Masud, Abdullah Al

Color Doppler twinkling improves visibility and ultrasound-guided localization of biopsy markers made of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). This study examines the time- and frequency-domain features of twinkling. We performed beamforming on the raw radiofrequency (RF) data collected using a L7-4 transducer, followed by in-phase/quadrature (IQ) demodulation and wall filtering. Frequency content variations were evaluated both within individual Doppler ensembles (pulse-to-pulse) and across multiple frames. Normalized FFT magnitude spectra were computed for both twinkling and non-twinkling (metal) cases using beamformed RF and IQ data. The median of the normalized FFT magnitude (3–10 MHz) was consistently higher for the twinkling case compared to the metal case across RF (–13.75 dB vs –17.29 dB) and the IQ real component (–12.72 dB vs –16.15 dB), indicating broader and more energetic spectral content in twinkling. The frequency spread above the –20 dB threshold was approximately 2.5 times wider (5.38 MHz vs 1.95 MHz) in the twinkling case compared to the metal case. In time domain, the RMS of the standard deviation for the twinkling signal was approximately 28 times higher than that of the metal case across both RF and IQ data. These findings indicate that the ultrasound data from twinkling exhibits a more distributed frequency profile, consistent with observed aperiodic nature.

The Doppler twinkling artifact (TA) plays a crucial role in detecting some biopsy markers including those made of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), facilitating precise lymph node localization in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. This study presents comprehensive signal processing analysis methods to quantify and characterize the TA phenomenon using raw, per-channel radiofrequency (RF) data acquired from PMMA markers scanned with an L7-4 linear array transducer. We evaluated signals at different stages along the image reconstruction pipeline including (1) beamforming, (2) beamformed RF signal conversion into in-phase/quadrature (IQ) signals, and (3) Doppler velocity calculations and image reconstruction. We analyzed changes of pulses within an ensemble and between ensembles (i.e., frames). We also evaluated the impact of wall filters with various cutoff frequencies on color and power Doppler image reconstruction. Comparative analysis between PMMA markers and a non-twinkling control sample demonstrated distinct TA signatures or lack thereof in color and power Doppler images. The IQ data from PMMA marker locations exhibiting TA signatures showed substantially higher variability compared to non-twinkling samples, with standard deviations approximately 20 times higher between ensembles and 5 times higher within ensembles. This quantitative analysis framework provides valuable insight into the TA signal, potentially leading to more reliable and accurate diagnostic interpretations.

Abstract Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a heterogenous cancer of terminally differentiated plasma cells that typically express elevated levels of antiapoptotic proteins, such as BCL-2. Venetoclax (Ven), a highly selective, potent, oral BCL-2 inhibitor, induces apoptosis in MM cells, and when combined with bortezomib and dexamethasone showed promising efficacy in patients (pts) with relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM; Moreau et al. Blood. 2017;130:2392-2400). The Phase 3 BELLINI study primary analysis showed significantly improved response rates and progression-free survival (PFS) in pts with RRMM treated with Ven added to bortezomib and dexamethasone versus placebo (Pbo); however, increased mortality was observed in the Ven group (Kumar et al. Lancet Oncol. 2020;21:1630-1642). At the initial data cutoff (November 26, 2018), the PFS hazard ratio (HR) was 0.63 (95% CI, 0.44-0.90) and overall survival (OS) HR was 2.03 (95% CI, 1.04-3.95). Pts with t(11;14) translocation or high BCL2 expression showed improved responses and PFS without increased mortality. Here, we present updated safety and efficacy data from the prespecified final OS analysis. Methods: BELLINI (NCT02755597) is a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, multicenter study of Ven or Pbo combined with bortezomib and dexamethasone in pts with RRMM who had received 1-3 prior lines of therapy and were either sensitive or naïve to proteasome inhibitors. Pts were randomized 2:1 to receive Ven 800 mg/day or Pbo plus bortezomib and dexamethasone. Cycles 1-8 were 21-day cycles with bortezomib 1.3 mg/m 2 on Days 1, 4, 8, and 11 and dexamethasone 20 mg on Days 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, and 12. Cycles 9 and beyond were 35-day cycles with bortezomib 1.3 mg/m 2 on Days 1, 8, 15, and 22 and dexamethasone 20 mg on Days 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, and 23. The primary endpoint was PFS assessed by independent review committee. Key secondary endpoints included overall response rate and OS. BCL2 expression was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction with the cutoff for high BCL2 determined using bootstrapping and aggregating thresholds from trees. Results: Of 291 randomized pts (194 to Ven and 97 to Pbo), 33 pts were receiving ongoing treatment (28 with Ven and 5 with Pbo) as of the final OS analysis data cutoff (March 15, 2021). At a median follow-up of 45.6 months, there were 78 (40%) deaths in the Ven arm versus 36 (37%) in the Pbo arm. Updated PFS and OS among all pts and those with t(11;14) or high BCL2 expression are shown in the Table. Among all pts, the median PFS per investigator was 23.4 months in the Ven arm versus 11.4 months in the Pbo arm (HR, 0.58 [95% CI, 0.43-0.78]). In pts with t(11;14), the median PFS was 36.8 months in the Ven arm versus 9.3 months in the Pbo arm (HR, 0.12 [95% CI, 0.03-0.44]). In pts with high BCL2, the median PFS was 30.1 months in the Ven arm versus 9.9 months in the Pbo arm (HR, 0.37 [95% CI, 0.21-0.64]). Median OS was not reached in the Ven or Pbo arm among all pts (HR, 1.19 [95% CI, 0.80-1.77]), pts with t(11;14) (HR, 0.61 [95% CI, 0.16-2.32]), pts with high BCL2 (HR, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.32-1.51]), and pts with t(11;14) or high BCL2 (HR, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.40-1.70]). The most common treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) with Ven (versus Pbo) were diarrhea (60% versus 50%), nausea (38% versus 23%), and constipation (35% versus 31%). The most common Grade 3/4 AEs (Ven versus Pbo) were thrombocytopenia (16% versus 30%), neutropenia (23% versus 8%), pneumonia (19% versus 13%), anemia (16% versus 15%), and diarrhea (15% versus 11%). Serious AEs occurred in 57% of Ven- and 55% of Pbo-treated pts, with serious infections and infestations occurring in 35% and 29% of pts, respectively. Overall, 26% of pts in the Ven arm and 11% of pts in the Pbo arm experienced an AE leading to Ven or Pbo discontinuation. AEs led to 12 deaths in the Ven arm, with 9 of these deaths due to serious infection; an AE led to 1 death in the Pbo arm. A total of 16 (6%) treatment-emergent deaths occurred (14 [7%] with Ven and 2 [2%] with Pbo), with 3 of these deaths due to disease progression (2 [1%] with Ven and 1 [1%] with Pbo). Conclusion: In the final OS analysis, the addition of Ven to bortezomib and dexamethasone showed significantly improved PFS but resulted in increased mortality versus Pbo in the total population. Consistent with results from previous analyses, Ven added to bortezomib and dexamethasone showed the greatest PFS improvement in pts with t(11;14) or high BCL2, with a favorable benefit-risk profile. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Kumar: Beigene: Consultancy; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Bluebird Bio: Consultancy; Merck: Research Funding; Astra-Zeneca: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; KITE: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Tenebio: Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Antengene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Roche-Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Oncopeptides: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Carsgen: Research Funding; Adaptive: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding. Harrison: Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene/ Juno/ BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen Cilag: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Roche/Genentech: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Haemalogix: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; GSK: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Eusa: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Terumo BCT: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Cavo: Novartis: Honoraria; GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel Accommodations, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES, Speakers Bureau; Bristol-Myers Squib: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. de la Rubia: Ablynx/Sanofi: Consultancy; Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb,: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES; Celgene, Takeda, Janssen, Sanofi: Honoraria; AbbVie: Consultancy; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel Accommodations; GSK: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Popat: Abbvie, Takeda, Janssen, and Celgene: Consultancy; AbbVie, BMS, Janssen, Oncopeptides, and Amgen: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES; GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen and BMS: Other: travel expenses. Gasparetto: Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES, Speakers Bureau; Oncopeptite: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Consultancy; Connect Registry: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GSK: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Hungria: Sanofi: Honoraria, Other: Support for attending meetings/travel ; Takeda: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria; Amgen, BMS, Celgene, Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Support for attending meetings/travel . Salwender: Oncopeptides: Honoraria; GlaxoSmithKline: Honoraria, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES; Sanofi: Honoraria, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES; Takeda: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES; Chugai: Honoraria; AbbVie: Honoraria, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES; Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES; Bristol-Myers Squibb/Celgene: Honoraria, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES. Suzuki: Japanese Red Cross Medical Center: Current Employment; Janssen: Honoraria; AbbVie: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; ONO: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria. Kim: Seoul National University Hospital: Current Employment. Onishi: Roche: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Genentech: Current Employment. Ku: Roche: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES; Genentech: Current Employment, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES. Pothacamury: AbbVie: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company. Sehgal: AbbVie: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company. Masud: AbbVie: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company. Ross: AbbVie: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company. Dobkowska: AbbVie: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES; Pharmacyclics: Current Employment. Moreau: Celgene BMS: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria; Oncopeptides: Honoraria.

Abstract Proteins in the antiapoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) family play a role in the pathophysiology of multiple myeloma (MM). Venetoclax is a highly selective, potent, oral BCL-2 inhibitor that induces apoptosis of MM cells, and its efficacy may be potentiated through combination with agents that increase BCL-2 dependency or have complementary mechanisms of action. The safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and antitumor activity of venetoclax in combination with carfilzomib and dexamethasone (VenKd) in adults with relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM) were investigated in this phase 2 dose-escalation study. Oral venetoclax (400 or 800 mg) was administered daily in combination with intravenous carfilzomib (27, 56, or 70 mg/m2) and oral dexamethasone (20 or 40 mg) in 4 dose-finding cohorts. The expansion cohort received venetoclax 800 mg, carfilzomib 70 mg/m2, and dexamethasone 40 mg. Forty-nine patients received treatment. Median prior lines of therapy was 1 (range, 1-3), and median time in the study was 27 months. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events were diarrhea (65%), fatigue (47%), nausea (47%), and lymphopenia (35%). Serious adverse events occurred in 26 (53%) patients. Of 3 treatment-emergent deaths, 1 was considered treatment related. The overall response rate was 80% in all patients, 92% in patients with t(11;14) (n = 13), and 75% in patients without (n = 36). The rate of complete response or better was 41%. Median progression-free survival was 22.8 months. Treatment with VenKd was well tolerated and showed promising response rates in this RRMM patient population, with greater responses observed in patients with t(11;14). This trial is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02899052.