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Gertz, Morie A.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3853-5196

Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic

Citations 999

IL-21 and IL-6 Mediate Interactions Between T Cells and Malignant B Cells in the Bone Marrow Microenvironment in Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia
Hodge, Lucy S. , Ziesmer, Steve, Secreto, Frank J., Novak, Anne J. , Ansell, Stephen M. , Yang, Zhi-Zhang , Gertz, Morie A.

Blood | October 11, 2019 | Volume: 120 | Issue: 21 | Pages: 1554-1554

10.1182/blood.v120.21.1554.1554 Get It

Abstract Abstract 1554 T cells in the tumor microenvironment influence the biology of malignant cells in many hematologic malignancies, often through cytokine-mediated interactions. Recent studies involving healthy B cells and CD4+T cells identified an interplay between IL-6 and IL-21, whereby IL-6 increased IL-21 production by T cells, driving the differentiation and IL-6 secretion of nearby B cells. In addition to their known effects on healthy B cell function, IL-6 and IL-21 have also been implicated in the pathology of various lymphomas. In Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM), IL-6 is elevated in the bone marrow and is associated with increased IgM production. However, the function of IL-21 in the WM tumor microenvironment and its relationship to IL-6 is poorly understood. Our objective in this study was to characterize IL-21 production and function in WM and to examine the role of IL-6 and IL-21 in regulating interactions between malignant B cells and T cells in the tumor microenvironment. Immunohistochemistry revealed significant IL-21 staining in bone marrows of patients with WM (n=5), but the areas of infiltration by WM in the bone marrow sections appeared negative for IL-21 staining. To better understand the origin of IL-21 in in the tumor microenvironment, IL-21 expression was assessed by PCR in the CD19−CD138− fraction of cells remaining in patient bone marrow aspirates after positive selection for malignant B cells (n=5). IL-21 transcript was detected in 4/5 samples. CD19−CD138− cells activated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies expressed higher levels of IL-21 transcript and secreted significantly higher levels of IL-21 protein compared to unstimulated cells, suggesting that IL-21 in the WM bone marrow is derived from activated T cells. Intracellular expression of IL-21 protein was confirmed in CD4+ and CD8+ cells within the CD19−CD138− population using flow cytometry. Furthermore, dual staining of WM bone marrow sections with antibodies against IL-21 and CD3 or CD20 revealed co-staining of IL-21 with CD3+ T cells but not with CD20+ B cells. The response of WM B cells to T-cell derived IL-21 was then assessed in positively selected CD19+CD138+ WM B cells (n=5) and in the MWCL-1 cell line. Using flow cytometry, both the IL-21 receptor and the required common gamma chain subunit were detected on all patient samples as well as on MWCL-1 cells. Treatment of MWCL-1 cells with IL-21 (100 ng/mL) for 72 h increased proliferation by 35% (p<0.05) and IgM secretion by 80% (p<0.005). Similarly, in primary CD19+CD138+ WM cells (n=5), proliferation increased on average by 38% and IgM secretion by 71%. No apoptotic effects were associated with IL-21 in WM. Characterization of STAT activation in response to IL-21 revealed significant phosphorylation of STAT3 in both CD19+CD138+ WM cells and MWCL-1 cells and was associated with increases in BLIMP-1 and XBP-1 protein and decreases in PAX5. As STAT3 activation is known to regulate IL-6, we assessed the effect of IL-21 on B cell-mediated IL-6 secretion using ELISA. IL-21 significantly increased IL-6 secretion by both primary CD19+CD138+ WM cells (n=4) and MWCL-1 cells (87.9 +/− 10.9 ng/mL vs. 297.8 +/− 129.2 ng/mL, p<0.05). Treatment with IL-6 and IL-21 together had no additional effect over IL-21 alone on proliferation or IgM secretion in MWCL-1 cells, but culturing anti-CD3/anti-CD28-activated CD19−CD138−cells from WM bone marrows with IL-6 significantly increased IL-21 secretion (n=3). Overall, these data indicate that T-cell derived IL-21 significantly promotes growth and immunoglobulin production by malignant WM B cells and that subsequent IL-6 secretion by malignant B cells may enhance the secretion of IL-21 by T cells within the bone marrow microenvironment. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Outcomes and Treatments of Relapsed AL Amyloidosis Following Stem Cell Transplant
Warsame, Rahma , Kumar, Shaji , Lacy, Martha Q. , Hayman, Suzanne R. , Lust, John A., Kyle, Robert A. , Zeldenrust, Steven R., Bang, Soo‐Mee , Buadi, Francis K. , Dingli, David , Witzig, Thomas E. , Leung, Nelson , Rajkumar, S. Vincent , Gertz, Morie A. , Dispenzieri, Angela

Blood | October 11, 2019 | Volume: 120 | Issue: 21 | Pages: 1858-1858

10.1182/blood.v120.21.1858.1858 Get It

Abstract Abstract 1858 Systemic light chain amyloidosis (AL amyloidosis) is a condition where clonal plasma cells produce misfolded insoluble immunoglobulin light chains that deposit in various organs causing progressive organ dysfunction. Chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) when eligible is the standard treatment options for patients with AL amyloidosis. There are several studies who report long term outcomes of patient post ASCT. However, there is a paucity of literature describing the outcomes of patients who have received ASCT but have relapsed. We performed a retrospective study to assess the outcomes and treatment regimens employed following relapse after ASCT. Between 1996 and 2009, 410 patients received ASCT at the Mayo Clinic as first line therapy. Of those 410 patients 42 patients died within 3 months of transplant, 64 patients died without documented relapse, 158 patients were alive without documented progression, and 146 patients had documented progression. Those 146 patients are the subject of our study. The median time to hematologic relapse was 2 years (range: 0.2–15.5 years). At relapse, 59 patients were treated with IMiD based therapy, 36 with alkylator based therapy, 24 with bortezomib, 15 with steroids, and 5 with second ASCT. The respective hematologic response rates were 58%, 33%, 50%, 53%, and 60%. The remaining six patients were not evaluable for response for one other following reasons: organ transplants; no further therapy; inevaluable disease. With a median post relapse follow up of 3.6 years, the median overall survival (OS) from the first post ASCT relapse was 4.6 years. The median post transplant follow up was 6.1 years, the median OS for these patients was 7.3 years from the time of transplant. These data provide novel information about outcomes after SCT relapse, which should be useful not only for patients and doctors but also for investigators designing studies for salvage therapies post-transplant. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Clinical and Biologic Studies in Smoldering/Indolent Multiple Myeloma (SMM/IMM) Suggest That Therapies That Specifically Inhibit IL-6 Production Are More Effective at Targeting the Proliferative Myeloma Component Than Apoptosis Inducing Agents.
Lust, John A., Lacy, Martha Q. , Zeldenrust, Steven R., Greipp, Philip R., Kumar, Shaji , Geyer, Susan M. , Moon‐Tasson, Laurie L., Donovan, Kathleen A., Dispenzieri, Angela , Gertz, Morie A. , Witzig, Thomas E. , Rajkumar, S. Vincent

Blood | October 11, 2019 | Volume: 108 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 3500-3500

10.1182/blood.v108.11.3500.3500 Get It

Abstract Background: Myeloma remains incurable due to a stem cell/proliferative component that responds poorly to standard treatments. We have shown that aberrant IL-1beta stimulates the generation of paracrine IL-6, a central myeloma growth factor. A Phase II trial was completed using IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra/Anakinra), which inhibits paracrine IL-6 production, and low dose Dexamethasone (Dex), which decreases IL-1 levels through myeloma cell apoptosis, in patients with SMM/IMM. SMM/IMM patients are most likely to benefit from anti-cytokine therapy in order to delay/prevent the development of active myeloma. Methods: Patients that had ≥ 10% bone marrow plasma cells and/or an IgG or IgA M-spike ≥ 3 g/dL and did not require immediate chemotherapy were eligible. All patients received 100 mg of IL-1Ra SQ qd for 6 months unless clinical progression occurred. Non-progressors were allowed to continue on therapy with IL-1Ra alone. Low dose Dex (20 mg qweek) was added after 6 months of IL-1Ra or for evidence of clinical progression; the dose was adjusted based on response/toxicity. Results: To investigate the effects of IL-1Ra and Dex alone and in combination in vitro, we co-cultured IL-1beta transduced +/− myeloma cells with stromal cells +/− dexamethasone, IL-1Ra, or both for 48 hours and quantitated the percent apoptotic cells by flow cytometry and IL-6 production by ELISA. The results showed that: 1) IL-1Ra was superior to Dex at inhibition of IL-6 but caused no myeloma apoptosis; 2) Dex induced apoptosis was inhibited by IL-6 3) Dex and IL-1Ra combined induced maximal IL-6 inhibition and apoptosis of myeloma cells. In the clinical trial, data were available on 47 patients; smoldering (79%) / indolent (21%). All patients received IL-1Ra initially and 20/47 subsequently received IL-1Ra/Dex. Seven patients had a decrease in the plasma cell labeling index (PCLI), a marker of cell proliferation, on IL-1Ra alone which paralleled a decrease in the high sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP). Interestingly, in one patient treated with Dex alone for 6 months, Dex induced a decrease in the M-protein and IL-1 levels, however, the PCLI and CRP values increased. The IL-1Ra/Dex combination has resulted in stability of disease in the majority of the 47 patients; 28 continue on therapy with a median overall progression-free survival (PFS) of 37.5 months. Four of the 47 pts achieved a minor response (MR) with IL-1Ra alone, and an additional 6 pts achieved a MR/PR after addition of dex. The continuous measure of % reduction in CRP was significantly associated with time to progression (p=0.02). Similarly, those patients who had a >5% decrease in serum M protein also had a longer PFS (p<0.001). Of note, 2 patients with high PCLI values of 6.4 and 3.0, characteristic of poor prognosis, responded with a reduction in the PCLI values and continue on combination therapy for 3 and 1.5 years, respectively with stable disease. Conclusion: Agents such as IL-1Ra that specifically inhibit paracrine IL-6 production are more effective at targeting the proliferative component than apoptosis inducing agents such as Dex; the combination may be especially useful in patients that have an elevated PCLI at presentation.
Doxycycline Used As Post Transplant Antibacterial Prophylaxis Improves Survival in Patients with Light Chain Amyloidosis Undergoing Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation.
Kumar, Shaji , Lacy, Martha Q. , Hayman, Suzanne R. , Zeldenrust, Steven R., Kapoor, Prashant , Dispenzieri, Angela , Buadi, Francis K. , Dingli, David , Ramı́rez-Alvarado, Marina , Hogan, William J. , Rajkumar, S. Vincent , Gertz, Morie A.

Blood | October 11, 2019 | Volume: 120 | Issue: 21 | Pages: 3138-3138

10.1182/blood.v120.21.3138.3138 Get It

Abstract Abstract 3138 Background: Several recent reports have suggested that doxycycline can inhibit amyloid fibril formation in different in vitro and in vivo model systems. Doxycycline is the antibiotic of choice for infectious disease prophylaxis in patients with penicillin allergy, following autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for various hematological malignancies. We examined the outcome of patients with light chain amyloidosis (AL) undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation to study the impact of doxycycline used as antibacterial prophylaxis. Patients and methods: We studied 455 patients who underwent autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) for AL between March 1996 and December 2011. We excluded 44 patients who died of transplant related complications or did not survive beyond 100 days after transplant. Patient records were reviewed to ascertain the prophylactic antibiotic used. Survival was estimated using Kaplan Meier method and the survival curves were compared using log-rank test. Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate the prognostic impact of different variables. Results: The median age of the patients was 58 years (range, 26–74); 290 (67%) were male. The median estimated follow up for the entire cohort was 73 months (95% CI; 66, 79) and 314 (69%) were alive at last follow up. Doxycycline was used a prophylaxis in 106 (23%) of the patients, with most of the remaining receiving penicillin. The usual reason for using doxycycline was a history of penicillin allergy. Hematological response to transplant occurred in 377 (87%) patients, and there was no significant difference between patients receiving doxycycline prophylaxis compared with the rest. The median OS for the entire cohort was 161 months (95% CI; 101, NR). The median OS for those receiving doxycycline prophylaxis was not reached compared with 113 months for the rest (P=0.09). Looking specifically at those patients with a hematological response, the median OS was not reached for the doxycycline group compared with 161 months for the rest (P=0.04, figure). There was no difference in the OS between the groups among those with no hematological response. The impact of the prophylaxis was independent of the number of organs involved as well as organ response to SCT. Conclusions: The results of the current study appear to demonstrate a survival advantage for patients with AL who receives doxycycline prophylaxis, in the setting of hematological response from SCT. The results are consistent with the data regarding the effect of doxycycline on amyloid fibril formation. These initial findings should form the basis of clinical exploration of doxycycline as an adjunctive therapy in patients receiving other standard therapies for AL. Such a study can further clarify if use of doxycycline for longer duration can be of additional benefit. Disclosures: Kumar: Cephalon: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Millennium: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Merck: Consultancy, Honoraria; Genzyme: Research Funding.
Phase 1b/2a Open-Label, Multiple-Dose, Dose-Escalation Study to Evaluate the Safety and Tolerability of SNS01-T Administered by Intravenous Infusion in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma.
Lust, John A., Barranco, Charles, Lacy, Martha Q. , Zeldenrust, Steven R., Hayman, Suzanne R. , Kumar, Shaji , Thompson, John E., Taylor, Catherine A. , Dondero, Richard, Usmani, Saad Z. , Hamadani, Mehdi , Dispenzieri, Angela , Gertz, Morie A. , Dingli, David , Buadi, Francis K. , Rajkumar, S. Vincent

Blood | October 11, 2019 | Volume: 120 | Issue: 21 | Pages: 2973-2973

10.1182/blood.v120.21.2973.2973 Get It

Abstract Abstract 2973 Eukaryotic translation initiation Factor 5A (eIF5A) has been implicated in the regulation of apoptosis and is the only known protein to be modified by hypusination. Hypusinated eIF5A is the predominant form of eIF5A in cancer cells. However, in its unhypusinated form, eIF5A is pro-apoptotic. SNS01-T, designed to treat B-cell cancers, consists of two active components: a plasmid DNA expressing eIF5AK50R (human eIF5A containing a lysine to arginine substitution at position 50) which remains pro-apoptotic because it cannot be hypusinated, and an siRNA against an untranslated region of native eIF5A mRNA. When these two components are combined with linear polyethyleneimine (PEI), the nucleic acids are condensed into nanoparticles for protection from degradation in the blood and enhanced delivery to tissues. The eIF5AK50R transgene is under the control of the B29 promoter and enhancer, which restricts expression to B cells. The mode of action of SNS01-T is to use an eIF5A-specific siRNA to deplete the pool of hypusinated eIF5A in myeloma cells while simultaneously adding pro-apoptotic eIF5AK50R. In vitro cell studies and in vivo xenograft studies have demonstrated the efficacy of this approach. Eligible patients are enrolled sequentially into four cohorts of increasingly higher doses. Each cohort will receive SNS01-T by intravenous infusion twice weekly for 6 consecutive weeks and then be observed every 4 weeks during a 24-week follow-up period. Eligible patients must have been diagnosed with multiple myeloma according to IMWG criteria, have measurable disease, have relapsed disease after two or more prior treatment regimens, have a life expectancy of at least 3 months, and not be eligible to receive any other standard therapy known to extend life expectancy. The primary objective is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of multiple ascending doses of SNS01-T. Secondary objectives include pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity studies, proinflammatory cytokine quantitation, and therapeutic efficacy. The required number of 3 patients completed the dosing schedule in Cohort 1 from a total of 6 patients enrolled. Two of three patients had not progressed on treatment, based on standard response criteria including the monoclonal protein, and were considered stable at week 3 and week 6 the end of the dosing regimen. Three patients were withdrawn from the study by their physicians due to disease progression before completing treatment. One of the responding patients has continued to have stable disease at week 10, a month after the end of treatment with SNS01-T. The first group of patients received 0.0125 mg/kg, approximately 1 mg per patient by intravenous infusion. The planned dose levels for the second, third and fourth groups are 0.05, 0.2 and 0.375 mg/kg, respectively. The results to date of this first in man clinical trial indicate that SNS01-T was safely administered without dose-limiting toxicities in the first group of multiple myeloma patients. The MTD has not yet been reached. (Clinical Trials.gov Identifier: NCT01435720.) Disclosures: Hamadani: Celgene Corp: Speakers Bureau; American Cancer Society 116837-IRG-09–061–01: Research Funding; ASBMT & Millennium New Investigator Award: Research Funding; Conquer Cancer Foundation of ASCO: Research Funding. Barranco:Senesco Technologies: Employment. Thompson:Senesco Technologies Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Taylor:Senesco Technologies Inc.: stock options Other. Dondero:Senesco Technologies Inc.: Employment.
Progression and Outcome in Patients with Biclonal Gammopathies
Mullikin, Trey C. , Lacy, Martha Q. , Kapoor, Prashant , Katzmann, Jerry A., Kyle, Robert A. , Kumar, Shaji , Rajkumar, S. Vincent , Dispenzieri, Angela , Gertz, Morie A. , Buadi, Francis K. , Larson, Dirk R.

Blood | October 11, 2019 | Volume: 124 | Issue: 21 | Pages: 5699-5699

10.1182/blood.v124.21.5699.5699 Get It

Abstract Background: Patients with monoclonal gammopathies typically have a single clone making a unique type of monoclonal protein, one heavy chain and one light chain. In a small proportion of patients, more than one (typically two) types of monoclonal protein can be seen and differ with respect to the heavy chain or light chain or both. There is limited information on the clinical course of patients with more than one monoclonal protein identified in their serum or urine. Objectives: We report outcomes of patients with more than one monoclonal protein at our institution over the past thirty years. Patients and Methods: We queried the existing clinical database to identify all patients with at least two different monoclonal protein types identified on serum or urine studies during the course of their disease. Retrospective chart review was performed on 551 patients, who had more than one type of monoclonal protein on electrophoresis and/or immunofixation. Results: Among the entire study cohort (N=551), 461 pts (84%) had a biclonal pattern, 7 (1%) had a triclonal pattern and the remaining 83 (15%) had a monoclonal pattern at the time of initial positive study. The median age at the time of initial diagnosis was 69.7 years (range; 32-93); 359 (65%) were male. Among these, 390 were diagnosed as MGUS/BGUS, 18 with SMM, 36 with MM, 20 with WM, and rest with another lymphoproliferative disorders. The median duration between the initial detection of monoclonal protein and the emergence of the biclonal protein was 40 months for the 83 patients, who were monoclonal initially. The distributions of the dominant monoclonal proteins were GK (30%), GL (21%), MK (22%), ML (9%), AK (9%), and AL (8%). The distributions of the second monoclonal proteins were GK (27%), GL (24%), MK (16%), ML (15%), AK (10%), and AL (7%). Overall, 20 patients with a MGUS/BGUS progressed to smoldering or symptomatic myeloma, while 12 patients with an initial diagnosis of SMM progressed to MM. The median estimated follow up for the MGUS/BGUS group and those with SMM were 6.5 years (95% CI; 5, 7) and 9.8 (95% CI; 4, 13), respectively. This translates to 20 progressions over 3822 person years of follow up for the MGUS/BGUS patient group and 12 progressions over 131 person years of follow up for the SMM group. The rate of progression was ~1% per year for patients with MGUS/BGUS and the median estimated time to progression was 2.6 years for the SMM group. (Figure). In majority of patients, the dominant M spike increased with the disease progression. Conclusion: Patients with biclonal gammopathies appear to have a similar rate of progression compared to what has been historically described for MGUS/ SMM population. For the patients who progressed and received treatment, both M proteins typically responded to therapy, and during relapse, the original dominant M protein typically reemerged as the dominant M protein. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Kumar: Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Array BioPharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sanofi-Aventis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Onyx Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding; Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Co.: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Skyline Diagnostics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.
Practice Patterns of Re-Initiation of Therapy at Time of Relapse or Progression Post- Autologous Stem Cell Transplant (ASCT) Among Patients with AL Amyloidosis
Hwa, Yi L. , Warsame, Rahma , Lacy, Martha Q. , Kumar, Shaji , Zeldenrust, Steven R., Hayman, Suzanne R. , Kapoor, Prashant , Kourelis, Taxiarchis , Hobbs, Miriam, Fonder, Amie , Gertz, Morie A. , Buadi, Francis K. , Dingli, David , Leung, Nelson , Gonsalves, Wilson I. , Go, Ronald S. , Rajkumar, S. Vincent , Dispenzieri, Angela

Blood | October 11, 2019 | Volume: 128 | Issue: 22 | Pages: 3444-3444

10.1182/blood.v128.22.3444.3444 Get It

Abstract Background: Among patients with immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis, there is little consensus on when reinstitution of chemotherapy should occur (Milani and Dispenzieri, International Society of Amyloidosis 2016). AL amyloidosis patients who are treated with high dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) are a relatively low-risk and homogenous population, making them an ideal group to study practice patterns. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the patterns of relapse or progression and the timing of re-initiation of therapy among 146 patients who were initially treated with ASCT at Mayo Clinic between 1996 and 2009 and who received second-line therapy between 7/9/1997 and 4/12/2012. Results: The median time from ASCT to second-line therapy was 23.6 months and the median follow up post ASCT was 57.5 months. The indications for second-line treatment were: 1) both hematologic and organ progression 24.7% (36 patients); 2) organ progression only 41.1% (60); 3) hematologic relapse only 34.2% (50). The median dFLC at the time of starting second-line therapy was 10.5 mg/dL (1.6 - 59.5 mg/dL), which was 44.9% (13.8-167.2%) of dFLC level at diagnosis. Increase in proteinuria by > 50% from nadir (that was also at least 1g/24 hours, i.e. renal progression) was present in 35.8%. Increase in NT proBNP by >30% from nadir and minimum of 300 pg/mL was present in 48.9% of patients. The respective 4 years overall survival rates from the time of ASCT were 87.8%, 63.9%, and 56.7% (p=0.0016) for patients who had hematologic relapse, organ progression only and both organ and hematologic progression. Comparisons of laboratory markers at diagnosis, nadir of post ASCT and initiation of second-line therapy are listed in the table. Conclusions: Our study investigated the patterns of relapse / progression following upfront ASCT. This provides some insights on practice patterns of when physicians re-initiate therapy. Table Table. Disclosures Gertz: NCI Frederick: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Med Learning Group: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Research to Practice: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Research Funding; Prothena Therapeutics: Research Funding; GSK: Honoraria; Sandoz Inc: Honoraria; Ionis: Research Funding; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Annexon Biosciences: Research Funding. Kumar:Millennium: Consultancy, Research Funding; Array BioPharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sanofi: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Noxxon Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; Glycomimetics: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy; Skyline: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Onyx: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kesios: Consultancy. Kapoor:Celgene: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding. Dispenzieri:Prothena: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Alnylam: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Jannsen: Research Funding; pfizer: Research Funding; GSK: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.
Effect of Standard Dose Versus Risk Adapted Melphalan Conditioning on Outcomes in Systemic AL Amyloidosis Patients Undergoing Frontline Autologous Stem Cell Transplant Based on Revised Mayo Stage
Tandon, Nidhi , Lacy, Martha Q. , Fonder, Amie , Hayman, Suzanne R. , Hobbs, Miriam, Kapoor, Prashant , Hwa, Yi L. , Kyle, Robert A. , Lust, John A., Zeldenrust, Steven R., Kumar, Shaji , Sidana, Surbhi , Dispenzieri, Angela , Gertz, Morie A. , Buadi, Francis K. , Dingli, David , Gonsalves, Wilson I. , Go, Ronald S. , Leung, Nelson , Rajkumar, S. Vincent

Blood | October 11, 2019 | Volume: 128 | Issue: 22 | Pages: 4627-4627

10.1182/blood.v128.22.4627.4627 Get It

Abstract Introduction High dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is an effective therapy for eligible patients with newly diagnosed systemic AL amyloidosis. Dose attenuated melphalan is used in patients with older age, renal dysfunction, and multi-organ involvement in an effort to limit treatment related mortality. Reducing the dose of melphalan compromises response rates and survival outcomes, but this is often contributed to frailty of these patients. The revised Mayo staging (MS) system improves risk stratification and helps develop risk-adapted therapies. We analyzed the outcomes of ASCT following standard [(200 mg/m2); SD group] versus risk adapted [(140-160 mg/m2); RD group] melphalan conditioning, in the context of the factors typically leading to dose modification. Methods Three hundred and twenty nine patients with newly diagnosed systemic AL amyloidosis who underwent conditioning with melphalan followed by ASCT at Mayo Clinic between 2006 and 2015 were identified using existing databases. The clinical and laboratory data, treatment and follow - up details were collected by chart review and analyzed retrospectively. Overall survival(OS) was defined as the time from start of initial therapy until death from any cause or last follow up. Progression free survival(PFS) was defined as the time to relapse or progression requiring change or reinstitution of treatment or death from any cause. The OS and PFS curves were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method while log rank test was used to estimate their difference. Multivariate survival analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazards model. Results Among the 329 patients, 240 patients were in SD group and 89 patients were in RD group (1 patient received 120 mg/ m2, 2 received 160 mg/m2 and the rest received 140 mg / m2). In the SD group, median age was 58.5 years (25.6 - 72.3); 59.6% were males; 38.7% / 61.7 %/ 7.5% had cardiac / renal /hepatic involvement; and 47.1% / 35.7% / 8.8% / 8.4% had MS I/II/III/IV. In the RD group, median age was 60.8 years (40 - 73.7); 62.9% were males; 66.3% / 71.9 %/ 11.2% had cardiac / renal /hepatic involvement; and 26.2% / 32.5% / 21.2% / 20% had MS I/II/III/IV. The response rates for patients in the SD group [complete response (CR) - 53.7%, very good partial response (VGPR) - 19.6%, partial response (PR) - 12.5%, no response (NR) - 1.2%, progressive disease (PD) - 1.6%] were significantly higher than patients in the RD group (CR - 34.8%, VGPR - 20.2%, PR - 15.7%, NR - 10.1%, PD - 1.1%) (85.8 vs 70.7%; p < 0.002). The PFS and OS for both the groups according to Mayo stage are presented in Figure 1. Multivariate survival analysis for PFS and OS was performed using age (≤ vs > 70 years), serum creatinine (≤ vs > 2 mg/dL), number of major organs involved (heart, kidney, liver, gastrointestinal tract and autonomic neuropathy), MS (1 vs 2 vs 3 and 4) and dose of melphalan (SD vs RD). The dose of melphalan (p=0.0002), MS (p=0.03) and the number of organs involved (p=0.04) were significant for PFS while the dose of melphalan (p=0.0001) and the MS (p = 0.004) were significant for OS. Conclusion Reducing the dose of melphalan during conditioning for frontline ASCT in systemic AL amyloidosis renders more patients eligible for transplant but compromises on the response rates. There is no impact on PFS and OS in Mayo stage I patients. However the OS as well as PFS in Mayo stage II, III and IV were significantly lower in RD group as compared to SD group. These results suggest a suboptimal outcome with use of reduced dose melphalan, even after accounting for the pother prognostic factors, suggesting that high dose therapy should potentially be limited to those eligible to receive the full dose conditioning. Disclosures Dispenzieri: Jannsen: Research Funding; pfizer: Research Funding; GSK: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Alnylam: Research Funding; Prothena: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Research Funding; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Kapoor:Takeda: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. Kumar:Skyline: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy; AbbVie: Research Funding; Array BioPharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sanofi: Consultancy, Research Funding; Onyx: Consultancy, Research Funding; Glycomimetics: Consultancy; Kesios: Consultancy; Noxxon Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Millennium: Consultancy, Research Funding.
NEOD001 Demonstrates Organ Biomarker Responses in Patients with Light Chain Amyloidosis and Persistent Organ Dysfunction: Results from the Expansion Cohort of a Phase 1/2 Study
Comenzo, Raymond L. , Landau, Heather , Weiss, Brendan M. , Zonder, Jeffrey A. , Walling, Jackie , Kinney, Gene G. , Koller, Martin, Schenk, Dale B., Guthrie, Spencer , Liu, Enchi , Liedtke, Michaela , Gertz, Morie A. , Sanchorawala, Vaishali

Blood | October 11, 2019 | Volume: 128 | Issue: 22 | Pages: 644-644

10.1182/blood.v128.22.644.644 Get It

Abstract Introduction: Systemic amyloidoses are a group of rare disorders characterized by the accumulation of misfolded proteins in tissue, resulting in the dysfunction of vital organs (eg, heart and kidneys). In amyloid light chain (AL) amyloidosis, the most common form of systemic amyloidosis, the amyloidogenic protein is a misfolded light chain (LC) or a fragment of an LC produced by clonal plasma cells. Current therapies used to treat AL amyloidosis limit LC production but do not directly target deposits underlying multiorgan failure. NEOD001, a monoclonal antibody, targets misfolded LC and is thought to neutralize circulating LC aggregates and to clear insoluble deposits. In an interim analysis of a phase 1/2 dose-escalation study in 27 patients with AL amyloidosis and persistent organ dysfunction (NCT01707264; EudraCT2012-002683-27), monthly infusions of NEOD001 were safe, well tolerated, and associated with renal and cardiac responses.1 Here we report updated results from the escalation phase and new results from the expansion phase of this study. Patients and Methods: Inclusion criteria for this trial were that patients complete ≥1 PCD treatment before enrollment, attain partial hematologic response (HR) or better to any previous therapy, and have persistent organ dysfunction. NEOD001 was administered intravenously every 28 days. During the dose-escalation phase, 27 patients received NEOD001 at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, or 24 mg/kg in a 3+3 study design. An additional 42 patients with renal, cardiac, or peripheral nerve involvement were enrolled and treated (24 mg/kg) in the expansion phase. We assessed safety/tolerability, pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, cardiac and renal responses based on consensus criteria, and neuropathy responses using the Neuropathy Impairment Score-Lower Limb (NIS-LL). Results: The 42 additional patients enrolled in the expansion study included cohorts with renal (16 patients), cardiac (15 patients), and peripheral nerve (11 patients) involvement. In the overall population (n = 69), the median age was 60 years, and 61% of patients were men. Median (range) time since diagnosis was 2.8 (0.4-12.8) years, and 45% of patients underwent ≥3 previous plasma cell-directed regimens. The total number of infusions administered was 913 over a mean of 13.2 (range, 3-35) months. NEOD001 treatment was not associated with dose-limiting toxicities or discontinuations; patients did not develop antidrug antibodies or treatment-related serious adverse events. The most frequent treatment-emergent adverse events, regardless of relationship to study drug, were fatigue, upper respiratory tract infection, nausea, and diarrhea. In a best response analysis, 53% of cardiac-evaluable patients (N = 36) and 63% of renal-evaluable patients (N = 35) met respective criteria for organ response; no patients experienced disease progression. The median time to initial response was 2 months (cardiac) and 4 months (renal). After 9 months of treatment, 82% of patients with measurable peripheral neuropathy at baseline (N = 11) achieved a peripheral neuropathy response based on the NIS-LL score. Conclusions: Our interim results demonstrated that monthly NEOD001 infusions were safe and well tolerated and that organ response rates compared favorably with traditional chemotherapy. These updated results from the escalation phase and these new results from the expansion phase, including results from patients with peripheral nerve involvement, support the design of ongoing late-stage clinical studies. Antibody therapy may allow for effective treatment of patients with AL amyloidosis. Reference: 1. Gertz MA, Landau H, Comenzo RL, et al. First-in-human phase 1/2 study of NEOD001 in patients with light chain amyloidosis and persistent organ dysfunction. J Clin Oncol. 2016;34(10):1097-1103. Disclosures Gertz: Prothena Therapeutics: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Research to Practice: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Med Learning Group: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Honoraria; NCI Frederick: Honoraria; Sandoz Inc: Honoraria; GSK: Honoraria; Ionis: Research Funding; Annexon Biosciences: Research Funding. Comenzo:Karyopharm: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Prothena: Consultancy, Research Funding. Landau:Janssen: Consultancy; Spectrum Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Prothena: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Onyx/Amgen: Research Funding. Sanchorawala:Celgene: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Prothena: Research Funding. Weiss:Prothena: Other: Travel, accommodations, Research Funding; GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy; Millennium: Consultancy, Other: Travel, accommodations; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel, accommodations, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy. Zonder:BMS: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Prothena: Consultancy; Array Biopharma: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy. Walling:Stealth: Consultancy; BioMarin: Equity Ownership; Apex: Consultancy; Pharm-Olam: Consultancy; NuMedii: Consultancy; Amgen: Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties; Crown Bioscience: Consultancy; KaloBios: Consultancy; Exelixis: Consultancy; Newgen: Consultancy; Mateon (was Oxigene): Consultancy; Corcept: Consultancy; Prothena: Consultancy; Aduro: Consultancy; Codexis: Consultancy; Upsher Smith: Consultancy, Patents & Royalties. Kinney:Prothena: Employment, Equity Ownership, Other: Leadership. Koller:Prothena: Employment, Equity Ownership, Other: Travel, accommodations. Schenk:Prothena: Employment, Equity Ownership, Other: Leadership. Guthrie:Prothena: Employment, Equity Ownership, Other: Leadership. Liu:Prothena: Employment, Equity Ownership; Weston Brain Institute: Honoraria. Liedtke:Prothena: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding.
Predictors of Early Relapse Following Initial Therapy for Systemic Immunoglobulin Light Chain Amyloidosis
Tandon, Nidhi , Lacy, Martha Q. , Fonder, Amie , Hayman, Suzanne R. , Hobbs, Miriam, Kapoor, Prashant , Hwa, Yi L. , Kyle, Robert A. , Lust, John A., Zeldenrust, Steven R., Kumar, Shaji , Sidana, Surbhi , Gertz, Morie A. , Dispenzieri, Angela , Buadi, Francis K. , Dingli, David , Gonsalves, Wilson I. , Leung, Nelson , Go, Ronald S. , Rajkumar, S. Vincent

Blood | October 11, 2019 | Volume: 128 | Issue: 22 | Pages: 2082-2082

10.1182/blood.v128.22.2082.2082 Get It

Abstract Introduction Immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis (AL Amyloidosis) is a monoclonal plasma cell proliferative disorder that is characterized by tissue deposits of misfolded insoluble κ or λ light chain derived amyloid fibrils, leading to organ dysfunction. The prognosis of patients depends on the number and severity of organ involvement, especially cardiac involvement. Autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT), if eligible, alkylator (melphalan) and novel drugs like proteasome inhibitors (PI) and immunomodulators (IMiD) have improved the overall survival (OS) during the past decades. But still, nearly half of the patients die within a year of diagnosis. We analyzed the factors predicting early relapse / progression or death (within 12 months) after first line therapy for systemic AL amyloidosis. Methods Clinical and laboratory data of all consecutive patients with systemic AL amyloidosis seen at Mayo Clinic within 90 days of their diagnosis, between 2006 and 2015, was collected by chart review and analyzed retrospectively. Patients who died within 3 months of starting the first line treatment were excluded from analysis. Early relapse (ER) was defined as relapse / progression requiring treatment change / re-institution or death within 12 months of starting first line treatment. Patients in the cohort with ER were compared with patients with a follow up of more than 12 months who had a relapse / progression beyond 12 months or had continuing response at the time of analysis. Categorical variables were analyzed using chi - square and Fisher's exact test and continuous variables using Kruskal- Wallis test and Wilcoxon rank sum test. Multivariate analysis was done using logistic regression model. Results Seven hundred and eighty six patients with newly diagnosed systemic AL amyloidosis met the study criteria and were included in the analysis. Among these, 230 (29.3%) patients had ER within 12 months of starting initial therapy while 556 (70.7%) patients either relapsed after 1 year or had continuing response at the time of analysis. Baseline demographics, organ involvement and type of first line therapy are presented in Table1. The median estimated follow up for the entire cohort from start of initial therapy was 62.9 months (95% CI; 59.9, 67.3). The variables included in the univariate and multivariate analyses for factors predicting ER were age at diagnosis (≤ vs > 70 years ), revised mayo stage (I and II vs III and IV), bone marrow plasma cell percentage (BMPC; ≤ 10% vs > 10%), presence of any chromosomal abnormalities, trisomies or IgH translocations by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), multiorgan involvement [(>1 vs 1) (heart, liver, kidney, gastrointestinal tract, autonomic neuropathy), incorporation of ASCT in initial therapy. In univariate analysis, mayo stage (p<0.0001), multiorgan involvement (p=0.0008) and inclusion of ASCT as part of initial therapy (p<0.0001) were significantly associated with ER, while age (p=0.06), BMPC(p=0.9), FISH abnormalities (p=0.2) were not. However, in multivariate analysis, only mayo stage (III + IV vs I + II; p=0.01) and non-inclusion of ASCT in first line treatment (p=0.0001) were significantly predictive of ER. Conclusions Despite the introduction of ASCT and novel drugs, the early mortality in systemic AL amyloidosis remains high. This study demonstrates that patients with ER are older with higher prevalence of cardiac involvement and multiorgan involvement and higher Mayo stage (III and IV). Incorporation of ASCT as part of the initial therapy was associated with reduced early relapse, but it is difficult to separate the influence of the eligibility for ASCT from the effect of ASCT itself. This will help us in characterizing these patients to better understand their mechanisms of resistance to therapy and gives an insight to the type of initial therapy that benefits them. Disclosures Dispenzieri: GSK: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jannsen: Research Funding; Prothena: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Research Funding; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Alnylam: Research Funding; pfizer: Research Funding. Kapoor:Takeda: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. Kumar:Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kesios: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy, Research Funding; Noxxon Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Glycomimetics: Consultancy; Millennium: Consultancy, Research Funding; Array BioPharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Onyx: Consultancy, Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; Skyline: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding.