Bone Marrow Fibrosis In Patients With Multiple Myeloma: A New Prognostic Factor For Survival?

Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 1946-1946 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tinna Hallgrimsdottir ◽  
Anna Porwit ◽  
Magnus Björkholm ◽  
Eva Rossmann ◽  
Hlif Steingrimsdottir ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by the proliferation of plasma cells in the bone marrow and a secretion of monoclonal immunoglobulins. Survival in MM is very variable and multiple factors are known to influence prognosis such as age, ISS stage, and genetic abnormalities. Fibrosis can be found in the bone marrow of MM patients but the literature reporting the incidence of fibrosis and its effect on prognosis is very limited. The purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence of bone marrow fibrosis in MM patients and its effect on survival. Materials and methods Data was collected at the Karolinska University Hospital in Solna, Sweden and information obtained from the hospital's records. We gathered information on all patients diagnosed with MM between 2003 and 2011. All bone marrow reports were reviewed and the presence of bone marrow fibrosis (evaluated using reticulin staining) at diagnosis was recorded. Fibrosis was graded as 1 (mild), 2 (significant) and 3 (advanced), in accordance with WHO 2008 criteria. Patients with fibrosis were paired with patients without fibrosis (matched by sex, birth year, and year of diagnosis). Survival comparing MM patients with and without fibrosis was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier estimate and Cox regression model. Results A total of 586 individuals, 327 males and 259 females, were diagnosed with MM at the Karolinska University Hospital, Solna during 2003 – 2011. Evidence of bone marrow fibrosis was noted in 223 (38%) patients at diagnosis, and 175 had fibrosis grade 1, 33 grade 2, and 15 grade 3. No significant difference was observed between males (N = 135) and females (N = 88) (p = 0.085). Mean age at diagnosis was significantly lower for patients with fibrosis (67.1 years) than in patients without fibrosis (69.7 years) (p = 0.013). Compared with paired patients without fibrosis (N = 217), patients with fibrosis had significantly worse survival (Figure), being 5.0 years vs. 4.4 years, respectively (relative risk (RR)=1.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00-1.70; p= 0.049). The difference was greatest in male patients and patients younger than 65 years at diagnosis. Survival was worse in patients with advanced fibrosis, 4.5 (95% CI 3.6-6.4) years for grade 1 fibrosis, and 3.0 (95% CI 1.6-NA) years for higher degree of fibrosis. Conclusion In this study, based on almost 600 patients with MM we show that bone marrow fibrosis is common at diagnosis (38%). Importantly, our findings show that the presence of fibrosis was associated with inferior survival. More studies are needed regarding the underlying causes for these findings, including treatment response, treatment-related complications and relation to other known prognostic factors. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 4866-4866
Author(s):  
Luciana Correa Oliveira de Oliveira ◽  
Juliana Alves Uzuelli ◽  
Ana Paula Alencar de Lima Lange ◽  
Barbara Amelia Aparecida Santana-Lemos ◽  
Marcia Sueli Baggio ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 4866 Background Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable malignant disease, characterized by increased angiogenesis in the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment and aberrant BM metabolism. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are a family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases implicated in tumour progression, invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis, via proteolytic degradation of extracellular matrix. MMPs are inhibited by tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP). Although recent studies have implicated MMP 9 in MM bone disease, little is known about the role of the TIMPs. Objectives a) to compare levels of sRANKL, OPG, MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, VEGF, bFGF, microvessel density (MVD) between newly diagnosed MM patients and healthy controls; b) to determine the association of these molecules with disease progression, bone disease and neoangiogenesis and c) to evaluate the impact of these variables on survival. Patients and Methods As of July 2009 38 newly diagnosed and untreated multiple myeloma patients were enrolled in the study. The median age was 61years-old (range 39-91) with 24 (63%) males. Patients were diagnosed and categorized according The International Myeloma Working Group criteria and ISS, respectively. Bone involvement was graded according to standard X-ray: patients with no lesions, or with one/ two bones involved or diffuse osteoporosis were classified as low score, whereas patients with lesions in more than two bones or presence of bone fracture were classified as high score. MMP-2 and MMP-9 were determined by PAGE gelatin zymography from plasma as previously described. MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, OPG and sRANKL concentrations were measured by ELISA. The levels of VEGF, bFGF were obtained using cytometric bead array. Ten healthy volunteers were used as controls. Bone marrow MVD measured in hotspots was evaluated in 26 out of 38 patients at diagnosis and 15 patients with Hodgkin Lymphoma stage IA and IIA (used as controls) by staining immunohistochemically for CD34. Comparisons among groups were analyzed by ANOVA and the correlation by the Spearman's correlation coefficient. Cox regression were performed for overall survival (OS) analysis. Results Patients with MM had elevated TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and OPG values compared with controls. No significant difference was found between plasma sRANKL, pro-MMP2, pro-MMP9 and MMP-9 levels. We found that plasma TIMP-1 levels correlated positively with bFGF, VEGF, MVD, beta-2 microglobulin (B2M) and OPG (r: 0.514, p=0,001, r: 0.350, p=0,031; r: 0.610, p<0.0001; r: 0.760, p<0.0001 and r: 0.701, p<0.0001, respectively) and TIMP-2 levels with bFGF, DMV, B2M and OPG (r: 0.512, p=0.002; r: 0.595, p<0.0001; r: 0.587, p<0.0001 and r: 0.552, p<0.0001, respectively). TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 levels correlated with the ISS stage (p<0.0001, p=0.006, respectively). The only variables that correlated with clinical bone disease staging were hemoglobin, B2M and albumin levels, whereas TIMP-1, TIMP-2, bFGF, VEGF and OPG correlated with DMV. On the univariate analyses, age, gender, proMMP2, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, creatinine, B2M and MVD were significantly associated with overall survival. In Cox regression model, TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and B2M levels remained to be significantly associated with OS. In conclusion, our results suggest that TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 levels are strongly associated with neoangiogenesis and are independent prognostic factors in MM. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 5341-5341
Author(s):  
Jingna Ji ◽  
Shangqin Liu ◽  
Li He ◽  
Chaoping Xu ◽  
Guiying Hu ◽  
...  

Abstract In order to detect the CTAs expression in the cell lines and in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) detects the mRNA expression of MAGE-C1/CT7, SSX1, SSX2 and SSX4 in MM cell lines RPMI8226 and U266 and patients. Collect clinical MM patients with bone marrow specimens of 25 cases,18 cases of healthy volunteers as a control, The expression frequency in MM patients of CTA gene is parametric statistical analysis with age,gender,the amount of plasma cells,clinical stage and MM type. The CTA members we detected all express in RPMI8226 and U266 cell lines, the expression frequencies of MAGE-C1/CT7 of SSX1, SSX2 and SSX4 in 25 cases bone marrow of MM patients are as follows: 28%(7/25)、80%(20/25)、40%(10/25)、68%(17/25). 18 cases of healthy volunteers with bone marrow does not express the gene. Four kinds of genes in the bone marrow of patients with simultaneous expression of two or more frequency 80%(20/25), at least have an expression of the frequency 88%(22/25). Expression of SSX1 and SSX4 in different disease stage was statistically significant(P &lt;0.05), expression frequency was mainly for patients in the phase Ⅲhigher thanⅠand Ⅱ. Expression of MAGE-C1/CT7 and SSX2 in the period of disease was not statistically significant(P﹥0.05), Detected by the four CTA with age, gender, MM type and the volume of plasma cells was no significant difference(P﹥0.05). It was suggested MAGE-C1/CT7, SSX1, SSX2 and SSX4 gene in MM cell lines RPMI8226 and U266 and MM patients can co-express, while do not express in healthy people. In the expression frequency, SSX1 and SSX4 relate with MM clinical stage,MAGE-C1/CT7 and SSX2 do not relate with clinical stage,the 4 CTAs do not relate with gender,age,clinical type and volume of plasma cells. it provides theoretical support for the CTA vaccine in multiple myeloma immunotherapy. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2016 ◽  
Vol 69 (9) ◽  
pp. 810-816 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eda Tanrikulu Simsek ◽  
Ahmet Emre Eskazan ◽  
Mahir Cengiz ◽  
Muhlis Cem Ar ◽  
Seda Ekizoglu ◽  
...  

AimsBefore the era of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), the presence of bone marrow fibrosis (MF) in patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) has been established as a poor prognostic factor. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of imatinib treatment on MF and the prognostic significance of MF at this new era of CML therapy.MethodsThe study cohort consisted of 135 patients with CML who were exposed to imatinib. The grades of MF pre and post imatinib together with cytogenetic and molecular responses were evaluated.ResultsSevere MF (grade II–III) was observed in 44 (33%) patients prior to imatinib therapy, and in 8 (8%) after 12 months of imatinib treatment (p=0.001). The complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) rates at 12 months did not differ according to the pre-imatinib MF grades, and CCyR rates in patients with grades 0, I, II and III MF were 36/47 (76.5%), 26/33 (78.7%), 12/23 (52.1%) and 7/10 (70%), respectively (p=0.127). There was no significant difference between patients with or without CCyR at 12 months of imatinib regarding grades of MF (p=0.785). The distribution of the major molecular response rates at 18 months according to pre-treatment grades of MF were determined as grade 0 in 38/45 (84.4%), grade I in 21/28 (75%), grade II in 14/21 (66.6%) and grade III in 7/10 (70%) (p=0.112). There was no significant difference in overall survival rates between initial MF mild (grade 0–I) and severe (grade II–III) groups (p=0.278).ConclusionsAccording to our findings, MF regresses with imatinib therapy over time, and the MF grades at diagnosis do not have a negative impact on the responses to imatinib treatment. Therefore, the adverse prognostic impact of the MF among patients with CML seems to disappear in the era of the TKIs.


Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 2959-2959
Author(s):  
Daisuke Ohgiya ◽  
Makoto Onizuka ◽  
Hiromichi Matsushita ◽  
Naoya Nakamura ◽  
Hiroshi Kawada ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 2959 Background: Although several novel agents have improved the prognosis of patients with multiple myeloma (MM), it still remains an incurable disease because of the difficulty to eradicate MM cells by current therapeutic approaches. Recent studies have revealed that a subset of malignant cells, cancer stem cells, contribute to chemotherapy-resistance in cancer treatment. Promyelocytic leukemia gene product (PML), known as a tumor suppressor through a variety of cellular functions in a nuclear macromolecular structure called the PML nuclear body, has been reported to be responsible for the chemotherapy-resistance by regulating cell cycle in chronic myeloid leukemia. We therefore investigated the impact of PML expression on the cellular proliferation status of MM cells and patients' prognoses. Materials/Methods: Bone marrow clot sections from 48 patients with newly diagnosed MM from Jan 1998 to Dec 2009 before any therapy at diagnosis were obtained, and analyzed, according to appropriate procedure approved by IRB at the Tokai University School of Medicine (Kanagawa, Japan) with written informed consent. They were doubly-stained with a combination of anti-PML/anti-CD138 and anti-Ki67/anti-CD138. For evaluation of the relation between PML status and cellular proliferation, the positive rates of PML and Ki67 in CD138 positive cells were compared. For investigation of the impact of PML expression on the prognosis of MM, the patients were divided into 3 groups, according to the PML positive rates in the CD138 positive cells: negative/low (less than 25 percentile: 12 cases), intermediate (from 25 to 75 percentile: 24 cases) and high (more than 75 percentile: 12 cases). Their overall survivals were compared using log-rank test. Furthermore, the PML positive rates between before and after treatments were compared using paired t-test. Results: The median observation period of 48 cases was 915 days. The median age of the patients was 62.5 (38-76) at diagnosis. All the patients were underwent combination chemotherapies containing alkylating agents as initial therapies. Two and nine patients were underwent allogeneic and autologous stem cell transplantation during the clinical courses, respectively. The numbers of patients of international staging system (ISS) stage I, II and III were 17, 14 and 17 cases. The PML positive rates in each case ranged from 0% to 83.8%. They were not correlated with ISS stages (Spearman r = 0.083) and the Ki67 positive rates (Spearman r = -0.13). The PML positive rates in the negative/low, intermediate and the high groups were less than 22.1%, from 22.1 to 56.6% and more than 56.6%, respectively. No significant difference in overall survival was observed among the 3 groups (p>0.05). However, there were significant differences in two year survival rate when the 3 groups were compared (100%, 85.2% and 54.7%; p=0.015) (Fig. 1). In 13 patients whose bone marrow clot sections were sequentially collected, the PML positive rates after treatments were significantly higher than those at diagnosis (p=0.0042) (Fig. 2). Especially, PML positive rates in all the 3 patients from the negative/low group were progressively increased (0.3 to 82.6%, 14.1 to 100%, 19.0 to 37.5%), and 2 of them died due to disease progression. On the other hand, 2 patients whose PML positive rates decreased after treatment were alive more than 5 years without therapies. Conclusion: Our data indicated that the level of the PML expression at diagnosis was a possible prognostic factor for early course of the disease (2 years after diagnosis). Chemotherapies might induce PML expression in MM cells or select PML positive MM cells. These findings suggest that PML expression presumably reflect chemotherapy-resistance in MM cells. The molecular mechanism of the association is now under investigation. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (21) ◽  
pp. 3985-3985
Author(s):  
Francesca Fontana ◽  
Josè Manuel garcia Manteiga ◽  
Magda Marcatti ◽  
Francesca Lorentino ◽  
Giovanni Tonon ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 3985 Multiple myeloma is a malignancy of plasma cells, which grows at multiple foci in the bone marrow, secretes monoclonal immunoglobulins, and typically induces skeletal destruction, hypercalcemia, anemia, and renal failure. Although it remains an incurable cancer, novel therapeutic regimens have improved overall survival in the last decade. Multiple myeloma originates from post germinal center, terminally differentiated B lymphocytes through a multi-step process involving early and late genetic changes. Multiple myeloma is preceded by monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), a frequent age-progressive premalignant expansion of bone marrow plasma cells that behave benignly despite the presence of most myeloma-specific genetic abnormalities. Indeed, development and progression of multiple myeloma are believed to rely on vicious interactions with the bone marrow environment, offering a paradigm to investigate the bone-cancer relationship. In particular, bone and stromal cells are known to be diverted by cancer cells through altered cytokine circuitry. The resulting enhanced osteoclastogenesis and neoangiogenesis, and reduced osteoblast differentiation and activity sustain cancer cell survival, proliferation, migration and chemoresistance. Such crucial interactions, however, have only partially been elucidated in their complexity, dynamics and exact role in disease evolution. A better knowledge of this interplay, still elusive, could help identify prognostic markers, pathomechanisms, and therapeutic targets for future validation. Aiming to achieve an unbiased, comprehensive assessment of the extracellular milieu during multiple myeloma genesis and progression, we performed a metabolomic analysis of patient-derived peripheral and bone marrow plasma by ultra high performance liquid and gas chromatography followed by mass spectrometry. By feature transformation-based multivariate analyses, metabolic profiling of both peripheral and bone marrow plasma successfully discriminated active disease from control conditions (health, MGUS or remission). Moreover, both central and peripheral metabolic scores significantly correlated with bone marrow plasma cell counts. Significant changes in the peripheral metabolome were found to be associated with abnormal renal function in the subset of myeloma patients. Noteworthy, however, renal dysfunction-associated features failed to independently predict disease load, while non-overlapping disease vs. control analyses consistently identified a number of metabolites associated with disease. Among these, increased levels of the C3f-derived peptide, HWESASLL, and loss of circulating lysophosphocholines emerged as hallmarks of active disease. In vitro tests on myeloma cell lines and primary patient-derived cells revealed a previously unsuspected direct trophic role exerted by lysophosphocholines on malignant plasma cells. Altogether, our data demonstrate that metabolomics is a powerful approach suitable for studying the complex interactions of multiple myeloma with the bone marrow environment and general metabolism. This novel strategy holds potential to identify unanticipated markers and pathways involved in development and progression of multiple myeloma. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (21) ◽  
pp. 5009-5009
Author(s):  
Nassim Nabbout ◽  
Mohamad El Hawari ◽  
Thomas K. Schulz

Abstract Abstract 5009 Multiple myeloma is a neoplastic proliferation of monoclonal plasma cells that can result in osteolytic bone lesions, hypercalcemia, renal impairment, bone marrow failure, and the production of monoclonal gammopathy. The gastrointestinal tract is rarely involved in myeloma. GI polyposis is a rare manifestation of extra-medullary disease in multiple myeloma. Such cases usually present as gastrointestinal hemorrhage or intestinal obstruction. A 53-year-old African American male recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma presented with three-day history of rectal bleed and fatigue. EGD showed multiple raised, polypoid, rounded lesions with a superficial central ulceration in the stomach. Colonoscopy showed similar lesions in the ascending and transverse areas of the colon that ranged in size from 5 to 16 mm in diameter. Biopsies showed that these polyps were made of plasma cells. A bone marrow biopsy showed diffuse involvement (greater than 90%) of bone marrow with multiple myeloma with anaplastic features. The patient was started on bortezomib at diagnosis, however, he passed away a few weeks later. This type of metastatic disease has been described in isolated case reports in the literature, while solitary GI plasmacytoma has been reported more frequently. In rare cases, multiple myeloma can involve the GI tract which may lead to bleed or obstruction. This involvement is likely a marker of aggressivity. This example of extra-medullary disease in myeloma is an uncommon variant with features of poor prognosis and dedifferentiation. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 5316-5316
Author(s):  
Andrei Garifullin ◽  
Irina Martynkevich ◽  
Sergei Voloshin ◽  
Alexei Kuvshinov ◽  
Ludmila Martynenko ◽  
...  

Abstract Background. Genetic anomalies (GA) are primary link of pathogenesis in MM. GA lead to formation of clonal plasma cells, which has different phenotype. Aim. To estimate the incidence of GA and their correlation with clonal plasma cells' phenotype in patients with ND MM. Methods. We analysed 22 patients with ND MM (median age 57 years, range 38-80; male/female - 1:1.75). Cytogenetic analysis was performed on bone marrow samples using standard GTG-method. Metaphase FISH analysis was performed according to the manufacturer's protocol using DNA probes: LSI 13(RB1)13q14, IGH/CCND1, IGH/FGFR3, LSI TP53 (17q13.1). 8-color immunophenotypic by flow cytometry using antibody to CD45, CD38, CD138, CD56, CD19, CD20, CD27 and CD117 antigenes. Results. Translocation t(11;14) was detected in 3/14 (21.4%) patients, del(13q) - 2/14 (14.3%), t(11;14) - 3/14 (21.4%), hypodyploidy - 1/20 (5%), del(17р) - 0% patients. Clonal plasma cells' phenotype CD38+CD138+CD45- was detected in 100%. Expression CD56+ was revealed in 11/22 (50%) patients, CD19+ in 9/22 (40.9%), CD117+ in 5/22 (22.7%), CD20+ in 1/22 (4.5%), CD27+ in 1/22 (4.5%). The frequency of GA didn't depend on clonal plasma cells' phenotype and was 27.3%(3/11) in CD56+ phenotype, 23.8%(5/21) - CD20-, 23.8%(5/21) - CD27-, 23.5%(4/17) - CD117-, 23%(3/13) - CD19-, 22.2%(2/9) - CD19+, 20%(1/5) - CD117+, 18.2%(2/11) - CD56-, 0%(0/1) - CD20+, 0%(0/1) - in CD27+ phenotype. Patients of standard risk group according to mSMART 2.0 with GA had CD19-negative plasma cells' phenotype vs. CD19-positive phenotype in patients of intermediate and high-risk groups (p<0.05). 3-years overall survival in standard risk group with CD19- phenotype was 92,3%, CD19+ - 77,7% (p>0.05). Conclusion . Identification of GA, which has adverse forecast, correlates with CD19+ plasma cells phenotype. The combined definition of plasma cells phenotype and GA can improve the system of risk stratification in MM. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 3181-3181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matteo Claudio Da Via' ◽  
Antonio Giovanni Solimando ◽  
Andoni Garitano-Trojaola ◽  
Santiago Barrio ◽  
Nadine Rodhes ◽  
...  

Abstract Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is an extremely rare extramedullary multiple myeloma (MM) manifestation, diagnosed in less than 1% of patients. It is considered an ultimate high-risk feature, associated with unfavorable cytogenetics, and, even with intense treatment applied, survival is short, reaching less than 12 months in most cases. In June 2017 an 81 years old male with a κ light chain MM was referred to our institution for an isolated CNS MM relapse. His cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) demonstrated a high load of clonal plasma cells, however, the patient's bone marrow infiltration was very little with a percentage of plasma cells less than 5%. Imaging, including gold standard MRI and experimental 11C-methionine PET scan, was performed, and high metabolic activity was detected supra- and infratentorially as well as in the right femur and the clivus. Following CD138+ cell purification we analyzed the specimen with M3P (v3.0) a disease specific in-house customized, next generation targeted sequencing panel for MM (Ion torrent platform). This includes most commonly mutated MM genes, actionable drug targets and drug resistance associated genes. The average sequencing depth increased 700X and spatial MM heterogeneity was detected, as the CFS cells harbored a clonal BRAFV600E mutation, absent in the bone marrow. Initial intrathecal and systemic chemotherapy with Cytarabine and Thiotepa was intolerable, thus the patient underwent a combined target inhibition with Dabrafenib/Trametinib, well known specific BRAF and a MEK 1/2 inhibitors. The patient displayed a rapid complete response (Figure. 1A), however, disease relapse occurred after three months of therapy. We obtained a sequential CFS sample and Whole Exome Sequencing (Illumina platform) was applied to pre and post therapy CFS sampling. Exome sequencing of the two time points performed an average sequencing depth of 115X; a total number of 97 non-silent coding variants (missense, nonsense, indels, splice) with an allele frequency higher than 5% were detected. In detail, 19 point mutations were acquired at relapse, including a subclonal missense mutation in CIC (p.A984P, VRF 17%), recently identified as a candidate gene contributing to MEK/BRAF resistance development. Next, we established a CIC knock-down model electroporating a specific anti-CIC siRNA into U266 MM cell line. We cultured the silenced and not-silenced cells with Trametinib and Dabrafenib, either as single agents, or in combination. As expected, we observed resistance induction to the combination of the two drugs (Row Factor 85.94%; P<0.0001, Two-way ANOVA) suggesting a critical role for this patient derived mutation for his MEK/BRAF resistance development (Figure 1C, D). In order to better clarify the landscape pathway related to CIC we analyzed expression data from 647 patients enrolled in the MMRF CoMMpass trial. Remarkably, we found a significant down-regulation of ERF and ETV6 (t-test -9.95, -9.93, P <0.001, respectively), two well characterized tumor suppressor genes correlated with the re-activation of the RAS downstream pathway (Figure 1B). This is the first report giving evidence for a potential role of point mutations in CIC as a resistance mechanism to targeted MEK/BRAF inhibition in BRAF mutated MM. The performed pathway analysis significantly extends the insights of the resistance mechanisms highlighted. Our results foster a statistically powered study to corroborate the clinical relevance. Figure 1. Figure 1. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 3371-3371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luisa Giaccone ◽  
Lucia Brunello ◽  
Roberto Passera ◽  
Moreno Festuccia ◽  
Milena Gilestro ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Minimal residual disease (MRD) by multiparameter flow-cytometry recently showed a promising role in predicting outcomes in patients with multiple myeloma. However, data on immunophenotypic response (IR) after allografting are lacking. Aim To evaluate the impact of IR and compare it to conventional complete remission (CR) following allografting in myeloma patients. Methods Sixty-six consecutive patients, median age 54 years (35-66), who underwent an allograft between January 2000 and December 2011 with a follow-up of at least 3 months were included. Disease response was evaluated by serum and urine electrophoresis, and bone marrow aspirate at baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24 months after transplant and yearly thereafter. Skeletal survey or MRI were performed yearly or as clinically indicated (overt relapse or complaints of bone pain). Bone marrow aspirates had to contain at least 13000 cells/µL for flow-cytometry studies and IR was defined as absence of monoclonal plasma-cells detected by 4 or 6-colour staining with the following antibodies: CD38, CD138, CD56, CD19, CD45, cyKappa, cyLambda. CR was defined according to standard criteria (Durie et al, Leukemia 2006; 20:1467-73). Results Conditioning regimen was non-myeloablative 2Gy TBI-based in 55 patients, reduced intensity (fludarabine-melphalan-based) in 10 and myeloablative in 1 patient. Post-grafting immunosuppression consisted of cyclosporine with mycophenolate mofetil or methotrexate. Donors were HLA identical siblings in 58 patients and unrelated in 8. Only 1 patient received bone marrow as source of stem cells. Thirty-five/66 (53%) received the allograft as part of the first line treatment, whereas the remaining 31/66, (47%) were transplanted at relapse. At the time of transplant, 5/66 were both in IR and CR, 16 were only in IR and 4 patients were only in clinical CR. All 21 patients in IR at the time of transplant maintained it, while 26/45 (58%) entered IR after the allograft. Among patients surviving at least 3 months, overall treatment related mortality was 10.6% at 3 years. After a median follow-up of 69 months (range 19-147), the incidence of acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease was 45.6% and 49.3% without significant difference between responsive and non-responsive patients. At follow-up, overall, 24 patients achieved CR and IR (CR/IR group), 21 achieved IR but not CR because of persistence of urine/serum M-component (noCR/IR group), and 21 did not achieve either CR or IR (noCR/noIR group). Interestingly, none achieved CR without IR. Median overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) in patients who achieved IR were 96 and 55 months versus 36 and 7 months in those who did not (p<0.001). Median OS and EFS were not reached and 59 months in the CR/IR group, 77 and 15 months in the noCR/IR, and 30 and 5 months in the noCR/noIR respectively (p<0.001 for both EFS and OS-fig.1). In univariate analysis, being in the CR/IR group was the only significant predictor for prolonged OS and EFS (p<0.001). Of note, cumulative incidence of extra-medullary disease at first relapse after the allograft was 4% in the CR/IR, 32% in the noCR/IR and 15% in the noCR/noIR groups respectively (p<0.001). Receiving the allograft as first line therapy or later during the disease course did not significantly impact on OS and EFS. Conclusion The achievement of IR confers a favorable impact on OS and EFS after allografting. A higher incidence of extra-medullary in the noCR/IR group (some 30% of our patient cohort) may suggest that myeloma cells escape immune control outside the bone marrow. In this group, imaging studies such as positron emission tomography may clinically be indicated during follow-up to detect early relapse. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. SCI-12-SCI-12
Author(s):  
Karin Vanderkerken ◽  
Kim De Veirman ◽  
Ken Maes ◽  
Eline Menu ◽  
Elke De Bruyne

Apoptosis plays a key role, not only in normal homeostasis but also in protection against genomic instability. Protection against apoptosis is a hallmark of cancer and is mainly regulated by the overexpression of anti-apoptotic proteins such as Bcl-2, Bcl-Xl or Mcl-1. This results in increased survival of the tumor cells and resistance to therapy. This presentation will focus on MCL-1 (myeloid cell leukemia 1), its expression and its role as potential target in multiple myeloma (MM). MCL1 gene regions are one the most amplified gene regions in several human cancers and Mcl-1 activity is often associated with therapy resistance and relapse. Mcl-1 binds to and sequesters the pro-apoptotic BH3 proteins, thereby preventing apoptosis. Mcl-1 is overexpressed on MM cells from newly diagnosed patients compared to normal plasma cells and in MM cells at relapse. This overexpression is furthermore associated with a shorter survival of these patients. Increased Mcl-1 expression can result either from genetic lesions or by induction through interaction with the bone marrow microenvironment. Its expression is correlated with the molecular heterogeneity of the myeloma patients; while the CCDN1 group has high BCL2 and low MCL-1 expression; the MMSET and MAF group has high MCL-1 and low BCL2 expression. Unlike Bcl-2 and Bcl-Xl, Mcl-1 has a large unstructured aminoterminus and its activity is mainly dependent on posttranslational modifications. The bone marrow microenvironment, by producing high levels of interleukin 6, also induces the upregulation of Mcl-1. Furthermore, our group recently demonstrated that not only stromal cells in the bone marrow microenvironment, but also MDSC (myeloid derived suppressor cells) induce survival of MM cells by increasing Mcl-1 levels through the AMPK pathway. As such, these data suggest the potential therapeutic benefit of targeting Mcl-1 in MM patients. Developing the first-generation inhibitors appeared to be challenging, especially in view of the occurrence of unwanted off target effects. Recent preclinical data with new, selective Mcl-1 inhibitors show promising anti-tumor effects both in vitro and in in vivo myeloma models, either alone or in combination with the Bcl-2 selective inhibitor, venetoclax, especially as it was demonstrated that high levels of MCL-1 are associated with venetoclax resistance in MM. In addition, it was also shown that proteasome inhibition can trigger Mcl-1 accumulation, further pointing to the importance of Mcl-1 inhibition. Induction of NOXA, as an inhibitor of Mcl-1, is also suggested as a therapeutic option, especially in combinations with other drugs. Clinically, following preclinical results, several new Mcl-1 inhibitors have entered phase I trials. Most of them are still recruiting patients, and as such too early to have results. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


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