease identified by MASS FIX have an earlier relapse. The data supports the use of the more sensitive MASS FIX in the laboratory compared to the conventional IFE approaches. The study has the disadvantage that the samples were not tested simultaneously and some of the samples turning positive may reflect an early evidence of relapse, but the relative consistency of the finding irrespective of the gap between the tests argues against that. Ongoing studies are examining MASS FIX on the samples that were called to be negative by IFE initially. Figure Disclosures Murray: The Binding Site: Patents & Royalties: Patent Use of Mass Spec to identify monoclonal proteins licensed to The Binding Site. Dispenzieri:Takeda: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Intellia: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Alnylam: Research Funding. Kapoor:Cellectar: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding; GlaxoSmithKline: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding. Gertz:Janssen: Other: personal fee; Spectrum: Other: personal fee, Research Funding; Springer Publishing: Patents & Royalties; Abbvie: Other; Appellis: Other: personal fee; Annexon: Other: personal fee; Celgene: Other; Amgen: Other: personal fee; Physicians Education Resource: Other: personal fee; Medscape: Other: personal fee, Speakers Bureau; Research to Practice: Other; Sanofi: Other; Teva: Speakers Bureau; Johnson and Johnson: Speakers Bureau; DAVA oncology: Speakers Bureau; Proclara: Other; Aurora Bio: Other; Prothena: Other: personal fee; Alnylam: Other: personal fee; Ionis/Akcea: Other: personal fee. Dingli:Karyopharm Therapeutics: Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Rigel: Consultancy; Sanofi-Genzyme: Consultancy; Millenium: Consultancy; Alexion: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Apellis: Consultancy. Lin:Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Gamida Cells: Consultancy; Sorrento: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Vineti: Consultancy; Legend BioTech: Consultancy; Merck: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bluebird Bio: Consultancy, Research Funding; Juno: Consultancy. Kumar:Dr. Reddy's Laboratories: Honoraria; AbbVie: Other: Research funding for clinical trials to the institution, Consulting/Advisory Board participation with no personal payments; Carsgen: Other, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Tenebio: Other, Research Funding; Celgene/BMS: Other: Research funding for clinical trials to the institution, Consulting/Advisory Board participation with no personal payments; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Consultancy; Kite Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding; Takeda: Other: Research funding for clinical trials to the institution, Consulting/Advisory Board participation with no personal payments; Janssen Oncology: Other: Research funding for clinical trials to the institution, Consulting/Advisory Board participation with no personal payments; Genentech/Roche: Other: Research funding for clinical trials to the institution, Consulting/Advisory Board participation with no personal payments; Merck: Consultancy, Research Funding; MedImmune: Research Funding; Cellectar: Other; Genecentrix: Consultancy; Oncopeptides: Consultancy, Other: Independent Review Committee; IRC member; Amgen: Consultancy, Other: Research funding for clinical trials to the institution, Consulting/Advisory Board participation with no personal payments, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding.