scholarly journals Maintenance therapy for multiple myeloma in the era of novel agents

Hematology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 (1) ◽  
pp. 279-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thierry Facon

Abstract Despite many recent advances in the treatment of multiple myeloma, the course of the disease is characterized by a repeating pattern of periods of remission and relapse as patients cycle through the available treatment options. Evidence is mounting that long-term maintenance therapy may help suppress residual disease after definitive therapy, prolonging remission and delaying relapse. For patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), lenalidomide maintenance therapy has been shown to improve progression-free survival (PFS); however, it is still unclear whether this translates into extended overall survival (OS). For patients ineligible for ASCT, continuous therapy with lenalidomide and low-dose dexamethasone was shown to improve PFS and OS (interim analysis) compared with a standard, fixed-duration regimen of melphalan, prednisone, and thalidomide in a large phase 3 trial. Other trials have also investigated thalidomide and bortezomib maintenance for ASCT patients, and both agents have been evaluated as continuous therapy for those who are ASCT ineligible. However, some important questions regarding the optimal regimen and duration of therapy must be answered by prospective clinical trials before maintenance therapy, and continuous therapy should be considered routine practice. This article reviews the available data on the use of maintenance or continuous therapy strategies and highlights ongoing trials that will help to further define the role of these strategies in the management of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (14) ◽  
pp. 3295-3301
Author(s):  
Joaquin Martinez-Lopez ◽  
Sandy W. Wong ◽  
Nina Shah ◽  
Natasha Bahri ◽  
Kaili Zhou ◽  
...  

Abstract Few clinical studies have reported results of measurable residual disease (MRD) assessments performed as part of routine practice. Herein we present our single-institution experience assessing MRD in 234 multiple myeloma (MM) patients (newly diagnosed [NDMM = 159] and relapsed [RRMM = 75]). We describe the impact of depth, duration, and direction of response on prognosis. MRD assessments were performed by next-generation sequencing of immunoglobulin genes with a sensitivity of 10−6. Those achieving MRD negativity at 10−6, as well as 10−5, had superior median progression-free survival (PFS). In the NDMM cohort, 40% of the patients achieved MRD negativity at 10−6 and 59% at 10−5. Median PFS in the NDMM cohort was superior in those achieving MRD at 10−5 vs <10−5 (PFS: 87 months vs 32 months; P < .001). In the RRMM cohort, 36% achieved MRD negativity at 10−6 and 47% at 10−5. Median PFS was superior for the RRMM achieving MRD at 10−5 vs <10−5 (PFS: 42 months vs 17 months; P < .01). Serial MRD monitoring identified 3 categories of NDMM patients: (A) patients with ≥3 MRD 10−6 negative samples, (B) patients with detectable but continuously declining clonal numbers, and (C) patients with stable or increasing clonal number (≥1 log). PFS was superior in groups A and B vs C (median PFS not reached [NR], NR, 55 respectively; P < .001). This retrospective evaluation of MRD used as part of clinical care validates MRD as an important prognostic marker in NDMM and RRMM and supports its use as an endpoint in future clinical trials as well as for clinical decision making.


Author(s):  
Michel Attal ◽  
Murielle Roussel

Overview: Maintenance therapy in multiple myeloma has been under investigation for more than 3 decades and has been without evidence of clear advantage in terms of progression-free survival (PFS) until the mid-2000s. Neither conventional chemotherapy, prednisone, nor interferon-based maintenance regimens offered any benefit after conventional or high-dose therapy. Thalidomide was the first drug, mainly given as maintenance after high dose therapy, to demonstrate clinical benefits in terms of PFS and, in some studies, of overall survival (OS). The role of other novel agents such as lenalidomide and bortezomib as maintenance therapy is emerging. Lenalidomide has been shown to reduce the risk of relapse with longer follow-up needed to see if this will translate into a survival benefit. At present, a number of key questions remain unanswered. What are the optimal dose and duration of those treatments? Is the risk of toxicity and second primary malignancies acceptable? Will the disease be more aggressive at time of relapse? Is the clinical benefit predicted by initial prognostic factors and response to previous therapy? Does maintenance therapy work by further eradication of minimal residual disease or by immunological control of the malignant clone? Ongoing randomized trials are evaluating lenalidomide and bortezomib, both in the transplant and nontransplant settings, to better define the role of these drugs as maintenance in multiple myeloma.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 8034-8034
Author(s):  
Roman Hajek ◽  
Philippe Moreau ◽  
Bradley Augustson ◽  
Nelson Castro ◽  
Tomas Pika ◽  
...  

8034 Background: Patients (pts) with multiple myeloma (MM) often relapse and become refractory to successive lines of therapy, warranting better treatment options. The Phase 3 IKEMA study (NCT03275285) demonstrated that isatuximab (Isa) plus carfilzomib and dexamethasone (Kd) significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) compared with Kd in pts with relapsed MM (RMM) (HR 0.53; 99% CI 0.32–0.89; P= 0.0007). We evaluated the efficacy and/or safety of Isa-Kd by number of prior lines of therapy (1 vs > 1) and refractoriness to lenalidomide (Len) or bortezomib (Bor). Methods: Pts were randomized (3:2) to Isa-Kd (n = 179) or Kd (n = 123). Isa (10 mg/kg IV) was given weekly for 4 weeks, then every 2 weeks. K (20 mg/m² days 1-2, then 56 mg/m²) was given twice-weekly 3 of 4 weeks, and d (20 mg) twice-weekly. The primary endpoint was PFS; key secondary endpoints were very good partial response or better (≥VGPR), minimal residual disease negativity (MRD-), and complete response (CR) rates. Results: Of the 302 randomized pts, 44.7% had 1 prior line, 55.3% had > 1 prior line, 32.8% were Len-refractory, and 30.1% were Bor-refractory. PFS was improved with Isa-Kd vs Kd in pts who received 1 prior line and > 1 prior line, as well as in pts refractory to Len, Len at last regimen, Bor, or Bor at last regimen (Table). The addition of Isa to Kd improved depth of response (≥VGPR, MRD-, and CR rates) in all subpopulations analyzed by prior treatment. Grade ≥3 treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were generally similar between the prior line subgroups (77.2% [Isa-Kd] vs 64.8% [Kd], 1 prior line; 76.5% [Isa-Kd] vs 69.1% [Kd], > 1 prior line) and the overall safety population (76.8% [Isa-Kd] vs 67.2% [Kd]). Serious AEs were 62.0% vs 48.1% in the 1 prior line subgroup, and 57.1% vs 64.7% in the > 1 prior line subgroup; TEAEs leading to discontinuations were 8.9% vs 11.1%, 1 prior line and 8.2% vs 16.2%, > 1 prior line. Conclusions: The addition of Isa to Kd improved PFS and depth of response, irrespective of prior lines of therapy or refractory status, consistent with the benefit observed in the overall IKEMA study population. Isa-Kd had a manageable safety profile regardless of number of prior lines. Isa-Kd is a potential new treatment option for pretreated pts with RMM. Clinical trial information: NCT03275285. [Table: see text]


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (10) ◽  
pp. 2163-2171
Author(s):  
Rafael Alonso ◽  
María-Teresa Cedena ◽  
Sandy Wong ◽  
Nina Shah ◽  
Rafael Ríos-Tamayo ◽  
...  

Abstract Lenalidomide is an immunomodulatory drug approved for maintenance treatment in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, and it has been shown to improve progression-free survival (PFS) and, in several studies, overall survival. Nevertheless, the impact of prolonged treatment with lenalidomide on the kinetics of minimal residual disease (MRD) and its prognostic impact have not been studied in depth. To obtain better knowledge in this regard, we retrospectively analyzed 139 patients who received lenalidomide maintenance in real-world clinical practice and whose MRD levels were observed during the treatment period by multiparametric flow cytometry or next-generation sequencing with a sensitivity of at least 10−4. Lenalidomide maintenance correlated with an increased depth of the disease response, with 38.1% of patients achieving maximal response during maintenance. Moreover, 34.3% of patients who were MRD positive after induction treatment achieved MRD-negative status during maintenance and ultimately had improved PFS. Sequential MRD assessments identified patients with progressively decreasing MRD levels who also had better PFS outcomes, compared with patients not showing a decreasing pattern of MRD. These results support the role of maintenance therapy, not only to sustain, but also to increase the depth of disease response with a PFS benefit. In addition, MRD monitoring during maintenance identifies patients with better prognosis and may help in their clinical management.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 71-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prerna Mewawalla ◽  
Abhishek Chilkulwar

Despite recent advances, multiple myeloma remains an incurable disease. Induction therapy followed by autologous transplantation has become the standard of care. The idea of maintenance therapy in multiple myeloma is not new. Starting with chemotherapy in 1975, to interferon in 1998, to novel agents recently, a multitude of agents have been explored in patients with multiple myeloma. In spite of the novel agents, multiple myeloma continues to be an incurable disease with the progression-free survival after autologous transplant rarely exceeding 3 years. The goal of using maintenance therapy has been to improve the outcomes following autologous transplantation by increasing the progression-free survival, deepening remissions and perhaps increasing overall survival. It has been shown that patients with a stringent complete response (CR) have a better outcome [Kapoor et al. 2013]. It is becoming increasingly common to check minimal residual disease (MRD) as a means of assessing depth of response. It has also been shown that patients with no MRD have not only a better progression-free survival but also a better overall survival compared with patients who are MRD positive. This makes it even more important to find agents for maintenance therapy, which can further deepen and maintain responses. Here, we present a comprehensive review of the agents studied as maintenance for multiple myeloma and their efficacy, both in terms of overall survival, progression-free survival and toxicity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 8009-8009
Author(s):  
Angela Dispenzieri ◽  
Amrita Y. Krishnan ◽  
Bonnie Arendt ◽  
Surendra Dasari ◽  
Yvonne Adeduni Efebera ◽  
...  

8009 Background: Measuring response among patients with multiple myeloma is essential for the care of patients. Deeper responses have been associated with better progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Serum (SIFE) and urine immunofixation are the currently used markers for biochemical documentation of CR after which marrow is tested for plasma cell clearance. Next generation flow cytometry and sequencing are used to document the presence of minimal residual disease (MRD). Mass spectrometry of blood by MALDI (Mass-Fix) is a new simple, inexpensive, sensitive, and specific means of detecting monoclonal immunoglobulins. To better test the hypothesis that Mass-Fix is superior to existing methodologies to predict for survival outcomes—especially SIFE-- samples from the STAMINA trial (NCT01109004), a trial comparing 3 transplant approaches among patients who have already received induction, were employed. Methods: Five-hundred and seventy-five patients were included. Samples from enrollment post-induction (post-I) and 1-year post enrollment (1YR) were tested when available. Four response parameters were assessed univariately: Mass-Fix, SIFE, complete response, and MRD by next generation flow cytometry. Mass spectrometry spectra were evaluated in a blinded fashion. Complete response was according to the 2006 International Myeloma Working Group criteria. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models using stepwise regression were developed to explore the independent effect of the different response parameters on PFS and OS and interactions with other risk factors. Results: Of the 4 response measures, only MRD and Mass-Fix predicted for PFS and OS at multiple testing points on multivariate analyses (Table). Of the 4 post-I measurements, only MRD predicted for PFS; however, Mass-Fix was the only post-I measurement to predict for OS. Of all the 1-year measures, both 1YR Mass-Fix and 1YR MRD positivity predicted for inferior PFS and OS. In models including MRD and Mass-Fix, SIFE and CR were not prognostic for PFS or OS. Conclusions: Mass-Fix is a powerful means to track monoclonal proteins. The full utility of Mass-Fix was not exploited given the absence of a diagnostic sample and the fact that only serum (and not urine) was tested. Despite these limitations, it performed well at pre-induction and at 1 year. Mass-Fix provides a convenient and non-invasive means of predicting for myeloma outcomes. Clinical trial information: NCT01109004. [Table: see text]


2021 ◽  
pp. JCO.21.01045
Author(s):  
Pieter Sonneveld ◽  
Meletios A. Dimopoulos ◽  
Meral Beksac ◽  
Bronno van der Holt ◽  
Sara Aquino ◽  
...  

PURPOSE To address the role of consolidation treatment for newly diagnosed, transplant eligible patients with multiple myeloma in a controlled clinical trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS The EMN02/HOVON95 trial compared consolidation treatment with two cycles of bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (VRD) or no consolidation after induction and intensification therapy, followed by continuous lenalidomide maintenance. Primary study end point was progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS Eight hundred seventy-eight eligible patients were randomly assigned to receive VRD consolidation (451 patients) or no consolidation (427 patients). At a median follow-up of 74.8 months, median PFS with adjustment for pretreatment was prolonged in patients randomly assigned to VRD consolidation (59.3 v 42.9 months, hazard ratio [HR] = 0.81; 95% CI, 0.68 to 0.96; P = .016). The PFS benefit was observed across most predefined subgroups, including revised International Staging System (ISS) stage, cytogenetics, and prior treatment. Revised ISS3 stage (HR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.41 to 2.86) and ampl1q (HR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.37 to 2.04) were significant adverse prognostic factors. The median duration of maintenance was 33 months (interquartile range 13-86 months). Response ≥ complete response (CR) after consolidation versus no consolidation before start of maintenance was 34% versus 18%, respectively ( P < .001). Response ≥ CR on protocol including maintenance was 59% with consolidation and 46% without ( P < .001). Minimal residual disease analysis by flow cytometry in a subgroup of 226 patients with CR or stringent complete response or very good partial response before start of maintenance demonstrated a 74% minimal residual disease–negativity rate in VRD-treated patients. Toxicity from VRD was acceptable and manageable. CONCLUSION Consolidation treatment with VRD followed by lenalidomide maintenance improves PFS and depth of response in newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma as compared to maintenance alone.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e20015-e20015
Author(s):  
Kihyun Kim ◽  
Chang Ki Min ◽  
Youngil Koh ◽  
Kenichi Ishizawa ◽  
Sung-Hyun Kim ◽  
...  

e20015 Background: The Phase 3 IKEMA study (NCT03275285) demonstrated that isatuximab (Isa) plus carfilzomib and dexamethasone (Kd) significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) compared with Kd in patients (pts) with relapsed multiple myeloma (RMM) (hazard ratio [HR] 0.53; 99% confidence interval [CI] 0.32–0.89; P= 0.0007). We evaluated the efficacy and safety of Isa-Kd in the East Asian patients (19 Japanese, 27 Korean). Methods: RMM pts who received 1-3 prior lines of therapy were stratified to receive Isa-Kd or Kd. Isa-Kd arm received Isa (10 mg/kg intravenously) weekly for 4 weeks, then every 2 weeks. Both arms received K (20 mg/m2 days 1-2, 56 mg/m2 thereafter) twice-weekly for 3 of 4 weeks, and d (20 mg) twice-weekly. Treatment continued until disease progression or unacceptable adverse events (AE). The primary endpoint was prolongation of PFS. Key secondary endpoints included; very good partial response or better (≥VGPR), complete response (CR) rate and minimal residual disease negativity (MRD–) rate. Results: East Asian pts (25 Isa-Kd, 21 Kd) were randomized. Pt characteristics were similar in the East Asian subgroup compared with the intent to treat (ITT) population (N = 302). Median age (Isa-Kd 64.0 [range 45–83] years vs Kd 60.0 [range 33–73] years); median prior lines Isa-Kd 2.0 (range 1–3) vs Kd 1.0 (range 1–3); refractory to lenalidomide 16.0% Isa-Kd vs 47.6% Kd; refractory to PI 20.0% Isa-Kd vs 33.3% Kd; high-risk cytogenetics 48.0% Isa-Kd vs 42.9% Kd. After a median follow-up of 20.7 months, the addition of Isa to Kd improved ≥VGPR, CR and MRD– rates (Table). The HR 0.64 (95%CI: 0.231-1.764) for disease progression or death favored Isa-Kd. Grade ≥3 AEs were observed in 79.2% Isa-Kd vs 55.0% Kd pts, serious TEAEs in 45.8% Isa-Kd vs 50.0% Kd; TEAEs leading to treatment discontinuation were lower in the Isa-Kd group (4.2% Isa-Kd vs 10.0% Kd). Overall, 64.0% Isa-Kd vs 42.9% Kd pts were still receiving treatment. Conclusions: Efficacy and safety results of Isa-Kd in East Asian pts are consistent with the results of the overall IKEMA population, in which significantly better efficacy (PFS, CR, ≥VGPR and MRD– rate) was reported in favor of Isa-Kd without an increase in the number of patients with serious TEAEs or discontinuations. Isa-Kd is a potential treatment option for East Asian pts with RMM. Clinical trial information: NCT03275285. [Table: see text]


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (25) ◽  
pp. 2900-2910 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan-Jose Lahuerta ◽  
Bruno Paiva ◽  
Maria-Belen Vidriales ◽  
Lourdes Cordón ◽  
Maria-Teresa Cedena ◽  
...  

Purpose To perform a critical analysis on the impact of depth of response in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM). Patients and Methods Data were analyzed from 609 patients who were enrolled in the GEM (Grupo Español de Mieloma) 2000 and GEM2005MENOS65 studies for transplant-eligible MM and the GEM2010MAS65 clinical trial for elderly patients with MM who had minimal residual disease (MRD) assessments 9 months after study enrollment. Median follow-up of the series was 71 months. Results Achievement of complete remission (CR) in the absence of MRD negativity was not associated with prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) compared with near-CR or partial response (median PFS, 27, 27, and 29 months, respectively; median OS, 59, 64, and 65 months, respectively). MRD-negative status was strongly associated with prolonged PFS (median, 63 months; P < .001) and OS (median not reached; P < .001) overall and in subgroups defined by prior transplantation, disease stage, and cytogenetics, with prognostic superiority of MRD negativity versus CR particularly evident in patients with high-risk cytogenetics. Accordingly, Harrell C statistics showed higher discrimination for both PFS and OS in Cox models that included MRD (as opposed to CR) for response assessment. Superior MRD-negative rates after different induction regimens anticipated prolonged PFS. Among 34 MRD-negative patients with MM and a phenotypic pattern of bone marrow involvement similar to monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance at diagnosis, the probability of “operational cure” was high; median PFS was 12 years, and the 10-year OS rate was 94%. Conclusion Our results demonstrate that MRD-negative status surpasses the prognostic value of CR achievement for PFS and OS across the disease spectrum, regardless of the type of treatment or patient risk group. MRD negativity should be considered as one of the most relevant end points for transplant-eligible and elderly fit patients with MM.


Cancers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mattia D'Agostino ◽  
Luca Bertamini ◽  
Stefania Oliva ◽  
Mario Boccadoro ◽  
Francesca Gay

Multiple myeloma (MM) is still considered an incurable hematologic cancer and, in the last decades, the treatment goal has been to obtain a long-lasting disease control. However, the recent availability of new effective drugs has led to unprecedented high-quality responses and prolonged progression-free survival and overall survival. The improvement of response rates has prompted the development of new, very sensitive methods to measure residual disease, even when monoclonal components become undetectable in patients’ serum and urine. Several scientific efforts have been made to develop reliable and validated techniques to measure minimal residual disease (MRD), both within and outside the bone marrow. With the newest multidrug combinations, a good proportion of MM patients can achieve MRD negativity. Long-lasting MRD negativity may prove to be a marker of “operational cure”, although the follow-up of the currently ongoing studies is still too short to draw conclusions. In this article, we focus on results obtained with new-generation multidrug combinations in the treatment of high-risk smoldering MM and newly diagnosed MM, including the potential role of MRD and MRD-driven treatment strategies in clinical trials, in order to optimize and individualize treatment.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document