Citations 540

Stem Cell Transplantation for Light Chain Amyloidosis: Decreased Early Mortality Over Time

Journal of Clinical Oncology | March 20, 2018 | Volume: 36 | Issue: 13 | Pages: 1323-1329

10.1200/jco.2017.76.9554 | PMID 29558277

Purpose Autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) has been used in patients with immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis for more than two decades. Early experience raised concerns regarding safety with high early-mortality rates. Patients and Methods We report 20 years of experience with ASCT for AL amyloidosis at the Mayo Clinic Rochester. In all, 672 consecutive patients receiving ASCT for AL amyloidosis were divided into three cohorts on the basis of date of transplantation (cohort 1, 1996-2002 [n = 124]; cohort 2, 2003-2009 [n = 302]; and cohort 3, 2010-2016 [n = 246]). Results The median age for the entire cohort was 59 years, with patients in cohort 3 being slightly older than those in the other two cohorts (60 v 58 v 54 years for cohorts 3, 2, and 1, respectively; P < .001). Fewer patients in cohort 3 had more than two organs involved (9% v 18% v 19% for cohorts 3, 2, and 1, respectively; P < .001). More patients received pretransplantation therapy in cohort 3 compared with earlier time periods (49% v 38% v 42% for cohorts 3, 2, and 1, respectively; P = .02). Hematologic response was higher in cohort 3 (84% v 79% v 69% for cohorts 3, 2, and 1, respectively; P = .002). Median overall survival for the entire cohort was 122 months and improved over time (not reached v 120 months v 75 months for cohorts 3, 2, and 1, respectively; P < .001). Treatment-related mortality declined over time (2.4% v 8.6% v 14.5% for cohorts 3, 2, and 1, respectively; P < .001). On multivariable analysis, conditioning dose, Mayo stage 2012, and hematologic response were independent predictors of survival. Conclusion ASCT is a highly effective therapy for AL amyloidosis. The improved survival and markedly reduced treatment-related mortality in eligible patients indicate that this will remain an important first-line option even in the era of treatment approaches that use novel agents.
Prevalence and survival of smouldering Waldenström macroglobulinaemia in the United States

British Journal of Haematology | March 15, 2018 | Volume: 184 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 1014-1017

10.1111/bjh.15201 | PMID 29532912

Digoxin use in systemic light-chain (AL) amyloidosis: contra-indicated or cautious use?

Amyloid | March 13, 2018 | Volume: 25 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 86-92

10.1080/13506129.2018.1449744 | PMID 29529877

Fitting mSMART Into the Current Clinical Management of Waldenström Macroglobulinemia—Reply

JAMA Oncology | February 1, 2018 | Volume: 4 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 745

10.1001/jamaoncol.2017.5100 | PMID 29392293

Reply to Castillo et al.

American Journal of Hematology | January 9, 2018 | Volume: 93 | Issue: 3 | Pages: No page available

10.1002/ajh.25029 | PMID 29314230

MYD88 mutation status does not impact overall survival in Waldenström macroglobulinemia

American Journal of Hematology | October 28, 2017 | Volume: 93 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 187-194

10.1002/ajh.24955 | PMID 29080258

AbstractWaldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is an immunoglobulin M‐associated lymphoma, with majority of cases demonstrating MYD88 locus alteration, most commonly, MYD88L265P. Owing to low prevalence of the wild‐type (WT) MYD88 genotype in WM, clinically relevant data in this patient population are sparse, with one study showing nearly a 10‐fold increased risk of mortality in this subgroup compared to patients with MYD88L265P mutation. We studied a large cohort of patients with MYD88L265P and MYD88WT WM, evaluated at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, between 1995 and 2016, to specifically assess the impact of these genotypes on clinical course. Of 557 patients, MYD88L265P mutation status, as determined by allele‐specific polymerase chain reaction, was known in 219, and 174 (79%) of those exhibited MYD88L265P, 157 of 174 patients had active disease. Of 45 (21%) patients with MYD88WT genotype, 44 had active disease. The estimated median follow‐up was 7.0 years; median overall survival was 10.2 years (95% CI: 8.4‐16.5) for MYD88L265P versus 13.9 years (95% CI: 6.4‐29.3) for the MYD88WT (P = 0.86). The time‐to‐next therapy from frontline treatment and the presenting features were similar in the two patient populations. For patients with smoldering WM at diagnosis, the median time‐to‐progression to active disease was 2.8 years (95% CI: 2.2‐3.8) in the MYD88L265P cohort and 1.9 years (95% CI: 0.7‐3.1) in the MYD88WT cohort (P = 0.21). The frequency of transformation to high‐grade lymphoma, or the development of therapy‐elated myelodysplastic syndrome was higher in the MYD88WT cohort (16% versus 4% in the MYD88L265P, P = 0.009). In conclusion, MYD88L265P mutation does not appear to be a determinant of outcome, and its presence may not be a disease‐defining feature in WM. Our findings warrant external validation, preferably through prospective studies.
Efficacy of VDT PACE‐like regimens in treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma

American Journal of Hematology | October 25, 2017 | Volume: 93 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 179-186

10.1002/ajh.24954 | PMID 29067723

AbstractExperience with intensive chemotherapy for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) using VDT PACE regimen and its modifications (VDT PACE‐like regimens: VPLRs) outside TOTAL THERAPY trials is limited. We analyzed the outcomes of 141 patients with RRMM who received VPLRs at our center between 2006 and 2017 in an intent‐to‐treat analysis. Median age was 59.7 years and 66.7% of patients were male. A median of 2.2 years (range 0.02‐11.4) separated diagnosis of myeloma and inititation of VPLR. High‐risk cytogenetics were present in 52.4% patients. Patients received a median of 4 (range 1‐14) prior therapies, including stem cell transplant (SCT) in 66.7% patients. Ninety‐five (67.4%) patients received VDT PACE, 20 (14.2%) patients received VD PACE and 26 (18.4%) patients received other VPLRs. Patients received a median of 1 cycle (range 1‐9) of VPLR. We observed ≥ minimal response in 68.4%, ≥ partial response (PR) in 54.4% and ≥ very good PR in 10.3% patients. Median progression‐free survival was 3.1 months (95% CI, 1.9‐3.9) and median overall survival (OS) was 8.1 months (CI, 6.2‐9.9). One‐hundred and sixteen (82.3%) patients received some therapy after VPLR; 71 (61.2%) received systemic chemotherapy, while 45 (38.8%) underwent SCT. Median OS for those who received SCT after VPLR was 15.1 months (CI, 10.3‐20.8). Age ≥ 60 years (hazard ratio [HR] 2.3 [CI, 1.4‐3.7]; P = 0.0008) and R‐ISS III stage (HR‐ 2.4 [CI, 1.3‐4.0]; P = 0.003) predicted shorter OS in patients receiving VPLR. VPLRs are effective in heavily pre‐treated RRMM. In fit patients, SCT can be used to consolidate the response to VPLR.
Impact of involved free light chain (FLC) levels in patients achieving normal FLC ratio after initial therapy in light chain amyloidosis (AL)

American Journal of Hematology | September 27, 2017 | Volume: 93 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 17-22

10.1002/ajh.24919 | PMID 28960427

AbstractAchievement of a normal FLC ratio (FLCr) following treatment indicates hematologic response and suggests better outcomes in light chain amyloidosis (AL). We examined if elevated involved free light chain (hiFLC) impacts outcomes in patients achieving normal FLCr. We retrospectively analyzed 345 AL patients who were diagnosed within a 10‐year period (2006‐2015) and had 2 consecutive normal FLCr values after 1st line treatment. Among these, patients with hiFLC at 1st reading of normal FLCr (hiFLC1; n = 166; 48.1%) were compared to those who did not (n = 179; 51.9%). Patients with AL who have hiFLC1 after initial therapy had higher rates of multi‐organ involvement (63.3 vs 46.4%; P = .002) and patients in advanced Mayo stage (42.9 vs 32.2%; P = .04) at diagnosis. The median progression free survival [PFS; 38.2 (95%CI; 26.4, 55.4) vs 67.1 (95%CI; 55.8, 88) months; P = .0002] and overall survival [OS; 94.4 (95%CI; 78, 107.1) vs not reached (NR, 95%CI; 116.1, NR) months; P < .0001] were lower in those who had hiFLC1. A more stringent comparison for patients with 2 consecutive hiFLC (hIFLC2; n = 111; 32.2%) versus not (n = 2234; 67.8%) showed consistent results [PFS; 27.1 (95%CI; 23, 53.8) vs 63.3 (95%CI; 55.4, 77) months; P < .0001 and OS; 78 (95% CI; 54.6, 98.8) vs NR (95%CI; NR, NR); P < .0001]. This poor prognostic impact of hiFLC on survival was independent of serum creatinine, Mayo stage, negative immunofixation status and inclusion of transplant in initial therapy on multivariate analysis. Hence, persistent elevation of iFLC predicts poor prognosis even among patients achieving normal ratio after initial therapy in AL.
Delineation of the timing of second-line therapy post–autologous stem cell transplant in patients with AL amyloidosis

Blood | August 14, 2017 | Volume: 130 | Issue: 13 | Pages: 1578-1584

10.1182/blood-2017-05-783415 | PMID 28807981

Key Points Organ progression at second-line therapy predicated inferior survival. Patients relapsing from >VGPR had a longer time to develop organ progression.
Efficacy of daratumumab‐based therapies in patients with relapsed, refractory multiple myeloma treated outside of clinical trials

American Journal of Hematology | August 11, 2017 | Volume: 92 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 1146-1155

10.1002/ajh.24883 | PMID 28799231

AbstractOutside of clinical trials, experience with daratumumab‐based combination therapies (DCTs) using bortezomib (V)/lenalidomide (R)/pomalidomide (P), and dexamethasone (d) in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) is limited. We reviewed the outcomes of 126 patients who received ≥ 1 cycle of any DCT. Median age at DCT initiation was 67 (range, 43‐93) years. High‐risk cytogenetics was present in 33% patients. Median number of prior therapies was 4 (range, 1‐14) and time to first DCT from diagnosis was 4.3 years (range, 0.4‐13.0). Seventeen (13%) patients were refractory to single agent daratumumab. Fifty‐two (41%), 34 (27%), 23 (18%), and 17 (14%) received DPd, DRd, DVd and “other” DCTs, respectively. Overall response rate was 47%. Median follow‐up was 5.5 months (95% CI, 4.2‐6.1). Median progression‐free survival (PFS) was 5.5 months (95% CI, 4.2‐7.8). Median overall survival was not reached (NR) with any regimen. Median PFS (months) was worst for penta‐refractory MM (n = 8) vs quadruple refractory MM (n = 18) and others (n = 100) (2.2 [95% CI, 1‐2.4] vs 3.1 [95% CI, 2.1‐NR] vs 5.9 [95% CI, 5.0‐NR]; P < .001); those who were refractory to ≥1 agents used in the DCT vs others (4.9 [95% CI, 3.1‐6.0] vs 8.2 [95% CI, 4.6‐NR]; P = .02); and those who received >2 prior therapies vs others (5.0 months [95% CI, 3.7‐5.9] vs NR [95% CI, NR‐NR]; P = .002). Non‐hematologic toxicities included infections (38%), fatigue (32%), and infusion reactions (18%). Grade 3 or higher hematological toxicities were seen in 41% of patients. DCTs are effective in RRMM. ORR and PFS in heavily pretreated patients are lower than those reported in clinical trials.