Lacy, Martha Q.

Abstract We retrospectively reviewed the utility of N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) in diagnosing cardiac involvement in patients with biopsy-proven systemic immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis seen at the Mayo Clinic between 1 January 2006 and 30 December 2015. We analyzed 2 cohorts: patients undergoing endomyocardial biopsy for suspicion of cardiac involvement (cohort 1) and patients who had serum NT-proBNP and comprehensive echocardiographic evaluation at diagnosis (cohort 2). Of 179 patients undergoing endomyocardial biopsy (cohort 1), 173 (97%) had evidence of amyloid deposition, with 159 having NT-proBNP performed at the time of the procedure. The NT-proBNP was elevated (>300 pg/mL) in all 159 patients (sensitivity, 100%; median NT-proBNP, 4917 pg/mL; range, 355-69 541). The left ventricular ejection fraction, interventricular septal thickness, and strain rate were abnormal in 89/168 (53%), 102/64 (61%) and 92/95 (97%), respectively. Among cohort 2 (n = 342), 259 (76%) had an elevated NT-proBNP, of whom 237 (92%) had an abnormality detected on TTE. Of 83 patients with normal NT-proBNP <300 pg/mL, 27 (33%) had an abnormality on TTE (all with borderline strain rate −18% to −15%). Only 5/27 patients were considered to have possible early cardiac involvement and none had any other diagnostic or classical features of amyloidosis on TTE. The combination of NT-proBNP and comprehensive echocardiographic evaluation can diagnose cardiac amyloidosis negating the need for endomyocardial biopsy. A negative NT-proBNP rules out clinically meaningful cardiac involvement and may obviate the routine use of TTE in patients with a low clinical suspicion of cardiac amyloidosis.

AbstractAchievement of a complete response has been associated with improved outcomes in patients with multiple myeloma. Recently, increasing application of minimal residual disease (MRD) assessment has shown that MRD negativity is a powerful prognostic factor for survival outcomes. We wanted to examine the impact of the polyclonal plasma cell (pPC) compartment among patients in complete response (CR) but are MRD positive. This is a retrospective cohort study where 460 myeloma patients were identified who met criteria for CR and had multicolor flow cytometry performed on the bone marrow (BM). Monoclonal and pPCs were estimated during MRD testing. Final outcomes including overall survival (OS) and time to next treatment (TTNT) were compared among the groups. The median OS for the entire cohort was not reached (95% CI; 63 mos, NR) and the median TTNT was 31 months (95% CI; 27,36). Among the MRDneg group, median TTNT was 37.6 months vs 23 months for MRDpos patients (P < .001); the median OS was not reached for either group, but there was a trend toward better survival for MRDneg patients. Among the MRDpos group, median percentage of pPCs was 65% (2.5–98.5), and those with >95% pPCs had a significantly better TTNT (NR vs 23 months; P = .02) and a trend toward better OS. We conclude that achievement of MRD negativity predicts for better response durability and trend toward improved OS and an increased proportion of pPC predicts for better outcomes within those who have residual tumor cells highlighting the importance of marrow normalization.

PURPOSE To provide evidence-based recommendations on the treatment of multiple myeloma to practicing physicians and others. METHODS ASCO and Cancer Care Ontario convened an Expert Panel of medical oncology, surgery, radiation oncology, and advocacy experts to conduct a literature search, which included systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, and some phase II studies published from 2005 through 2018. Outcomes of interest included survival, progression-free survival, response rate, and quality of life. Expert Panel members used available evidence and informal consensus to develop evidence-based guideline recommendations. RESULTS The literature search identified 124 relevant studies to inform the evidence base for this guideline. RECOMMENDATIONS Evidence-based recommendations were developed for patients with multiple myeloma who are transplantation eligible and those who are ineligible and for patients with relapsed or refractory disease.

SummaryThis study evaluated the differences in clinical features of 1077 newly diagnosed AL amyloidosis patients with renal involvement (n = 229, 21%), both cardiac and renal involvement (n = 443, 41%) and cardiac involvement (n = 405, 38%). Significant differences in dFLC (difference in involved and uninvolved light chains) were noted (renal, both, cardiac median: 83, 234 and 349 mg/l, P < 0.001). The proportion of patients with ≥ 10% bone marrow plasma cells (BMPCs) was lowest in renal only patients: 44%, 57%, 64%, respectively, P < 0.001. In a multivariate linear regression model incorporating organ involvement type and BMPCs ≥10%, organ involvement was a significant predictor of dFLC (P < 0.001). Median overall survival (OS) across the three groups was 83 vs. 19 vs. 16 months (P < 0.001) in patients not undergoing transplant and 5‐year OS in patients undergoing transplant was 90% vs. 75% vs. 64% (P = 0.007), respectively. In conclusion, renal involvement alone or renal + cardiac involvement in AL amyloidosis is associated with lower circulating light chain burden, which cannot be fully explained by BMPC burden alone. Increased sensitivity of the kidney to light chains, given significant interactions with the renal tubular system and secretion of modified light chain products may play a role in pathogenesis of renal AL amyloidosis and warrants further investigation.

Abstract We evaluated the impact of achieving a rapid response in 840 newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients from 2004 to 2015. Rates of very good partial response (VGPR) or better were 29% (240/840) after 2 cycles of treatment, 42% (350/840) after 4 cycles of treatment, and 66% (552/840) as best response. Early responders after 2 cycles of treatment had higher rates of light chain disease, anemia, renal failure, International Staging System (ISS) stage III disease, and high-risk cytogenetics, especially t(4;14), and were more likely to have received triplet therapy and undergo transplant. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were not different among patients with ≥VGPR and &lt;VGPR after 2 cycles (PFS, 28 vs 30 months, P = .6; OS, 78 vs 96 months, P = .1) and 4 cycles (PFS, 31 vs 29 months; OS, 89 vs 91 months, P = .9), although both were improved, with ≥VGPR as best response (PFS, 33 vs 22 months, P &lt; .001; OS, 102 vs 77 months, P = .003). On multivariate analysis stratified by transplant status, achievement of ≥VGPR after 2 cycles was not associated with improved PFS (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]; transplant cohort, 1.1 [0.7-1.6]; nontransplant cohort, 1.2 [0.8-1.7]) or OS (transplant cohort, 1.6 [0.9-2.9]; nontransplant cohort, 1.5 [1.0-2.4]). Covariates in the model included high-risk cytogenetics, ISS stage III, triplet therapy, creatinine ≥2 mg/dL, light chain disease, and age. Although patients with high-risk disease are more likely to achieve early response, a rapid achievement of a deep response by itself does not affect long-term outcomes.