Introduction: SystemicAL amyloidosis is a progressive and often fatal disease caused by misfolded light chains that aggregate into amyloid fibrils and deposit in vital organs, leading to organ dysfunction. Current standard of care (SoC) therapies for AL amyloidosis target the plasma cell clone to reduce or eliminate light chain production, but do not remove soluble toxic light chain aggregates or insoluble amyloid deposits. Early mortality remains high for patients with advanced disease (e.g., Mayo 2012 Stage IV disease, median overall survival <6 months). Birtamimab - a humanized monoclonal antibody that neutralizes soluble, toxic light chain aggregates and depletes insoluble amyloid deposits by inducing phagocytosis - is under investigation for the treatment of AL amyloidosis. Here, we present a pooled safety analysis from previous Phase 1-3 clinical trials, with a focus on the 2 double-blind randomized controlled trials (RCTs): PRONTO (NCT02632786) and VITAL (NCT02312206). Methods: Patients with AL amyloidosis were treated with intravenous birtamimab up to 24 mg/kg every 28 daysin the non-placebo-controlled Phase 1/2 open-label trial (NCT01707264) with open-label extension (OLE; NCT02613182) and 2 RCTs (Phase 2 PRONTO with OLE [NCT03154047] and Phase 3 VITAL). In PRONTO, patients had received ≥1 previous systemic therapy with at least a partial hematologic response and persistent cardiac dysfunction, and received birtamimab or placebo. In VITAL, newly diagnosed treatment-naïve patients with cardiac involvement received birtamimab + SoC or placebo + SoC (where SoC was a bortezomib-containing chemotherapy regimen). The analysis included all patients who received ≥1 dose of birtamimab. Pooled median exposure times were calculated, and baseline characteristics and demographics were summarized. For VITAL and PRONTO, pooled rates and severity of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) with birtamimab were compared with rates in the placebo arms. In addition, safety data from the non-placebo-controlled studies were summarized. Results: The median (range) exposure to birtamimab among 302 patients pooled from the Phase 1-3 trials was 12.24 (0.03-57.72) months. Of the 302 patients exposed to birtamimab, 295 received at least one 24-mg/kg infusion, up to 2500 mg. Analysis of the 2 randomized, placebo-controlled trials included data from 196 patients treated with birtamimab from the PRONTO (n=66) and VITAL (n=130) trials and 193 patients who received placebo (PRONTO, n=63; VITAL, n=130). Both trials had comparable treatment durations overall. The rates of TEAEs, serious and grade ≥3 TEAEs were similar between birtamimab and placebo arms within each trial and between treatment arms in the placebo-controlled pooled analysis set (PRONTO and VITAL; Table 1). Higher rates of treatment-related, serious, and grade ≥3 TEAEs were reported in VITAL compared with PRONTO, presumably due to the treatment-naïve population and receipt of concomitant SoC therapy in VITAL. In the pooled analysis set, the most common TEAEs that occurred with greater frequency in the birtamimab vs placebo arms in either trial were, respectively, fatigue (36.2%, 34.2%), diarrhea (33.2%, 33.7%), nausea (31.6%, 30.1%), constipation (31.1%, 31.6%), and dyspnea (25.0%, 24.9%). The most commonly reported (≥5%) serious and grade ≥3 TEAEs were primarily cardiac disorders (cardiac failure, syncope, cardiac arrest), consistent with the underlying disease. Infusion-associated TEAE rates were low in the pooled birtamimab and placebo arms (5.1% vs 3.6%, respectively) and were generally mild to moderate. The safety profile observed in the non-placebo-controlled Phase 1/2 trial plus OLE and PRONTO OLE (n=106) was consistent with the safety data reported in the placebo-controlled studies. Conclusions: Birtamimab was well tolerated in patients with AL amyloidosis when administered as monotherapy and did not demonstrate additive toxicity when given with SoC chemotherapy. Rates of TEAEs in the birtamimab arm were similar to rates in the placebo arm in the PRONTO and VITAL trials. The safety and efficacy of birtamimab is being further investigated in an ongoing confirmatory Phase 3 double-blind RCT in patients with Mayo Stage IV AL amyloidosis (AFFIRM-AL; NCT04973137), which is currently enrolling.
Light Chain Deposition Disease: First Analysis of an International Study in 359 Patients
Introduction: Light chain deposition disease (LCDD) is a rare complication of monoclonal gammopathies, defined by non-amyloid linear monoclonal light chain (most commonly kappa) deposits in the kidney and other organs. The rarity of LCDD has hampered clinical studies and staging systems and response criteria are lacking. The International Kidney Myeloma Working Group (IKMG) started a clinical data collection from all participating centers in order to define the natural history of LCDD, and to establish prognostic factors and response criteria in a large, international, unselected patient population. Methods: Eight referral centers have yet participated in the data collection at the data lock of July 31, 2020. Patient inclusion is ongoing and expected accrual is 500 patients. The diagnosis of LCDD had to be biopsy-proven. The patients were diagnosed between 1992 to 2020. Response was assessed 6 months after treatment initiation according to the criteria used in light chain (AL) amyloidosis. Renal survival (RS) was defined as time from diagnosis to dialysis or last follow-up. Patients who died without requiring dialysis were censored at the time of death. The analysis of factors predicting RS was performed in patients whose baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was >15 mL/min. The cutoffs of baseline variables, as well as the cutoffs measured at the time of response, best predicting RS or OS at 12 months were identified by means of Receiver Operator Characteristics (ROC) analyses. All patients gave written informed consent for their clinical data to be used for research purposes. Results: Overall, 359 patients have been included in this first analysis. Sixteen (4%) subjects had concomitant cast nephropathy. The main clinical characteristics are reported in the Table. Median overall survival (OS) was 13 years and RS was 12 years (Figure1 A and 1B) and median survival of living patients is 4.5 years. At univariate analysis the only baseline variables predicting RS were proteinuria [best cutoff 2.5 g/24h, HR 2.25 (95%CI 1.13-4.60), P=0.02], and eGFR [best cutoff >30 mL/min, HR 0.50 (95%CI 0.26-0.96) P=0.037], but at multivariate analysis only proteinuria predicted RS [HR 2.17 (95% CI 1.08, 4.33), P=0.027]. At univariate analysis, a higher bone marrow plasma cell infiltrate (best cutoff ≥20%) at diagnosis was associated with a significantly lower OS [HR 1.96 (95% CI 1.23-3.13) P=0.004], as was having end stage renal disease (ESRD) defined as an eGFR <15 mL/min [HR 1.81 (95%CI 1.11-2.92) P=0.015]. We then tested the ability of the hematologic response criteria for AL amyloidosis to discriminate groups with different survival after treatment in a 6 months landmark analysis. Our choice of adopting the amyloidosis response criteria was corroborated by the results of the ROC analysis showing that the difference between involved and uninvolved free light chains (dFLC) cutoff (40 mg/L) used in AL amyloidosis to define very good partial response (VGPR) had 87% sensitivity and 65% specificity in identifying patients who needed dialysis within 12 months. Partial response (PR, 19% requiring dialysis at 3 years) was not associated with a RS benefit over no-response (29% requiring dialysis at 3 years, P=0.511). However, VGPR conferred a significant RS advantage (10% requiring dialysis at 3 years) over PR (P=0.002). No significant difference in RS was seen between complete response (CR, 0% requiring dialysis at 3 years) and VGPR (P=0.178). Thus, achieving VGPR or CR by amyloidosis response criteria [post-treatment dFLC<40 mg/L (VGPR by AL criteria), with or without negative serum and urine immunofixation and normal FLC-ratio (CR by AL criteria)] was adopted as a provisional criterion for hematologic response in LCDD (Figure 1D). LCDD response was also associated with prolonged OS (Figure 1C). Conclusions: Almost one-third of patients with LCDD are diagnosed when they already have ESRD resulting in shorter OS. The degree of proteinuria and of bone marrow plasma cell infiltration predict RS and OS, respectively. Achievement of post treatment dFLC <40 mg/L or negative serum and urine immunofixation at 6 months is proposed as a provisional criterion for hematologic response, being able to predict both improved RS and OS. Planned expanded recruitment might allow a validation analysis of the results, the analysis of organ response data and the evaluation of different time-points for response assessment. Disclosures Milani: Celgene: Other: Travel support; Janssen: Other: Speaker honoraria; Pfizer: Other: Speaker honoraria. Kastritis:Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Genesis Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria. Schönland:Janssen, Prothena, Takeda: Honoraria, Other: travel support to meetings, Research Funding. Bridoux:Baxter: Consultancy; Janssen: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria. Tuchman:Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Oncopeptides: Consultancy; Amgen: Research Funding; Caelum: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Honoraria, Research Funding. Jimenez-Zepeda:Janssen, Celgene, Amgen, Takeda: Honoraria. Palladini:Jannsen Cilag: Honoraria, Other; Celgene: Other: Travel support. Wechalekar:Celgene: Honoraria; Caelum: Other: Advisory; Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Advisory; Takeda: Honoraria, Other: Travel.
Dissecting Karyotypic Patterns in Non Hyperdiploid Multiple Myeloma: An Overview on the Karyotypic Evolution.
Abstract Background Multiple myeloma (MM) is presently an incurable plasma cell (PC) malignancy which involves 16 000 new patients per year in US. In spite of the abundance of cytogenetic information, with more than 600 published karyotypes in Non-hyperdiploid MM (NHMM), very little is known about the mode of karyotypic evolution or of the presence of possible cytogenetic pathways. In our investigation, we have used 647 NHMM karyotypes, to identify the most frequently occurring imbalances. Patients and Methods The Mitelman database of Chromosome aberrations in cancer (Mitelman et al., 2007) was searched, and myelomas with modal chromosome number less than 48 were selected. All karyotypes were described using ISCN nomenclature (ISCN, 1995). Only the main clones were analyzed and incomplete karyotypes were excluded. The following information was obtained from each karyotype: chromosome number, imbalances including whole chromosome gains and losses; specific translocations and breakpoints, including add chromosomes. An Excel spreadsheet in which the rows of the first column were labeled to represent each band of a 360-band human chromosome ideogram was created as previously described (Hoglund et al., 2001; Horsman et al., 2003) All karyotypes were scored individually in successive columns for net gain and loss of each chromosome band. The total number of gains and losses affecting each chromosome band for the total cohort of karyotypes was then calculated using the Excel countif function. Recurrent abnormalities were defined as those that were involved in >5% of cases. Histograms of the number of abnormalities per tumor were then plotted, and the modal value extracted as variable called time to occurrence. Statistics correlation between the presence and absence of different abnormalities was analyzed using Spearman correlation matrices. P value of <0.05 was considered as statistical significant. Results In total 647 cases of newly diagnosed NHMM were included in the analysis. The median chromosome number was 43. Few cases had chromosome numbers under 40. The median NAPT was 12 (1–49) with a normal distribution (Fig 1). The most common abnormalities were monosomies of the chromosomes 13 and 14 (32.44% and 14.88% respectively). Out of 647 cases, more than 300 NHMM cases contained translocations in their karyotypes. The most common translocation was t(11;14), which occurs in 17% of cases followed by t(1;16) in 2.7% of cases and t(4;14) and t(8;14) in 1.5% respectively. The most recurrent breakpoints in our series include: 14q32 (32%), 11q13 (20%), 1q10 (10.5%), 1q12 (8%), 8q24 (6.9%), 1p11 (6.6%) and 1q21 (5.5%). Discussion Although only about 40% of MM has informative karyotypes, karyotyping has the advantage of representing global genetic changes at the cellular level. In this comprehensive survey, loss of chromosome 13 and 14 were the most common abnormalities. The NAPT analysis suggests that most NHMM patients have at least 12 abnormalities at diagnosis. It is possible that accumulation of abnormalities above a threshold results in malignant transformation. In our series the t(11;14) translocation appears to be the most recurrent translocation and exceeds the rate reported in Hyperdiploid-MM (17% vs 3.8%). Figure 1. NAPT Distribution in NH-MM Figure 1. NAPT Distribution in NH-MM
Genomic Complexity and Recurrent Aberration in Multiple Myeloma: Analysis of a Compendium of aCGH and Gene Expression Profiles.
Abstract Multiple Myeloma (MM) is the second most prevalent haematological disorder in the US with great recent progress propelled by various technological and therapeutic advances. Nevertheless, the complexity of MM genomes remains inadequately characterized. We have combined high-resolution (44K Agilent) array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) and gene expression data with clinical outcomes in an initial attempt at indexing genomic complexity in MM and its clinical implication in 100 MM patients. We enumerated the Number of Aberrations per Tumor (NAPT) as defined by the ADM-1 algorithm available within CGH Analytics. There appear to be no difference in degree of genetic complexity between hyperdiploid and non-hyperdiploid myeloma. Generally, t(11;14) have low NAPT whereas D2 tumors have high NAPT. Amongst the high-risk genetic subtypes, tumors with maf translocations have relatively low NAPT whereas t(4;14) have high NAPT. Whilst a Multivariate Cox Proportional Hazards regression of survival outcome showed little statistical support for popular indicators such as ploidy and TC classification, results for NAPT were considerably more encouraging (p~ 0.07, median survival of 40 months in low complexity vs 18 months in high). Log-rank tests further supported prognosis based on NAPT independent of clinical status and ploidy. To characterize complexity, we clustered aCGH profiles by clinical status, ploidy and TC classification. Clear patterns of aggregation and recurrent aberration were observed suggesting that they were possibly instrument to aberrant gene expression. Indeed, expression of a large proportion of genes approximately 2Mb of the recurrent breakpoints varied significantly between patients carrying aberrations vis-a-viz others that did not. Comparison against known gene sets showed an enrichment for cell-cycle and apoptosis genes. We are presently characterizing several such breakpoint-associated genes for their functional significance.
Waldenström Macroglobulinaemia: The Impact of Cytogenetic Analysis.
Abstract Background Waldenström macroglobulinaemia (WM) is an uncommon indolent B-cell lymphoproliferative characterized by bone marrow infiltration by lymphoplasmacytic cells and an IgM paraproteinemia. This study analyzed the impact of cytogenetics in WM and the pattern of evolution in 73 cases from the Mitelman database and 14 cases evaluated at the Mayo Clinic Arizona (MCA). Patients and Methods The Mitelman database of Chromosome aberrations in cancer (Mitelman et al., 2007) was searched, and 73 WM karyotypes were selected. We also evaluated 14 cases seen at MCA with karyotype analysis at diagnosis. An Excel spreadsheet in which the rows of the first column were labeled to represent each band of a 360-band human chromosome ideogram was created as previously described (Hoglund et al., 2001; Horsman et al., 2003) All karyotypes were scored individually in successive columns for net gain and loss of each chromosome band (loss=0 and gain=1). Recurrent abnormalities were defined as those that were involved in >5% of cases. Histograms of the number of abnormalities per tumor (NAPT) were then plotted, and the modal value extracted as variable called time to occurrence. Statistics correlation between the presence and absence of different abnormalities was analyzed using Spearman correlation matrices. P value of <0.05 was considered as statistical significan Results In total 73 cases of newly diagnosed WM from the Mitelman database were included in the analysis. The median chromosome number was 46 (Range 40 to 49).The most common abnormalities were loss of 6q21 (10%) (Fig 1), +3 (7.1%), loss of X (6%) and −10, −20, −21, +12, +18 and +5 (5.71% respectively). The most common translocation was t(8;14) (4%).The most recurrent breakpoints in our series include: 14q32 (6%), 6q21 (5%), 8q24 (5%), 18q21 (4%) and 19q13 (4%). In the MCA cohort, 14 karyotypes were reviewed and only 3 cases exhibited an abnormal result. Deletion of 6q21, 20q11 and a Robertsonian translocation t(13;14) were reported (3/11, 21%). In the 6q21 case, FISH analysis confirmed the deletion of BLIMP1 on 6q. One case exhibited a 20q deletion in a WM with kidney amyloidosis patient. Discussion In this comprehensive analysis we show a very small complexity of recurrent abnormalities expressed by conventional karyotype analysis in WM. The incidence of 6q21 deletion was 10% by conventional cytogenetics and it is been reported as high as 34% when analysed by FISH (54% when cytoplasmic immunoglobulin M-FISH was used). Interestingly we report the case of a patient with 20q deletion at diagnosis in the MCA cohort. To date, only a limited number of cases with del(20q) as a sole cytogenetic anomaly have been reported in plasma cell dyscrasias, either at diagnosis or later in the disease course. The recurrent immunoglobulin gene translocation is known to be involved in the initial oncogenetic events in plasma cell dyscrasias and, so it is important to identify whether there are any masked translocations involving immunoglobulin genes and 20q in these cases. Figure 1. 6q21 deletion and Waldenstrom Macroglobulinaemia Figure 1. 6q21 deletion and Waldenstrom Macroglobulinaemia
Ikaros-Dependent Downregulation of MYC with IMiDs in Myeloma (MM) Cells Is Mediated through the Depletion of the Acetylated Chromatin Reader BRD4 at Super-Enhancer Loci
Abstract Background: IMiDs are now recognized to promote the proteasomal degradation of IKZF1/3 and the transcriptional repression of MYC and IRF4. MYC locus rearrangement is a recurrent somatic event in MM and results in MYC repositioning near superenhancers (such as IGH@, IGL@ and others). The mechanisms of IMiDs-mediated downregulation of MYC in MM cells is not well understood, in particular it is unclear how IMiDs alter the activity of the super-enhancers driving MYC transcription. Methods and results: Transcriptome analysis (RNAseq) of MM cells (OPM2 and MM1S) treated with lenalidomide or upon the silencing of IKZF3 (lentiviral delivery of dox-inducible IKZF3 shRNA) confirmed the downregulation of MYC, IRF4 and among others the upregulation of other genes of interest such as CD38, DKK1, PDL1, FOXO3 and a host of genes involved in interferon response. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) confirmed the enrichment of genes signatures associated with MYC as well as the interferon response. Notably, in t(4;14) MM cell lines we observed a significant downregulation of FGFR3 while the expression of WHSC1 was not affected. This finding was confirmed in a library of t(4;14) MM cell lines by qRT-PCR analysis. As FGFR3 is driven by the 3' IGH enhancer while WHSC1 is under the control of the intronic Em enhancer in t(4;14) MM cells, and in view of the known role of IKZF1/3 in class switch recombination, we postulated that IKZF1/3 regulate the 3' IGH enhancer activity and MYC expression in cells harbouring a MYC-IGH rearrangement. To validate this hypothesis we established the genome-wide distribution of IKZF1 in OPM2 and MM1S cells (both cell lines harbour an IGH-MYC rearrangement) by ChIP-Seq. Ikaros bound to 17660 loci of which 43% were associated with gene targets. Ikaros-binding motifs and other motifs such as STAT1, E2A, RUNX1 were also identified (MEME Tomtom and Jasper motif analysis) in the vicinity of Ikaros enrichment peaks. Importantly IKZF1 peaks also mapped to the IGH 3' enhancer loci and these results were confirmed by ChIP-PCR analysis. Of interest while no Ikaros peaks mapped to MYC (within 5 kb of TSS) by ChIP-seq, modest enrichment of Ikaros at MYC promoter was identified by ChIP-PCR in MM1S and KMS11 cells, and this enrichment was significantly attenuated by lenalidomide treatment. Since inhibition of MYC occurs as a consequence of depletion of the acetylated chromatin reader BRD4 at enhancers that drive MYC expression (Delmore et al., 2011), we examined the interaction between BRD4, IKZF1 and IMiDs treatment. Chip-Seq analysis revealed that BRD4 and IKZF1 are associated with most active enhancers and promoters in MM1S tumor cells. In particular, BRD4 and IKZF1 were enriched at the IGH 3'α2 enhancer locus. Importantly, treatment with lenalidomide (10μM, 4 hours), dramatically depleted IKZF1 and BRD4 enrichment at the 3' IGH enhancers (ChIP-PCR analysis). In contrast, treatment with the bromodomain inhibitor JQ1 depleted BRD4, but not IKZF1 from the IGH 3' enhancer locus. These findings suggest that IKZF1 regulates BRD4 binding to the 3' IGH enhancers and explain the selective effect of IMiDs on MYC transcription in transformed cells harboring a MYC rearrangement. In addition, these results suggest that IMiDs will affect MYC expression only in cells were MYC is driven by an IKZF1/IKZF3 responsive enhancer. Lastly we sought to explain how IKZF1 may regulate BRD4 enrichment at H3K27Ac marks in super-enhancer loci. Since Ikaros is a known integral component of the NuRD (nucleosome remodelling and histone deacetylase) complex, we examined whether lenalidomide treatment and the ensuing Ikaros depletion lead to local gain of NuRD at MYC TSS and depletion of H3K27 acetylation. CHD4 (helicase subunit of the NURD complex) and H3K27Ac ChIP-PCR analysis revealed significant accumulation of the NuRD complex at MYC TSS as well as reduced H3K27Ac at 3'IGH enhancers after IMiDs exposure in MM1S and OPM2 cells. Importantly, CHD4 silencing abrogated lenalidomide induced MYC transcriptional repression and cell death. Conclusion: In summary, our studies suggest that Ikaros drives MYC expression in MM cells harbouring an IGH-MYC rearrangement by regulating the accumulation of the acetylated chromatin reader BRD4 at the IGH 3' enhancer and preventing the NURD complex mediated depletion of H3K27Ac marks at these enhancers. Our findings also explain the IKZF1/3 dependent mechanism of IMiDs-mediated MYC transcriptional repression. Disclosures Neri: Celgene: Research Funding. Duggan:Jansen: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria. Keats:Translational Genomic Research Institute: Employment. Bahlis:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Johnson & Johnson: Consultancy; Johnson & Johnson: Speakers Bureau; Johnson & Johnson: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy.
BP-2-047, a Novel Small-Molecule Inhibitor of Stat3 Is Active in Myeloma Pre-Clinical Models: Rationale for Treatment of Stat3-Dependent Multiple Myeloma
Abstract Abstract 576 Stat3 appears to play a critical role in sustaining and generating memory B-cells and long-lived plasma cells (PCs) the normal counterparts of myeloma cells. In contrast to the transient nature of Stat3 activation in normal cells, many hematological tumors including multiple myeloma (MM) harbor constitutive Stat3 activity. Aberrant STAT signaling is recognized as a master regulator of direct and indirect tumor processes including proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, angiogenesis and cancer inflammation and thus Stat3 represents an important therapeutic target. Using structure-based design, targeting the phosphotyrosine (pY)-SH2 domain interactions that stabilizes active Stat3 dimers, phosphopeptides have been identified that block Stat3 dimerization and DNA binding activity. Peptidic agents however suffer from limited cell permeability and metabolic lability, properties that have restricted their practical application in vivo at therapeutic doses. Here we describe the dependence of myeloma tumors on Stat3 and characterize the anti-tumor activity of BP-2-047, a novel, non-phosphorylated small molecule with reduced peptidic character. We analyzed the activity of Stat3 using a Stat3 gene expression index based on Stat3 target genes in 60 human myeloma cell lines (HMCLs). Several available myeloma cell lines (XG6, XG7, JJN3 and UTMC2) demonstrated elevated STAT3 gene expression signatures (2.3 to 14.8) with confirmed constitutive Stat3 phosphorylation by Western blot analysis. RNA interference revealed that Stat3 is essential for XG6, JJN3, and UTMC2 survival. We similarly analyzed the activity of Stat3 in publicly available gene expression profile data sets derived from newly diagnosed MM patients. Approximately a third of patients demonstrated a functionally significant level of Stat3 signature, comparable to those in the Stat3-dependent cell lines. We next evaluated the anti-myeloma activity of the BP-2-047 in cell-based assays against a panel of HMCLs with high and low STAT3 activity. BP-2-047 delivered a desirable activity profile for targeted therapy. Consistent with its predicted mechanism of action, we observed dose-dependent inhibition of Tyr705Stat3 phosphorylation in XG6, XG7, JJN3 and UTMC2 cells, presumably through the blockade of Stat3 binding to the pTyr motifs of gp130 and the prevention of de novo phosphorylation by JAKs. Using a luciferase reporter assay we confirmed inhibition of Stat3 transcriptional activity in MM cells stably expressing the Stat3-dependent luciferase reporter (pLucTKS3). Inhibition of transcription was associated with decreased expression of short half-life proteins, c-Myc and Mcl-1. BP-2-047 inhibited viability of myeloma tumors with IC50 values of 3.1–7.4 microM, in cell lines with constitutive Stat3 activity. Inhibition of Stat3 phosphorylation resulted in induction of dose-dependent apoptosis as determined by PI/annexin V staining and PARP cleavage. However, cells were resistant to BP-2-047-induced apoptosis when co-cultured with bone marrow stroma cells. Identification of factors that confer survival advantage in the presence of stroma is in progress. Exposure of MM patient derived bone marrow mononuclear cells to < 15 microM BP-2-047 preferentially induced apoptosis of CD138 + MM cells. In contrast, BP-2-047 at concentrations of 30 microM failed to inhibit normal bone marrow-derived CD34 colony formation. In vitro combination studies in cell lines demonstrate synergy with dexamethasone, bortezomib and lenalidomide. Studies assessing in vivo activity of BP-2-047 as a single agent and in combination with bortezomib against Stat3 activated myeloma tumors in xenograft mice are ongoing and will be reported. These data suggest that Stat3 may represent an important therapeutic target in a subset of myeloma patients and supports innovative drug development with a focus on Stat3. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Activity of Single Agent Drugs in Phase I and II Trials Best Predicts Future Clinical Utility in Multiple Myeloma
Abstract Abstract 4034 Through literature review we identified 376 pre-clinical studies in which a small molecule or antibody has been demonstrated to be cytotoxic to multiple myeloma (MM) cells either as cell lines, primary tumor samples or in mouse models. Indeed it seems there is no limit to the number of compounds that are cytotoxic to MM cell lines at high enough concentration. Since the pipeline to clinical trials is then large the utility of such assays in predicting future clinical value is debatable. We therefore sought to examine the utility of applying very early Phase I or Phase II trial experiences to predict for future clinical adoption. Using Pubmed, ASCO, ASH, EHA and IMWG abstracts we identified 117 drugs explored as single agents in 211 early stage clinical MM trials between 1961 and 2012 involving 7,166 patients. As definitions have changed over time, our analysis used partial responses (PR) or better as a response. When multiple trials were reported with a single drug, the average and the highest response rate for that agent was identified. Results were considered regardless of whether single or multi center trial, elderly or younger patients, stage of disease, targeted or non targeted therapy. High dose therapies requiring autologous stem cell support (eg. melphalan and etoposide), trials with less then 5 patients (e.g. siltuximab) or trials with concomitant steroid application which obscure single agent activity (e.g. pomalidomide, marizomib or daratumumab) were excluded in the analysis. Results: 17 drugs (14.5%) showed a best result of PR in more than 20% of patients, but when average response across all reported trials is considered, doxorubicin, arsenic trioxide and idarubicin drop out leaving 14 active drugs. Twelve drugs (10.3%) report as a best result PR in 10–20% of patients. 88 drugs (75.2%) reported a PR response in less than 10% of patients, 68 of which (58.1%) had no reported activity. A striking finding of our study is that all drugs approved for, or commonly used in clinical practice (prednisone, dexamethasone, cyclophosphamide, melphalan, bendamustine, thalidomide, lenalidomide, bortezomib, carfilzomib) have an average single agent PR response of at least 20%. Pomalidomide, although not approved, meets this threshold in Phase I testing. Older agents including teniposide, fotemustine, paclitaxel, and interferon also appear active by this criteria but have fallen from favor or were never adopted due to perceived toxicity. Of note, a number of newer agents which are in, or which recently completed Phase 3 testing, such MLN9708, elotuzumab, panobinostat, vorinostat or perifosine show little single agent activity. A weakness in this approach is that changes in measurement of response over time might bias the results, especially in favor of older studies. Furthermore, the chance of responding to a new drug has likely slowly declined as therapies have improved and patients have entered such trials at increasingly late stages of disease. It also does not rule out the possibility of synergistic activity or clinical benefit from a cytostatic drug. Nevertheless, our analysis suggests that a cut off of 20% single agent partial response activity averaged across all trials with that agent is highly predictive of future clinical success. If best reported response over 20% is considered no drug except vincristine has yet reached the clinic and has subsequently fallen from favor. Thus only drugs with 20% PR activity are in widespread use and thus this benchmark provides a framework for guiding choice of drugs for late stage clinical testing. Disclosures: Jimenez-Zepeda: MMRF: Research Funding; Jansenn Ortho: Honoraria. Fonseca:Onyx: Consultancy, Research Funding; Cylene: Research Funding; Medtronic: Consultancy; Otsuka: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Genzyme: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy; Lilly: Consultancy; Binding Site: Consultancy; Millenium: Consultancy; AMGEN: Consultancy; Mayo Clinic: Patents & Royalties. Stewart:Millenium: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Onyx: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy.
Oncolytic immunotherapy and bortezomib synergy improves survival of refractory multiple myeloma in a preclinical model
Abstract The oncolytic reovirus (RV) has demonstrated clinical efficacy and minimal toxicity in a variety of cancers, including multiple myeloma (MM). MM is a malignancy of plasma cells that is considered treatable but incurable because of the 90% relapse rate that is primarily from drug resistance. The systemic nature of MM and the antitumor immunosuppression by its tumor microenvironment presents an ongoing therapeutic challenge. In the present study, we demonstrate that RV synergizes with the standard-of-care MM drug bortezomib (BTZ) and, importantly, enhances its therapeutic potential in therapy-resistant human MM cell lines in vitro. Using the syngeneic Vk*MYC BTZ-resistant immunocompetent transplantable MM murine model, we also demonstrate that mice harboring BTZ-insensitive MM tumors respond to the RV/BTZ combination treatment in terms of decreased tumor burden and improved overall survival (P < .00001). We demonstrate that BTZ augments RV replication in tumor-associated endothelial cells and myeloma cells, leading to enhanced viral delivery and thereby stimulating cytokine release, immune activity, apoptosis, and reduction of the MM-associated immune suppression. We conclude that combined RV/BTZ is an attractive therapeutic strategy with no safety signals for the treatment of MM.
Assessment of renal response with urinary exosomes in patients with AL amyloidosis: A proof of concept
AbstractImmunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis is a fatal complication of B‐cell proliferation secondary to deposition of amyloid fibrils in various organs. Urinary exosomes (UEX) are the smallest of the microvesicles excreted in the urine. Previously, we found UEX of patients with AL amyloidosis contained immunoglobulin light chain (LC) oligomers that patients with multiple myeloma did not have. To further explore the role of the LC oligomers, UEX was isolated from an AL amyloidosis patient with progressive renal disease despite achieving a complete response. LC oligomers were identified. Mass spectrometry (MS) of the UEX and serum identified two monoclonal lambda LCs. Proteomics of the trypsin digested amyloid fragments in the kidney by laser microdissection and MS analysis identified a λ6 LC. The cDNA from plasma cell clone was from the IGLV‐ 6‐57 family and it matched the amino acid sequences of the amyloid peptides. The predicted mass of the peptide product of the cDNA matched the mass of one of the two LCs identified in the UEX and serum. UEX combined with MS were able to identify 2 monoclonal lambda LCs that current clinical methods could not. It also identified the amyloidogenic LC which holds potential for response assessment in the future.