Rajkumar, S. Vincent

AbstractWe evaluated bone marrow minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity in 44 patients with light chain (AL) amyloidosis using next generation flow cytometry (sensitivity ≥1 × 10−5; median events analyzed: 8.7 million, range: 4.8 to 9.7 million). All patients underwent MRD testing in 2 years from start of therapy (median: 7 months). The overall MRD negative rate was 64% (n = 28). The MRD‐negative rate after one‐line of therapy was 71% (20/28). And, MRD negative rates were higher with stem‐cell transplant as first‐line therapy (86%, 18/21) vs chemotherapy alone as first‐line treatment (29%, 2/7), P = .005. The MRD negative rate amongst patients in complete response was 75% (15/20), and in very good partial response, 50% (11/22). There were two patients in partial response/rising light chains (with renal dysfunction) who were MRD negative. There were no differences in baseline characteristics of MRD negative vs MRD positive patients, except younger age amongst MRD‐negative patients. Patients with MRD negativity were more likely to have achieved cardiac response at the time of MRD assessment, 67% (8/12) vs 22% (2/7), P = .04. Renal response rates were similar in both groups. Progression free survival was assessed in the 42 patients achieving CR or VGPR. After median follow‐up of 14 months, the estimated 1‐year progression free survival in MRD negative vs MRD positive patients was 100% (26 patients, 0 events) vs 64% (16 patients, five events), P = .006, respectively. MRD assessment should be explored as a surrogate endpoint in clinical trials and MRD risk‐adapted trials may help optimize treatment in AL amyloidosis.

Key PointsPatients with an abnormal sFLC ratio because of LC suppression have outcomes similar to those with a normal ratio. sFLC ratio has prognostic value in patients achieving CR who have an absence of clonal BMPCs assessed by MFC.

Background Thromboprophylaxis is routinely used with lenalidomide‐based regimens in multiple myeloma because of a substantial risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, little is known about the incidence of VTE with contemporary lenalidomide‐based regimens. The objective of the current study was to estimate the incidence of VTE despite thromboprophylaxis with currently used lenalidomide‐based regimens in patients with myeloma. Methods The Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases were queried from study inception to January 2019 for keywords to cover the following concepts: “lenalidomide,” “venous thromboembolism,” and “multiple myeloma.” Phase 1, 2, and 3 clinical trials evaluating lenalidomide‐based regimens with thromboprophylaxis were included. The pooled incidence rate of VTE was estimated using a random‐effects model. Results The search generated 1372 citations, with 51 clinical trials and 9069 patients included for analysis. The most common thromboprophylaxis agents were aspirin, low‐molecular‐weight heparin or warfarin, administered either per risk‐stratification or at investigators' discretion. The pooled incidence of VTE in trials of patients who had newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory myeloma was 6.2% (95% CI, 5.4%‐7.1%) over median treatment durations ranging from 2 to 34 cycles, which translated into 1.2 VTE events per 100 patient‐cycles (95% CI, 0.9‐1.7 VTE events per 100 patient‐cycles). Among contemporary regimens, the risk of VTE was low with combined lenalidomide and low‐dose dexamethasone (0.2 [95% CI, 0.1‐0.6] events/100 patient‐cycles) and lenalidomide maintenance (0.0 [95% CI, 0.0‐0.7] events per 100 patient‐cycles). VTE risk was higher with combined lenalidomide and low‐dose dexamethasone plus proteasome inhibitors (1.3 [95% CI, 0.7‐2.3] events per 100 patient‐cycles). Conclusions Despite adequate thromboprophylaxis, lenalidomide‐based regimens have a substantial risk of VTE in controlled clinical trial settings. Further studies are needed on new thromboprophylaxis strategies with regimens that have a high VTE risk.

AbstractObjectivesHealth‐related quality of life (HRQoL) is particularly important during maintenance therapy (MT) in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma post‐transplant, when disease symptoms are limited.MethodsWe assessed HRQoL in patients randomised to 26 cycles of MT (ixazomib vs placebo) in TOURMALINE‐MM3 (NCT02181413).ResultsThe characteristics at study entry were well‐balanced between ixazomib (n = 386) and placebo (n = 251) arms. At study entry, EORTC QLQ‐C30 and MY20 scores were high for functional scales and low for symptom scales and were comparable with those of the general population. Changes in subscale scores across intervals, analysed over 30 four‐week intervals using a linear mixed‐effects model, were generally small and similar between arms for the EORTC QLQ‐C30 Global Health Status/QoL, Physical Functioning, and Pain subscales and EORTC QLQ‐MY20 Disease Symptoms subscale and Peripheral Neuropathy item. EORTC QLQ‐C30 Nausea/Vomiting and Diarrhoea subscales were consistently worse for ixazomib than for placebo, in line with the ixazomib toxicity profile. Even when least‐squares mean differences between arms were statistically significant, none reached the established minimal important clinical difference of 10 in multiple myeloma.ConclusionsIn addition to improvement in progression‐free survival with ixazomib, HRQoL was maintained in both arms. Active treatment with ixazomib did not have an adverse impact on HRQoL.

AbstractOur prior studies identified the prognostic significance of quantifying cPCs by multiparametric flow cytometry (MFC) in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients. We evaluated if a similar quantification of cPCs could add prognostic value to the current R‐ISS classification of 556 consecutive NDMM patients seen at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester from 2009 to 2017. Those patients that had ≥5 cPCs/μL and either R‐ISS stage I or stage II disease were re‐classified as R‐ISS IIB stage for the purposes of this study. The median time to next therapy (TTNT) and overall survival (OS) for patients with ≥5 cPCs/μL at diagnosis was as follows: R‐ISS I (N = 110) ‐ 40 months and not reached; R‐ISS II (N = 69) ‐ 30 and 72 months; R‐ISS IIB (N = 96) ‐ 21 and 45 months and R‐ISS III (N = 281) ‐ 20 and 47 months respectively. Finally, ≥ 5 cPCs/μL retained its adverse prognostic significance in a multivariable model for TTNT and OS. Hence, quantifying cPCs by MFC can potentially enhance the R‐ISS classification of a subset of NDMM patients with stage I and II disease by identifying those patients with a worse than expected survival outcome.

AbstractHistological transformation in Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is an uncommon complication, with limited data, particularly regarding the impact of MYD88 L265P mutation on transformation. We examined risk factors and outcomes associated with transformation in WM, highlighting the role of MYD88 L265P mutation. Patients with WM seen at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA and University Hospital of Reims, France, between 01/01/1996 and December 31, 2017 were included; 50 (4.3%) of 1147 patients transformed to a high‐grade lymphoma, with median time‐to‐transformation of 4.5 (range 0‐21) years in the transformed cohort. The MYD88 L265P mutation status was known in 435/1147 (38%) patients (406 with non‐transformed WM and 29 patients in transformed cohort). On multivariate analysis, MYD88 WT status alone was an independent predictor of transformation (odds ratio, 7[95%CI: 2.1‐23]; P = .003). Additionally, the MYD88 WT status was independently associated with shorter time‐to‐transformation (HR 7.9 [95%CI: 2.3‐27; P = .001]), with a 5‐year transformation rate of 16% for MYD88 WT vs 2.8% with MYD88 L265P mutated patients. Patients with transformation demonstrated a significant increase in risk of death compared to patients who did not transform (HR 5.075; 95%CI: 3.8‐6.8; P < .001). In conclusion, the MYD88 WT status is an independent predictor of transformation and associated with a shorter time‐to‐transformation. Additionally, transformation conferred an inferior overall survival in patients with WM.

Abstract Detection of an M-protein (monoclonal immunoglobulin) has been used to diagnose and monitor multiple myeloma (MM). As therapies for MM have improved, more sensitive methods have been used to define response: immunofixation electrophoresis (IFX) of serum and urine, normalization of the serum immunoglobulin free light chain (FLC) ratio, and high sensitivity flow cytometry to detect clonal plasma bone marrow cells. It is hoped that these more sensitive approaches will differentiate those patients with minimal residual disease (MRD) versus no residual disease (NRD), that later which could mean a cure. Flow cytometry of plasma cells requires bone marrow aspiration, which is inconvenient and expensive and is potentially limited by sampling bias. More sensitive methods to differentiate MRD from NRD using serum would be advantageous. We have developed a sensitive test for the presence of the monoclonal antibody produced by the plasma cells which may serve as a substitute for invasive bone marrow biopsy. Briefly, patient serum is enriched for immunoglobulins (Ig) and the Ig light chains are decoupled from the heavy chain by reduction with DTT. The mass distribution of the light chains is resolved using a micro LC-ESI-Q-TOF mass spectrometry and the presence of the M-protein is detected as a spike in the mass distribution. In addition to the detection, the accurate mass measurement of the light chain serves as a unique individualized marker which can aid in detection in subsequent patient monitoring. We have termed this method: monoclonal-immunoglobulin-Rapid-Accurate-Mass-Measurement (miRAMM). By spiking monoclonal immunoglobulins into human serum, we have demonstrated that miRAMM is approximately 1000x more sensitive than SPEP at detecting M-proteins. Initial results on 21 patients in stringent complete response (sCR) demonstrated that 67% (n=14) had detectable malignant specific clones by miRAMM. Given these promising results we have extended the method to a larger series of myeloma patients for whom we had long term follow-up and serum samples prior to treatment and at 6-12 months status post stem cell treatment. The results of this data will be correlated to the clinical outcomes for these patients. Early results demonstrate the potential of miRAMM to be a more sensitive, cost effective approach to detect MRD compared with current methods. Disclosures Murray: Mayo Clinic: Patent Application filed Patents & Royalties. Barnidge:Mayo Clinic: Patent filed Patents & Royalties.

Abstract Background: Normalization of serum free light chain ratio (FLCr) following achievement of a complete response (CR) to therapy denotes a stringent CR in multiple myeloma, and is associated with improved overall survival (OS). However, its value in patients achieving less than a CR is not clear. We hypothesized that patients in whom FLCr normalizes with the initial anti-myeloma therapy will have an improved outcome, even in the absence of a CR. Methods: We analyzed the medical records of patients with MM who were evaluated at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN between January 2004 and December 2011, seen within 90 days of diagnosis. We selected patients with measurable disease on serum protein electrophoresis, defined as a serum M-spike ≥1 g/dl at the time of diagnosis. Then, we excluded all patients with negative immunofixation for monoclonal M-protein in serum and urine at their first response as well as those who did not have serum FLC results available from the time of their first best response. M protein measurements were collected serially from the time of diagnosis until the time of the first relapse or last follow up date if no relapse was recorded. Progression-free survival (PFS) and OS were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Out of the 1354 MM patients seen at our institution during this period, a total of 453 patients were included in our study. The median age of the cohort at the time of diagnosis was 65 (range, 29-91); 49% were older than 65 years and 284 (63%) were male. The estimated median follow up for the whole cohort was 66 months (95% CI; 61, 71); 241 patients were alive with a median follow up of 4.7 years (range, 0.4 to 10). Three hundred and seventy three (82%) patients had relapsed following the initial therapy with a median time to progression (TTP) of 19.5 months (95% CI; 18, 22) and PFS of 19 months (95% CI; 17, 20). The median OS for the entire cohort is 67 months (95% CI; 59, 73). The median time to the best first response was 6.9 months (range: 0.3-83 months). At the time of the best first response 154 patients (34%) had normal FLCr. Patients with normal FLCr had a longer PFS (29 vs. 16 months, P< .0001) and OS (91 vs. 58 months, P= .0002). We then examined the impact of FLCr normalization on survival outcomes according to their IMWG response categories. We found that FLCr normalization had a favorable impact on PFS in each of the three groups [very good partial response (VGPR), Partial response (PR), and Stable disease (SD)], However, when looking at the OS, only patients with PR had a better OS associated with a normal sFLC κ/λ ratio (Table 1). Conclusions: Obtaining a normal sFLC ratio appears to confer a more favorable prognosis irrespective of the depth of the response, suggesting an important role for serial-sFLC measurements in disease monitoring even in patients who achieve only a PR to therapy as their best response. This supports the inclusion of sFLC at all levels of response included in the current International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) criteria. Abstract 3427. Table 1 Effect of FLCr normalization according to IMWG response categories SD PR VGPR Normal FLCr Abnormal FLCr p-value Normal FLCr Abnormal FLCr p-value Normal FLCr Abnormal FLCr p-value Number of patients 7 70 62 157 85 60 PFS, month, median (95% CI) 27 (14, 36) 7 (5, 12) < .02 26 (20, 36) 17 (13, 20) .0005 29 (23, 32) 21 (18, 26) .03 OS, months, median (95% CI) 68 (49, 68) 41 (31, 61) > .1 NR (65, NR) 61 (50, NR) .004 74 (67, 107) 73 (59, NR) > .9 • Abbreviations: NR; statistically not reached •• Progressive disease (PD) was not included because none of the 12 patients achieved a normal FLCr. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.