Citations 1052

Phase II Trial of Lenalidomide (Revlimid™) with Cyclophosphamide and Dexamethasone (RCd) for Newly Diagnosed Myeloma

Blood | October 13, 2019 | Volume: 112 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 91-91

10.1182/blood.v112.11.91.91

Abstract Background: The combination of lenalidomide and dexamethasone (RD) has been shown to be highly effective as initial therapy for multiple myeloma. More recently, a phase III trial demonstrated improved survival with use of lenalidomide and low dose dexamethasone (Rd). Further improvements by incorporating other active agents may increase the depth of response and may improve long-term outcome. We report the results from a phase II trial combining lenalidomide and low dose dexamethasone with cyclophosphamide (RCd) as initial therapy for newly diagnosed MM. Methods: The trial was initiated in July 2006 and completed the initial target accrual of 33 patients by July 2007 (Cohort 1). Due to high rate of dose reductions in cohort 1, between July 2007 and May 2008 an additional 20 patients were enrolled with lower doses of cyclophosphamide (Cohort 2). The treatment protocol consisted of lenalidomide given orally at a dose of 25 mg daily on days 1–21 of a 28-day cycle. Dex was given orally at a dose of 40 mg on days 1, 8, 15, and 22 of each cycle. Cyclophosphamide at a dose of 300 mg/m2 was given on days 1, 8, and 15 of each cycle in cohort 1 and 300 mg on days 1, 8, and 15 of each cycle in cohort 2. Patients also received an aspirin once daily as thromboprophylaxis. Response was defined as a decrease in serum monoclonal (M) protein by 50% or higher and a decrease in urine M protein by at least 90% or to a level less than 200 mg/24 hours. Responses were assessed on intent to treat basis. Results: 53 patients were enrolled. The median age was 64 years (range, 37–82). 14 patients (29%) had ISS stage III disease. The median number of cycles was 4 (range: 1 – 20). The best response based on all enrolled patients on an intent to treat basis was 83%, including CR:1 (2%), VGPR: 20 (38%), PR: 23 (43%), and less than PR: 9 (17%). The CR plus VGPR rate was 40%. Among the 20 patients in cohort 2 who were enrolled after optimization of the cyclophosphamide dosing, 16 (80%) have already achieved a partial response or better with 17 patients in this cohort still receiving study treatment. Overall, 25 of the 53 enrolled patients have discontinued study treatment. Reasons for ending treatment are: completed study per protocol (14), disease progression (5), adverse event (3) and alternate treatment (3). This includes 3 patients from cohort 2, one completed treatment per protocol, one went to alternate therapy and one patient went off for progression. Hematological toxicity was the most common with grade 4 toxicity seen in 8 patients (only 1 from cohort 2). Non-hematological toxicities included neuropathy, diarrhea, cystitis, and thrombosis. There were 6 patients with grade 4 non-hematological toxicities (none from cohort 2) attributed to the drug (thrombosis, confusion, depression and sepsis). Thirteen patients had dose adjustments, most commonly due to hematological toxicity attributed to lenalidomide or cyclophosphamide. One patient has died off study, of intracranial hemorrhage. The median follow-up for the remaining patients is 7.8 months. Conclusions: The combination of lenalidomide, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone (RCd) has excellent activity in the setting of newly diagnosed myeloma. Seventeen patients continue on study and the response rates are likely to be higher with additional followup. Myelosuppression was a significant toxicity leading to dose reductions and cycle delays, and is lower with decreased dose of CTX in cohort 2 without any apparent loss of responses.
Pomalidomide (CC4047) Plus Low-Dose Dexamethasone (Pom/dex) Is Highly Effective Therapy in Relapsed Multiple Myeloma

Blood | October 13, 2019 | Volume: 112 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 866-866

10.1182/blood.v112.11.866.866

Abstract Background: Thalidomide and its analogue lenalidomide have high response rates among patients with newly diagnosed as well as previously treated myeloma. Pomalidomide (CC4047) is the newest immunomodulatory (IMiD) agent that has shown single-agent activity in phase I studies. We report on the first Phase 2 trial of pomalidomide combined with low dose dexamethasone (Pom/dex) in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Methods: 37 patients (21 male and 16 female) were enrolled. Pomalidomide was given orally 2 mg daily on days 1–28 of a 28-day cycle. Dexamethasone was given orally at a dose of 40 mg daily on days 1, 8, 15 and 22 of each cycle. Response was assessed by the International Myeloma Working Group Uniform Response criteria. All patients received aspirin 325 mg daily as prophylaxis against DVT. Results: The median age was 66 years (range, 40 – 88). All patients were evaluable for response and toxicity, and all analysis were done on intent to treat basis. All patients had received prior therapy; 38% had 3 prior regimens; 35% had 2 prior regimens and 27% had one prior regimen. 76% had previous autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) and 24% had 2 prior ASCT. 62% had previous IMiD therapy. Toxicity was mild and consisted primarily of myelosuppression. Grade 3 neutropenia occurred in 31%; grade 3 thrombocytopenia 3%; grade 3 anemia 3 %. Other grade 3/4 toxicities seen in less than 5% pts included: diarrhea, atrial fibrillation, pneumonia, dehydration and renal insufficiency. 16 % had grade 1/2 neuropathy. No grade 3 neuropathy was seen and there have been no thromboembolic events. Thirty (81%) patients are continuing study treatment. Seven patients have discontinued treatment due to: disease progression (5), died on study (1) and the medical doctor’s discretion (1). Twenty three of 37 patients (62%) achieved an objective response to therapy; including 9 (24%) with VGPR; 14 patients (38%) with PR; 6 (16%) with stable disease. Objective responses were seen in 4 of 13 patients (29%) who were refractory to lenalidomide. Conclusions: Pomalidomide plus dexamethasone (Pom/dex) is highly active and well tolerated for treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma with an objective responserate of 62%, including a 29% response rate among patients who are lenalidomiderefractory.
Prognostic Value of Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) in Patients with Primary Systemic Amyloidosis Undergoing Stem Cell Transplantation.

Blood | October 13, 2019 | Volume: 110 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 2871-2871

10.1182/blood.v110.11.2871.2871

Background: Primary amyloidosis (AL) is characterized by multi-organ deposition of light chain derived amyloid protein, resulting in organ dysfunction of varying severity. High dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is an effective treatment for AL, but is limited in applicability due to high transplant related mortality in patients with advanced organ dysfunction. Serum LDH, an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of lactate to pyruvate, is present in large amounts in heart, kidney, liver, and muscle and is elevated with abnormalities in one or more of the organs. It is commonly elevated in a variety of hematologic malignancies. Given the multi-organ involvement in AL, we examined the prognostic value of LDH in AL. Methods: We examined our transplant database to assess the prognostic value of LDH. Laboratory values from pre-ASCT evaluation were used for the analysis. Results: Three hundred and thirteen pts who underwent ASCT between March 1997 and March 2007 were included in this analysis. The median age at ASCT was 57.5 years (range, 33–73); and 183 pts (58.3%) were male. The median duration from diagnosis to transplant was 4.1 months (range, 1–75) and the median follow up post transplant was 28.3 months (range, 1 m to 10 years) for the 229 pts (73%) alive at the time of analysis. The median LDH was 194 IU (range, 92-441) and 138 pts (44%) had an LDH > 200. The median overall survival post-ASCT for patients with an LDH > 200 was 59.4 mos (95% CI; 37.9, 80.8) compared to not reached for the rest (Figure). The prognostic value of LDH for post transplant OS was independent of cardiac troponin (cTnT). The median OS post ASCT for patients with cTnT > 0.035 (n=208) was 37.4 months (95% CI; 17, 57.9) compared to 97.5 months (95% CI; 64.8, 130.2) for the rest. In a Cox proportional hazards model, cTnT > 0.035 was associated with a 2.5 fold risk of death (p = 0.0013) and an LDH > 200 was associated with 1.7 fold risk (p = 0.04). We then examined if LDH added to the cTnT in a prognostic model for survival post ASCT. Pts with both cTnT < 0.035 and LDH < 200 (n=133) had a median OS that was not reached compared to 71 mos (95% CI; 48.3, 94) if one factor was abnormal (n=89) and 37.4 mos (95% CI; 16.1, 58.8) if both cTnT and LDH were abnormal as above (n=45); p < 0.001 (Figure 2). Conclusions: In this study we have demonstrated the prognostic value of serum LDH in AL pts undergoing ASCT. Serum LDH appears to add to the value of troponin in prognostic staging of these patients. These results need to be examined in a larger cohort of patients undergoing different treatments. It is possible that LDH is able to globally assess abnormalities of multiple organs including heart, liver and lung. Prospective studies looking at the different LDH fractions are ongoing. Figure Figure Figure Figure
The Lack of Clinical Efficacy of Flavopiridol in Patients with Relapsed Refractory Myeloma.

Blood | October 13, 2019 | Volume: 104 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 3461-3461

10.1182/blood.v104.11.3461.3461

Abstract Purpose: Flavopiridol is a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor with preclinical activity against multiple myeloma cells in vitro and ex vivo. It can induce apoptosis in non-cycling human cell lines, including RPMI-8226, a myeloma cell line. Suggested mechanisms of cytotoxicity include down regulation of anti-apoptotic regulators, direct binding to duplex DNA, disruption of transcription factor/DNA binding, upregulation of p53, inhibition of transcription, and inhibition of angiogenesis. A Phase II multicenter trial was conducted to determine the activity of flavopiridol in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Experimental Design: Eighteen patients were treated with 1 hour flavopiridol infusions (50 mg/m(2)/day) for 3 consecutive days every 21 days. Responses were assessed according to IBMTR criteria each cycle. Serial bone marrow aspirates were collected before and immediately after flavopiridol treatment to measure in vivo and ex vivo effects of flavopiridol on patient plasma cells. Immunoblotting for Mcl-1, Bcl-2, p53, cyclin D, phosphoRNA polymerase II and phosphoSTAT 3 was conducted on total cellular proteins isolated from sorted plasma/myeloma cells. Ex vivo assessment of flavopiridol sensitivity of freshly collected myeloma cells was performed for 5 patients pre-therapy. Results: Median age of patients ranged from 49 to 81 years, with a median of 65 years. Patients had received a median of 3 (range, 1–5) treatment regimens prior to enrollment. Sixty-one percent of patients were refractory to prior therapy and fifty-five percent had received prior high dose therapy with hematopoietic stem cell support. The immunoglobulin isotypes of the patients were as follows: IgG (10), IgA (4), light chain (3), and non-secretory (1). At enrollment, 13 patients had a beta-2 microglobulin greater than 3.5. Seven had a plasma cell labeling index greater than or equal to 1%. Four had an elevated LDH. The trial was stopped at time of interim analysis due to a lack of clinical efficacy. Of eighteen treated patients, 15 progressed (including 1 death on study) and 3 discontinued due to toxicity. All patients have ended the active treatment phase, and the mean number of cycles administered for all enrolled patients was 1.6 cycles (range 1–3). No objective responses were observed. The most frequent adverse events were leukopenia and diarrhea (83% each), followed by thrombocytopenia, nausea, and fatigue (61% each). Ex vivo flavopiridol treatment of pre-therapy patient plasma/myeloma cells led to cytotoxicity, but only after longer exposure times at higher flavopiridol concentrations than were anticipated to be achieved in vivo. Further, immunoblotting demonstrated no indication that known in vitro cellular effects of flavopiridol were recapitulated in vivo. Conclusions: Flavopiridol has little single-agent activity in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma when administered at this dose and schedule, which is likely due to the inability to achieve biologically relevant concentrations in patients. .
Comparison of Early and Late Autologous Stem Cell Transplants for Multiple Myeloma: A Single Institution Experience.

Blood | October 13, 2019 | Volume: 104 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 928-928

10.1182/blood.v104.11.928.928

Background: High dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant (SCT) remains the preferred therapy for eligible patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Several studies have demonstrated an improvement in median survival with use of SCT. Patients with myeloma may undergo SCT immediately following 4–6 cycles of ‘induction’ therapy or at the time of relapse from the initial plateau phase. Available evidence does not suggest a survival difference between the two approaches. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated our experience with autologous single SCT for MM to compare the results of delayed SCT to early SCT. We identified from our transplant database, 202 patients with MM, who underwent SCT between October 1992 and November 2002. 101 patients, who responded to induction chemotherapy, had stem cells collected in plateau phase, received maintenance chemotherapy and had SCT at the time of first relapse (delayed SCT group). The remaining 101 patients, after initially achieving a response underwent upfront SCT (early SCT group). Patients refractory to initial therapy were excluded from this study. Most of the early transplants were done in the recent years and hence this group has a shorter follow up. Results: The study cohort had a median age of 55 years (range 29 – 72) at diagnosis consisting of 126 males (62%), with no significant demographic difference between the two groups. As expected measures of tumor burden (M protein, B2M and marrow plasma cell percentage) were significantly higher in the delayed group. Plasma cell labeling indices and presence of abnormal cytogenetics were higher in the delayed SCT group as well at transplant. TBI containing regimens were used more often in the delayed group reflecting a difference in the time periods of transplant. There was no difference between the groups in terms of overall response to transplant though complete response rate was higher for the early transplants. (Table). There was no difference in the time to overall response between the groups (P=0.13, Kaplan Meier estimate). Though the median progression free survival (PFS) from transplant was shorter for the delyaed SCT group, the overall survival (OS) from diagnosis of MM was comparable for the two groups (Table). The overall survival estimate at 5 year from diagnosis was 60% for both groups. Conclusions: Review of our experience demonstrates comparable overall survival for an early SCT compared to SCT at the time of relapse. Although there is an advantage for early SCT in terms of more chemosensitive disease as shown by a longer PFS from SCT, there is no benefit in OS from time of diagnosis. Patient preference and other co-morbidities should play a role in the decision regarding timing of transplant. This study has the disadvantage of being retrospective in nature and the two groups being spread over different periods in time. Early (n=101) Delayed (n=101) P Overall Response 100 (99%) 94 (94%) 0.07 Complete Response 43 (42%) 28 (27%) 0.04 Median PFS (From Transplant) 26.7 months 14.8 months <0.0001 Median OS (From diagnosis) 67 months 70 months 0.1
Reduced Intensity Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) for Myeloma (MM) - Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD) is Associated with Lower Risk of Relapse and Superior Progression Free Survival (PFS) - A CIBMTR Analysis.

Blood | October 13, 2019 | Volume: 114 | Issue: 22 | Pages: 53-53

10.1182/blood.v114.22.53.53

Abstract Abstract 53 Prior studies have demonstrated a graft-versus-malignancy effect following allogeneic HSCT that is variably linked to acute or chronic GVHD. Although a graft vs. Myeloma (MM) effect has been shown after myeloablative allogeneic HSCT, a higher treatment related mortality (TRM) risk leads to inferior survival compared with autologous HSCT. Non-myeloablative (NMA) and reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) approaches are used to reduce the risk of TRM while preserving the graft vs. MM effect. The clinical benefit of lower intensity conditioning regimens is thus especially dependent on the impact of acute or chronic GVHD on graft vs. MM effect and TRM. We analyzed the outcomes of 177 matched sibling allogeneic HSCT recipients reported to the CIBMTR between 1997 and 2005 following NMA (n=120) or RIC (n=57) performed within 18 months of diagnosis. Median age was 50 (range 24-69) years and 62% were Durie-Salmon Stage III. Tandem autologous followed by allogeneic HSCT (autologous+ allogeneic) recipients (n=105) were more likely to receive NMA conditioning vs. recipients of an upfront allogeneic HSCT (n=72). Majority (98%) received peripheral blood stem cell grafts. Outcomes at a median follow-up of 36 (3 - 98) months are summarized in table 1. In order to assess the impact of GVHD on outcomes, Cox proportional hazards regression models were built with GVHD as the main effect treating it as a time dependent covariate (Table 2). Other covariates in the multivariate models included age, sex, performance status, IgG vs. non IgG myeloma, disease status and chemosensitivity, prior lines of chemotherapy, donor-recipient sex match, NMA vs. RIC and year of transplant. AGVHD was associated with an increased risk of TRM. Tandem autologous + allogeneic HSCT was associated with reduced relapse risk (RR= 0.49, p=0.008). AGVHD had no impact on relapse/progression of MM while cGVHD was associated with a reduced risk of relapse (Figure. 1). The protective effect of cGVHD on relapse was significant in the non IgG MM subgroup. AGVHD had no impact on PFS whereas cGVHD was associated with superior PFS and lower risk of treatment failure. Later year of HSCT was also associated with superior PFS. Overall survival was not affected by cGVHD while recipients of tandem autologous + allogeneic HSCT had a higher mortality in the presence of aGVHD (RR=3.60, p= 0.01). After matched sibling allogeneic HSCT for MM, aGVHD is associated with a higher risk of TRM whereas cGVHD decreases the risk of relapse and improves PFS. The effect of cGVHD may vary with the type of MM with greater impact in non IgG MM. Further study to identify subtypes of MM susceptible to an immune mediated graft vs. MM effect is suggested. Disclosures: Lonial: Celgene: Consultancy; Millennium: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Gloucester: Research Funding.
Analysis of the Immunoglobulin Heavy and Light Chain Gene Expression and Mutations in POEMS Patients.

Blood | October 13, 2019 | Volume: 114 | Issue: 22 | Pages: 4986-4986

10.1182/blood.v114.22.4986.4986

Abstract Abstract 4986 The plasma cell disorder POEMS syndrome is defined by the following major features: peripheral neuropathy (P), organomegaly (O), endocrinopathy (E), monoclonal (immunoglobulin) protein expression (M), and skin changes (S). One of the most noticeable characteristics of this disease is that virtually all patients have lambda (γ) rather than the kappa (κ) restricted clonal plasma cells. We hypothesized that this restricted expression and possibly mutated heavy and light chain genes may be linked to the pathogenesis of POEMS. To this end, we analyzed light and heavy chain gene sequences from 21 POEMS patients at Mayo Clinic Rochester. We found that 16 of these patients had dominant light chain gene sequences, and that the expression of light chain was restricted to IGLV 1 subfamily and more specifically, to the IGLV1-40 or the IGLV 1-44 subtype. In contrast, no such stereotypy was observed at the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus (IGHV), though IGHV gene expression indicated a high degree of clonality. We aligned these sequences with their corresponding germline consensus sequences in IMGT database to assess similarity and divergence. IGLV1-40 and IGLV 1-44 sequences from POEMS patients were also aligned with the sequences in the light chain library on Boston University Amyloid Database (http://pulm.bumc.bu.edu/aldb), and POEMS IGHV sequences were compared to IGHV sequences reported in the literature for multiple myeloma, MGUS (monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance) and CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukaemia). We found that: i) both the restricted light- and the non-restricted heavy chain genes in POEMS patients varied significantly (>2%) from their germline counterparts; ii) the incidence of somatic hypermutation in IGHV was higher in POEMS than that reported for other plasma cell disorders like multiple myeloma, MGUS and CLL, iii) in IGLV, mutations occurred at non-random, clustered hotspots located in specified areas of the gene (such as the structural elements that contribute the antigen binding CDR domain); iv) mutations occurring in the CDR regions tended to be conserved (the amino acid in POEMS was similar to that in germline in its physicochemical properties), and v) the histidine residue at position 40 (H40) in IGLV1-40 and the threonine at position 38 (T38) in IGLV1-44 are POEMS-specific. These observations suggest that an antigen driven somatic hypermutation mechanism may mark a post-germinal precursor plasma cell for selection, but further transformation of this selected cell into a malignant POEMS clone occurs via a different, hitherto unknown, mechanism. They also highlight the significance of H40 (in IGLV 1-40) and T38 (in IGLV 1-44) residues, which seem to be highly POEMS-specific (occurring seldom in other plasma cell disorders), and which may bias the selected plasma cell clone towards POEMS syndrome phenotype. Disclosures Lacy: celgene: Research Funding. Gertz:celgene: Honoraria; millenium: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Kumar:CELGENE: Research Funding; MILLENNIUM: Research Funding; BAYER: Research Funding; GENZYME: Research Funding; NOVARTIS: Research Funding.
A Phase II Trial of the Oral mTOR Inhibitor Everolimus (RAD001) in Relapsed or Refractory Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia.

Blood | October 13, 2019 | Volume: 114 | Issue: 22 | Pages: 587-587

10.1182/blood.v114.22.587.587

Abstract Abstract 587 Background: The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signal transduction pathway controls cell proliferation and survival. Everolimus is an oral agent targeting raptor mTOR (mTORC1). The trial's goal was to determine the anti-tumor activity and safety of single-agent everolimus in patients with relapsed/refractory Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM). Patients and Methods: Eligible patients had measurable disease (IgM monoclonal protein >1000 mg/dL with >10% marrow involvement or nodal masses >2 cm), a platelet count ≥75,000 × 106/L, a neutrophil count ≥1,000 × 106/L, and a creatinine and bilirubin ≤2x laboratory upper limit of normal. Patients received everolimus 10 mg PO daily and were evaluated monthly. Tumor response was assessed after cycles 2 and 6 and then every 3 cycles until progression. Results: 50 pts were treated. The median age was 63 years (range, 43-85). The overall response rate (CR+PR+MR) was 70% (95% CI: 55-82%), with a PR of 42% and 28% MR. The median duration of response and median progression-free survival (PFS) has not been reached. The estimated PFS at 6 and 12 months is 75% (95%CI: 64-89%) and 62% (95%CI: 48-80%), respectively. Grade 3 or higher related toxicities were observed in 56% of patients. The most common were hematological toxicities with cytopenias. Pulmonary toxicity occurred in 10% of patients. Dose reductions due to toxicity occurred in 52% of patients. Conclusions: Everolimus has high single-agent activity with an overall response rate of 70% and manageable toxicity in patients with relapsed WM, and offers a potential new therapeutic strategy for this patient group. Disclosures: Ghobrial: Millennium: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Gertz:celgene: Honoraria; millenium: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Richardson:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Johnson and Johnson: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Keryx: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Treon:Millennium: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Witzig:Novartis: Research Funding.
Should Troponin Level Be an Exclusion Criterion for Stem Cell Transplantation in Primary Amyloidosis?.

Blood | October 13, 2019 | Volume: 110 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 3003-3003

10.1182/blood.v110.11.3003.3003

Abstract Introduction: Mortality rates associated with stem cell transplantation are considerably higher than those of autologous stem cell transplantation for other hematologic malignancies. The efficacy of stem cell transplantation in amyloidosis largely is determined by treatment-related mortality rates (range, 11%-25%). Appropriate patient selection is essential to avoid this high mortality rate. Patients & Methods: The primary end point of the study was death from any cause between 4 days before transplantation and d+100 after transplantation. Patient characteristics are shown. Patient characteristics (N=271) Characteristic Median (range) Comment Age, y 58 (33–75) Male 159 (59%) Renal involvement 184 (68%) Cardiac involvement 147 (54%) Peripheral neuropathy 30 (11%) Hepatic involvement 28 (14%) Albumin, g/dL 2.8 (0.8–4.4) Creatinine, mg/dL 1.1 (0.6–12.0) 90% of patients had levels ≤1.7 mg/dL Alkaline phosphatase, U/L 93 (31–1,395) 25% of patients had levels >132 U/L Urinary total protein, g/d 3.35 (0.01–35.4) Percentage of plasma cells in the marrow 7 (0–78) 90% of patients had <17% plasma cells Interventricular septal thickness, mm 13 (7–25) Ejection fraction, % 65 (28–84) Time between diagnosis and stem cell transplantation, mo. 4 (0.8–75) Troponins,μg/L 0.01 (0.01–1.0) 75% of patients had levels ≤0.03 g/L 90% of patients had levels ≤0.08 g/L Results: Among 271 patients undergoing stem cell transplantation, troponin T was a powerful predictor of treatment-related mortality. Patients with troponin levels of 0.06 mg/L or higher had a day 100 all-cause mortality rate of 28%. Day-100 Survival Rate (N=271) Patients Troponin level ≥0.06 μg/L, no. of patients (n=40) Troponin level <0.06 μg/L, no. of patients (n=231) Total no. of patients *P<.001 Died before day 100* 11 16 27 Survived beyond d+100 29 215 244 Patients with troponin levels less than 0.06 mg/L had a day-100 all-cause mortality rate of 7% (P<.001). Figure Figure Despite possibly having multiple causes of death, for 7 of 11 patients with elevated troponin levels, cardiac causality could be inferred. For patients with low levels of troponin, clear cardiac causality was observed in 4 of 16. Among the 40 patients with troponin levels of 0.06 mg/L or higher, the conditioning dosage of melphalan was reduced for 31 patients (78%). Among the patients with troponin levels less than 0.06 mg/L, the dosage of melphalan was reduced for 29% of patients. Conclusion: Troponin levels should be measured in all patients before transplantation. Those with troponin levels exceeding 0.06 mg/L should be considered for less toxic therapies until the clinically optimal use of stem cell transplantation is better defined by randomized clinical trials. The chemotherapy dosage was reduced for 77% of patients in the high troponin group, but acceptable treatment-related mortality rates were not achieved. Clearly, a risk-adapted approach that modified the dosage of conditioning chemotherapy did not compensate for poor patient health or advanced cardiac involvement.
Allogeneic HSC Transplantation for Multiple Myeloma: A Single Institution Experience.

Blood | October 13, 2019 | Volume: 110 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 3036-3036

10.1182/blood.v110.11.3036.3036

Background: Despite development of new therapies and advances in autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), MM remains, for the most part, an incurable condition. Allogeneic HSCT, through induction of a graft-versus-myeloma effect, can potentially overcome resistance to conventional therapy and induce prolonged disease control. Such approach is limited by the risk of acute and chronic GVHD and the high treatment-related mortality and has been restricted to young patients with aggressive or refractory disease. We reviewed our experience with allogeneic HSCT at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Methods: Retrospective single-institution review of consecutive allogeneic transplants performed for multiple myeloma between 1991 and 2006. Results: Thirty-three patients underwent a myeloablative (52%) or reduced-intensity conditioning (48%) HSCT 3.2 months to 15 years after their diagnosis of multiple myeloma (n=31) or plasma cell leukemia (n=2). Median age at the time of HSCT was 48 years (range 33–61) and 19 patients (57%) had received one (n=12) or two (n=7) prior autologous HSCT. Donors were HLA-matched siblings in 25 cases (76%), matched unrelated (n=8), and 5/6 (n=1) and 6/6 (n=1) match, non-sibling family members. Source of HSC was peripheral blood exclusively in 21 (64%) and bone marrow in 12 (35%) transplants. Outcomes are being reported after a median follow up of 21.8 months (25.6 for survivors). Day+100 mortality was 21.2% and the incidences of any grade and grades 3/4 acute GVHD were 54.5% and 33.3% respectively. Among the 26 patients surviving beyond day+100, 57.7% developed chronic extensive GVHD. All 6 patients transplanted after a complete response (CR) to prior therapy remained so after the transplant. Of the 27 patients with measurable disease, disease reassessment could be performed for 20 after the transplant. Ten patients (50%) achieved a CR or near-CR and 8 patients (40%) obtained a partial response. Median time to progression and overall survival (Figure) after HSCT were 21.8 and 40.6 months respectively. Twenty-one patients have died, 10 as a consequence of disease progression. Twelve patients are alive, including 6 patients in CR, 8.3 to 172.7 months after the transplant. In a multivariate model the use of a non-sibling donor and peripheral blood HSC were associated with decreases risk of relapse, but had no effect on overall survival. Conclusion: Allogeneic HSCT is a feasible treatment for young patient with adverse disease features. Graft-versus-myeloma can induced myeloma eradication and prolonged disease control. Figure Figure