Kumar, Shaji

2500 Background: Oncolytic virotherapy is a novel immunomodulatory therapeutic approach for relapsed refractory hematologic malignancies. The Indiana strain of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus was engineered to encode interferon beta (IFNβ) and sodium iodine symporter (NIS) to produce VSV-IFNβ-NIS. Virally encoded IFNβ serves as an index of viral proliferation and enhances host anti-tumor immunity. NIS was inserted to noninvasively assess viral biodistribution using SPECT/PET imaging. We present the results of the phase 1 clinical trial NCT03017820 of systemic administration of VSV-IFNβ-NIS among patients (pts) with relapsed refractory Multiple Myeloma (MM), T cell Lymphoma (TCL) and Acute myeloid Leukemia (AML). Methods: VSV-IFNβ-NIS was administered at 5x109 TCID50 (50% tissue culture infectious dose) dose level 1 to dose level 4, 1.7x1011 TCID50. The primary objective was to determine the maximum tolerated dose of VSV-IFNβ-NIS as a single agent. Secondary objectives were determination of safety profile and preliminary efficacy of VSV-IFNβ-NIS. Correlative objectives included monitoring viremia and virus shedding. Adverse events (AEs) are reported based on CTCAE V4; cytokine release syndrome (CRS) grading was based on Lee (Blood 2014) criteria. Results: 15 pts received VSV-IFNβ-NIS: MM (7), TCL(7) and AML(1); 3 pts were treated at each dose level (DL) 1 through 3 (respectively 0.05, 0.17, and 0.5 x 1011 TCID50), & 6 pts were treated at dose level 4 (1.7x1011 TCID50). There were no dose limiting toxicities. The most frequent grades 3 & 4 AEs were hematologic: lymphopenia (46.6 & 26.6%), neutropenia (13.3% & 6.7%). CRS grades 1 (6.7%) and 2 (46.6%) were the non-hematologic AEs of note; mostly at DL 4. Only 1 pt required transient pressor support. Responses were seen in pts with T cell lymphoma. At DL2, there was a partial response (PR) lasting 3 months in a pt, post 12 prior lines of therapy. At DL4 there was a 6 month PR in a pt with PTCL and another pt with cutaneous relapse of PTCL who enjoys an ongoing CR, more than 1 year post VSV infusion; both pts received 5 prior lines of therapy. Viremia was detected in all pts at the end of infusion only up to 72 hrs post infusion; no infectious virus was recovered in buccal swabs or urine. Neutralizing anti-VSV antibodies were present by day 29. IFN levels were detectable within 30 mins of infusion, peaking between 4 & 48 hrs. TCL pts mounted higher hIFNβ levels within 48 hrs; the pt with CR mounted peak hIFNβ response of 18213.3pg/ml at 48 hrs post infusion, 15-fold higher than any other pt. Conclusions: VSV-IFNβ-NIS can be safely administered by IV infusion among heavily pretreated pts with hematologic malignancies. VSV-IFNβ-NIS as a single agent appears to be most effective at DL4 among patients with TCL, with an ongoing CR in a patient at DL4 more than 1 year post administration. Future trials of combination strategies with immune-modulatory drugs are currently being planned. Clinical trial information: NCT03017820.

Abstract Comparative data guiding initial therapy for Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM), an infrequently encountered non‐Hodgkin lymphoma, are sparse. We evaluated three commonly used rituximab‐based frontline regimens: rituximab‐bendamustine (R‐Benda); dexamethasone, rituximab, cyclophosphamide (DRC); and bortezomib, dexamethasone, rituximab (BDR) in 220 treatment‐naïve patients with WM, seen at Mayo Clinic between November 1, 2000 and October 31, 2019. The median follow‐up was 4.5 (95%CI: 4–5) years. The R‐Benda cohort (n = 83) demonstrated superior overall response rate (ORR: 98%), in comparison to DRC (n = 92, ORR: 78%) or BDR (n = 45, ORR: 84%) cohorts, p = 0.003. Similarly, longer progression‐free survival (PFS) was evident with R‐Benda use [median 5.2 vs. 4.3 (DRC) and 1.8 years (BDR), p < 0.001]. The time‐to‐next therapy (TTNT) favored R‐Benda [median, not‐reached, 4.4 (DRC) and 2.6 years (BDR), p < 0.001). These endpoints were comparable between the DRC and BDR cohorts. Overall survival (OS) was similar across the three cohorts, p = 0.77. In a subset analysis of 142 patients genotyped for MYD88 L265P mutation, the ORR, PFS and TTNT were unaffected by the patients' MYD88 signature within each cohort. In conclusion, ORR, PFS and TTNT with R‐Benda are superior compared to DRC or BDR in treatment‐naïve patients with active WM. The patient outcomes with any one of these three regimens are unaffected by the MYD88 L265P mutation status.

Abstract Patients with immunoglobulin M (IgM) light chain (AL) amyloidosis have a distinct clinical presentation compared with those with non-IgM amyloidosis. We hypothesized that differential immunoglobulin light-chain variable region (IGVL) gene usage may explain the differences in organ involvement, because IGVL usage correlates with organ tropism. IGVL usage was evaluated by mass spectrometry of amyloid deposits (IgM, n = 45; non-IgM, n = 391) and differed across the 2 groups. In the λ family, LV2-08 (13% vs 2%; P &lt; .001) and LV2-14 (36% vs 10%; P &lt; .001) usage was more common in IgM vs non-IgM amyloidosis, whereas LV1-44 (0% vs 10%; P = .02) and LV6-57 (2% vs 18%; P = .004) usage was less common. In the κ family, there was a trend toward higher KV4-01 (11% vs 4%; P = .06) usage in IgM amyloidosis. IGVL usage correlated with disease characteristics/organ tropism. LV2-14 (more common in IgM amyloidosis) has historically been associated with peripheral nerve involvement and lower light chain burden, which were more frequent in IgM amyloidosis. LV1-44 (less common in IgM), associated with cardiac involvement, was less frequent in IgM patients. LV6-57 (less common in IgM) is associated with t(11;14), which was less frequent in IgM patients. In conclusion, IGVL gene usage differs in patients with IgM vs non-IgM amyloidosis and may explain the distinct clinical presentation.

Abstract Background There is increasing evidence for the clinical benefit of long-term, continuous therapy for NDMM pts. Proteasome inhibitors (PIs) form a backbone of therapy in MM; however, long-term therapy with some PIs may be limited due to toxicity and the need for regular parenteral administration, increasing the treatment burden. Ixazomib, the first oral PI, has been studied in NDMM pts in 4 phase 1/2 studies in which approximately 1 year of induction therapy with once- or twice-weekly ixazomib plus lenalidomide-dexamethasone (IRd), melphalan-prednisone (IMP), or cyclophosphamide-dexamethasone (ICd) was followed by single-agent ixazomib maintenance. Here we report an integrated analysis of pts from these studies who did not undergo autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) and received ixazomib maintenance therapy. Methods Pts from 4 studies were included: 1) weekly IRd, 12x28-d cycles IRd (weekly ixazomib 1.68-3.95 mg/m² in phase 1, recommended phase 2 dose [RP2D] 4.0 mg; C16005, NCT01217957; ASCT-eligible/-ineligible pts); 2) twice-weekly IRd, 16x21-d cycles IRd (twice-weekly ixazomib 3.0-3.7 mg in phase 1, RP2D 3.0 mg; C16008, NCT01383928; ASCT-eligible/-ineligible pts); 3) IMP, 9x42-d or 13x28-d cycles IMP (weekly/twice-weekly ixazomib 3.0-5.5/3.0-3.7 mg in phase 1, RP2D of weekly ixazomib 4.0 mg; C16006, NCT01335685; ASCT-ineligible pts); 4) ICd, 13x28-d cycles ICd (weekly ixazomib 4.0 mg; C16020, NCT02046070; ASCT-ineligible pts). In all 4 studies, pts completing induction without progressive disease (PD) and, in the IRd studies, not withdrawn for ASCT, could receive single-agent ixazomib maintenance at the last tolerated dose during induction until PD or unacceptable toxicity. Results 121 pts received ixazomib maintenance (25, 18, 35, and 43 in weekly IRd, twice-weekly IRd, IMP, and ICd studies, respectively). Median age was 72 yrs (range 34-90 yrs; 83% aged ≥65 yrs), 62% had IgG myeloma, 47/34/19% had ISS disease stage I/II/III, 40/49% had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0/1. Combined median progression-free survival (PFS) was 33.8 months from time of study entry and 21.4 months from start of maintenance (Figure). Median PFS from the start of maintenance seemed to be longer for the two IRd studies than for IMP, while median PFS for ICd had not yet been reached. 4-yr OS from time of study entry/3-yr OS from the start of maintenance was 82%. Overall response rate was 93% after induction and 94% after maintenance. Best response rate of CR+VGPR after induction was 57% (22% CR), which increased to 63% (35% CR/sCR) after maintenance; 24 pts (20%) improved their response during maintenance (4 pts with CR improved to sCR; 14 VGPR to CR/sCR; 5 partial response [PR] to VGPR/CR; 1 stable disease to PR). Combined mean dose intensity during maintenance was 89.1%. At time of analysis, median duration of maintenance therapy was 2.2 yrs for weekly IRd, 1.0 yr for twice-weekly IRd, and 0.9 yr for IMP and ICd; maximum duration was 4.8, 3.8, 3.9, and 1.6 yrs respectively. 78% of pts had discontinued maintenance, primarily due to PD (55%), and only 7% due to adverse events (AEs). 15% of pts had ixazomib dose reductions during maintenance. Grade ≥3 AEs (48% vs 74%), drug-related grade ≥3 AEs (24% vs 62%), serious AEs (SAEs; 21% vs 43%), and drug-related SAEs (5% vs 19%) were less common during maintenance than during induction. Common grade ≥3 AEs are shown in the Table. Other AEs of clinical interest were also generally similar or less common during maintenance than during induction, including cardiac arrhythmias (13% vs 21%), pneumonia (12% vs 17%), acute renal failure (7% vs 8%), hypotension (4% vs 7%), myocardial infarction (0 vs &lt;1%), and heart failure (2% vs 2%). Only 6 pts (5%) reported a new primary malignancy. There was only 1 on-study death during maintenance, which was not considered related to ixazomib; due to pulmonary edema in an 81-yr old pt with a history of cardiovascular co-morbidities. Conclusions In this integrated analysis, single-agent ixazomib maintenance therapy following an ixazomib-based induction regimen was associated with deepening of responses and good long-term outcomes in NDMM pts not undergoing ASCT. Single-agent ixazomib is feasible for long-term administration, with limited new-onset grade ≥3 AEs. These outcomes appear similar to other studies involving maintenance approaches in NDMM and support the ongoing phase 3 investigation of ixazomib maintenance therapy. Disclosures Dimopoulos: Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen Inc, Celgene Corporation, Janssen Biotech Inc, Onyx Pharmaceuticals, an Amgen subsidiary, Takeda Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory Committee: Amgen Inc, Celgene Corporation, Janssen Biotech Inc, Onyx Pharmaceuticals, an Amgen subsidiary, Takeda Oncology; Genesis Pharma: Research Funding. Laubach: Novartis, Takeda, Celgene, Onyx: Research Funding; Novartis, Takeda, Celgene: Consultancy. Hofmeister: Thrassos: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Research Funding; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. San Miguel: Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sanofi: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; MSD: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Kumar: Celgene, Millennium/Takeda, Onyx, AbbVie, Janssen, Sanofi, Novartis, Amgen, Genentech, Merck, Oncopeptides, Roche, Skyline Diagnostics: Research Funding; Celgene, Millennium, BMS, Onyx, Janssen, Noxxon, AbbVie, Amgen, Merck, Oncopeptides, Skyline Diagnostics, Takeda: Consultancy; Skyline: Honoraria. Lu: Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment. Teng: Array Pharmaceuticals: Equity Ownership; AMAG Pharmaceuticals: Equity Ownership; Gilead Science: Equity Ownership; Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment. Liu: Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment. Byrne: Oncopeptides AB: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy. Berg: Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment. Labotka: Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment. van de Velde: Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment. Richardson: Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Oncopeptides AB: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Abstract The immediate postautologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) period in multiple myeloma represents a unique opportunity for long-term disease control because many patients have eradicated most of their disease but also a challenge because it is characterized by the increase of immune subsets detrimental to tumor immunosurveillance. The impact of the tumor immune microenvironment (iTME) in post-ASCT outcomes is not known. In this study, we included 58 patients undergoing upfront ASCT and evaluated their cellular and humoral iTME with cytometry by time of flight (CyTOF) and luminex, respectively, at day +60 to 100 post-ASCT. We identified 2 cellular iTME patterns. Group 1 was enriched in T-cell subsets at the opposite ends of the spectrum of T-cell differentiation compared with the rest of the patients, that is, cells already terminally differentiated (immune senescent or exhausted) and naive T cells. This group had worse hematologic responses post-ASCT, inferior survival, and shorter time to hematologic progression independent of established risk factors. No differences in the humoral iTME were noted between the 2 groups. In addition, no differences in the cellular/humoral iTME were noted according to high-risk fluorescence in situ hybridization status, early or late relapse. Finally, males had higher levels of natural killer cells negative for CD16, a key receptor mediating antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity, a major mechanism of antitumor efficacy by therapeutic antibodies such as elotuzumab. Our findings suggest that T-cell iTME dysfunction post-ASCT, some of which could be reversible (exhaustion), correlates with worse outcomes. These results could be used to guide rational selection of post-ASCT maintenance/consolidation approaches in these patients.

Abstract Continuous lenalidomide-dexamethasone (Rd)-based regimens are among the standards of care in transplant-ineligible newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients. The oral proteasome inhibitor ixazomib is suitable for continuous dosing, with predictable, manageable toxicities. In the double-blind, placebo-controlled TOURMALINE-MM2 trial, transplant-ineligible NDMM patients were randomized to ixazomib 4 mg (n = 351) or placebo (n = 354) plus Rd. After 18 cycles, dexamethasone was discontinued and treatment was continued using reduced-dose ixazomib (3 mg) and lenalidomide (10 mg) until progression/toxicity. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Median PFS was 35.3 vs 21.8 months with ixazomib-Rd vs placebo-Rd, respectively (hazard ratio [HR], 0.830; 95% confidence interval, 0.676-1.018; P = .073; median follow-up, 53.3 and 55.8 months). Complete (26% vs 14%; odds ratio [OR], 2.10; P &lt; .001) and ≥ very good partial response (63% vs 48%; OR, 1.87; P &lt; .001) rates were higher with ixazomib-Rd vs placebo-Rd. In a prespecified high-risk cytogenetics subgroup, median PFS was 23.8 vs 18.0 months (HR, 0.690; P = .019). Overall, treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were mostly grade 1/2. With ixazomib-Rd vs placebo-Rd, 88% vs 81% of patients experienced grade ≥3 TEAEs, 66% vs 62% serious TEAEs, and 35% vs 27% TEAEs resulting in regimen discontinuation; 8% vs 6% died on study. Addition of ixazomib to Rd was tolerable with no new safety signals and led to a clinically meaningful PFS benefit of 13.5 months. Ixazomib-Rd is a feasible option for certain patients who can benefit from an all-oral triplet combination. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01850524.

AbstractSurrogate endpoints are being used more frequently in randomized controlled trials, even though they do not consistently corelate with patient outcomes. We systemically evaluated the use of surrogate endpoints in multiple myeloma randomized controlled trials over the past 15 years. We searched three databases (Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane) for multiple myeloma randomized controlled trials from January 1, 2005 to December 30, 2019. The primary outcome of our study was the proportion of randomized controlled trials that used overall survival as their primary endpoint. Secondary outcomes included the use of surrogate endpoints, and trends over time, and whether they differed based on study sponsorship. We included 151 randomized controlled trials in our analysis. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS) in 17 (11.3%) of studies, progression free survival (PFS) or event‐defined endpoints in 91 studies (60.3%) and response‐based endpoints in 44 studies (29.1%). Quality of life was a primary endpoint in only three studies (2%). The use of OS as a primary endpoint decreased from 28.5% of trials from 2005 to 2009 to 5.5% from 2015 to 2019. There has been a decrease in the clinically meaningful endpoint of OS over the past 15 years in multiple myeloma randomized controlled trials. Use of quality of life as a primary endpoint remains exceedingly low. It remains paramount to recognize that the use of surrogate endpoints is imperfect, and care based upon them requires constant physician and patient re‐analysis.

AbstractThe median overall survival in multiple myeloma is rapidly approaching 10 years; however, in nearly a fifth of patients the prognosis remains poor. Therefore, the modern‐day management of myeloma patients should be individualized, with a more intense and continuous approach in these high‐risk patients. This includes first‐line treatment based on multi‐drug combinations employing the most effective drug combinations, upfront autologous stem cell transplantation (in eligible patients with tandem transplantation being a consideration), and maintenance based on proteasome inhibitor‐based combinations. This paper reviews the results of recent retrospective analyses and clinical trials, but also gives a glance into the future by presenting the ongoing trials.

Abstract Despite the benign nature of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), mounting data are associating MGUS with the development of organ dysfunction, specifically monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance (MGRS) and monoclonal gammopathy of neurological significance (MGNS), which could be associated with substantial morbidity. Emerging evidence suggests that patients with MGRS and MGNS could benefit from treatments used for myeloma, Waldenström macroglobulinemia, or chronic lymphocytic leukemia, depending on the underlying pathology. However, the treatment of MGRS and MGNS is not standardized, and potentially effective therapies might not be reimbursed because these conditions do not formally meet the criteria for malignant processes. The present review aims at establishing standards for the evaluation and management of MGRS and MGNS, which can facilitate the diagnosis of and provide therapeutic options for treating practitioners and patients affected by these conditions. The careful design and execution of clinical trials for patients with MGRS and MGNS are positively encouraged.