Aiello, Jack

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable cancer of plasma cells with nearly 70% of all new diagnoses occurring in adults aged ≥ 65 years. For older adults, medical comorbidities and functional deficits become increasingly more prevalent with increased age and can impact disease outcomes and survival. There are unmet medical needs in this vulnerable patient population who are not eligible for autologous stem cell transplantation to optimize the frontline therapy for better survival and less toxicity. This randomized phase 3 clinical trial is designed to focus on real world patient population to identify an optimal frontline three drug regimen in frail or a subset of intermediate fit newly diagnosed MM patients. Diagnostic criteria and response criteria will be based on IMWG guidelines. Participants must have a calculated myeloma frailty index (Myeloma Frailty Score Calculator (http://www.myelomafrailtyscorecalculator.net/) categorized as frail or intermediate fit (regardless of age) within 28 days prior to registration (NCT05561387). The two most commonly used induction/maintenance regimens in this patient population will be compared, including RVd-Lite (lenalidomide (R), bortezomib (V), and dexamethasone (dex) followed by R maintenance) and DRd (Daratumumab, lenalidomide, and dex followed by R or R-daratumumab maintenance). The study will include three cohorts: (1) RVd-Lite induction followed by Rev maintenance (2) DRd induction followed by Rev maintenance (3) DRd induction followed by D-R maintenance. Induction phases will be 9 cycles in total of 28 days each, followed by maintenance for cycle 10 and beyond in all cohorts until disease progression: V 1.3 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, 15, 22, R 15 mg days 1-21, dex 20 mg days 1, 8, 15, 22 for induction phase and R 10 mg days 1-21 for maintenance phase in cohort 1 (VRd-Lite); SubQ Dara 1800 mg (on days 1, 8, 15, 22 for C1-2, on days 1, 15 for C3-6, on day 1 for C7-9), R 15 mg day 1-21, dex 20 mg days 1, 8, 15, 22 for induction phase and R 10 mg days 1-21 for maintenance in cohort 2 (DRd-R); SubQ Dara 1800 mg (on days 1, 8, 15, 22 for C1-2, on days 1, 15 for C3-6, on day 1 for C7-9), R 15 mg day 1-21, dex 20 mg days 1, 8, 15, 22 for induction phase and Dara 1800mg on day 1 and R 10mg days 1-21 for maintenance in cohort 3 (DRd-DR). The dual primary objectives are (A) to compare progression free survival (PFS) between cohorts 1 (VRd-Lite) and 2 (DRd-R); (B) to compare overall survival (OS) between cohorts 1 (VRd-Lite) and 3 (DRd-DR). Quality of life objectives are to compare patient reported global health status between treatment arms at the end of induction therapy using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire. A total of 459 eligible patients will be enrolled in this randomized three cohort trial. It is hypothesized that Cohort 1 will have a median PFS of 2.667 years and a median OS of 5 years. With 153 eligible participants per cohort accrued over 5 years, and an additional follow-up period of 3 years, this trial has 80% power to detect an increase in the median PFS in Cohort 2 from 2.667 years to 4 years, and 83.4% power to detect an increase in the median OS in Cohort 3 from 5 years to 8.5 years, each with a one-sided type I error rate of 2%. This trial will be conducted among the NCI cooperative groups SWOG, ALLIANCE, and ECOG/ACRIN and incorporate substantial involvement from NCORP and VA member sites. This study is anticipated to provide practice changing data for this transplant-ineligible real world population to achieve deeper and longer remissions with less side effects and better quality of life.

Outcomes in multiple myeloma (MM) have improved dramatically in the last two decades with the advent of novel therapies including immunomodulatory agents (IMiDs), proteasome inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies. In recent years, immunotherapy for the treatment of MM has advanced rapidly, with the approval of new targeted agents and monoclonal antibodies directed against myeloma cell-surface antigens, as well as maturing data from late stage trials of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. Therapies that engage the immune system to treat myeloma offer significant clinical benefits with durable responses and manageable toxicity profiles, however, the appropriate use of these immunotherapy agents can present unique challenges for practicing physicians. Therefore, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer convened an expert panel, which met to consider the current role of approved and emerging immunotherapy agents in MM and provide guidance to the oncology community by developing consensus recommendations. As immunotherapy evolves as a therapeutic option for the treatment of MM, these guidelines will be updated.