scholarly journals Pursuing a Curative Approach in Multiple Myeloma: A Review of New Therapeutic Strategies

Cancers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mattia D'Agostino ◽  
Luca Bertamini ◽  
Stefania Oliva ◽  
Mario Boccadoro ◽  
Francesca Gay
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Myeloma ◽  
Residual Disease ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Progression Free Survival ◽  
Hematologic Cancer ◽  
Focus On Results ◽  
Individualize Treatment ◽  
New Generation ◽  
Effective Drugs

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.

Maintenance Therapy for Myeloma: How Much, How Long, and at What Cost?

2012 ◽  
pp. 515-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel Attal ◽  
Murielle Roussel
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Myeloma ◽  
Maintenance Therapy ◽  
Residual Disease ◽  
Progression Free Survival ◽  
Optimal Dose ◽  
Second Primary ◽  
High Dose ◽  
High Dose Therapy ◽  
Dose Therapy

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.

scholarly journals Early Dynamics and Depth of Response in Multiple Myeloma Patients Treated With BCMA CAR-T Cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandy W. Wong ◽  
Nina Shah ◽  
Guy Ledergor ◽  
Thomas Martin ◽  
Jeffrey Wolf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Myeloma ◽  
Residual Disease ◽  
Progression Free Survival ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Depth Of Response ◽  
B Cell Maturation ◽  
Rapid Responses ◽  
Car T ◽  
New Treatment

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy targeted against B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) in multiple myeloma (MM) has produced rapid responses but many eventually relapse. In light of this new treatment, novel predictors of progression-free survival (PFS) are needed. We performed a single institution analysis of 54 BCMA-CAR-T patients. We analyzed patient’s overall response rate (ORR) by the IMWG criteria, involved serum-free light chains (iFLC), and minimal residual disease testing by next-generation sequencing (MRD-NGS). Between patients who achieved a ≤SD and those who achieved a ≥PR, PFS differed significantly (p < 0.0001); though there was no difference between patients who achieved a ≥CR vs. VGPR/PR (p = 0.2). In contrast, patients who achieved a nonelevated iFLC at 15 days (p < 0.0001, HR = 6.8; 95% CI, 2.7–17.3) or 30 days (p < 0.001, HR = 16.7; 95% CI, 3.9–71.7) had a prolonged PFS compared with those with an elevated iFLC. Patients achieving MRD-NGS less than the detectable limit at a sensitivity of 10−6 had a better PFS than those with detectable disease at 1 month (p = 0.02) and 3 months (p = 0.02). In conclusion, achieving a nonelevated iFLC and an undetectable MRD-NGS quickly were factors that were strongly associated with improved PFS. Further studies are needed to confirm the role of these markers in MM patients receiving CAR-T therapies.

scholarly journals Boosting Immunity against Multiple Myeloma

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1221
Author(s):  
Raquel Lopes ◽  
Bruna Velosa Ferreira ◽  
Joana Caetano ◽  
Filipa Barahona ◽  
Emilie Arnault Carneiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Myeloma ◽  
Residual Disease ◽  
Proteasome Inhibitors ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Complete Response ◽  
Drug Conjugates ◽  
Incurable Disease ◽  
Car T ◽  
Patient’S Outcome ◽  
The Impact

Despite the improvement of patient’s outcome obtained by the current use of immunomodulatory drugs, proteasome inhibitors or anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies, multiple myeloma (MM) remains an incurable disease. More recently, the testing in clinical trials of novel drugs such as anti-BCMA CAR-T cells, antibody–drug conjugates or bispecific antibodies broadened the possibility of improving patients’ survival. However, thus far, these treatment strategies have not been able to steadily eliminate all malignant cells, and the aim has been to induce a long-term complete response with minimal residual disease (MRD)-negative status. In this sense, approaches that target not only myeloma cells but also the surrounding microenvironment are promising strategies to achieve a sustained MRD negativity with prolonged survival. This review provides an overview of current and future strategies used for immunomodulation of MM focusing on the impact on bone marrow (BM) immunome.

scholarly journals Transient Receptor Potential C 1/4/5 Is a Determinant of MTI-101 Induced Calcium Influx and Cell Death in Multiple Myeloma

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1490
Author(s):  
Osama M. Elzamzamy ◽  
Brandon E. Johnson ◽  
Wei-Chih Chen ◽  
Gangqing Hu ◽  
Reinhold Penner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Myeloma ◽  
Cell Death ◽  
Transient Receptor Potential ◽  
Cyclic Peptide ◽  
Calcium Influx ◽  
Acquired Resistance ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Prognostic Indicators ◽  
Causative Role

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a currently incurable hematologic cancer. Patients that initially respond to therapeutic intervention eventually relapse with drug resistant disease. Thus, novel treatment strategies are critically needed to improve patient outcomes. Our group has developed a novel cyclic peptide referred to as MTI-101 for the treatment of MM. We previously reported that acquired resistance to HYD-1, the linear form of MTI-101, correlated with the repression of genes involved in store operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE): PLCβ, SERCA, ITPR3, and TRPC1 expression. In this study, we sought to determine the role of TRPC1 heteromers in mediating MTI-101 induced cationic flux. Our data indicate that, consistent with the activation of TRPC heteromers, MTI-101 treatment induced Ca2+ and Na+ influx. However, replacing extracellular Na+ with NMDG did not reduce MTI-101-induced cell death. In contrast, decreasing extracellular Ca2+ reduced both MTI-101-induced Ca2+ influx as well as cell death. The causative role of TRPC heteromers was established by suppressing STIM1, TRPC1, TRPC4, or TRPC5 function both pharmacologically and by siRNA, resulting in a reduction in MTI-101-induced Ca2+ influx. Mechanistically, MTI-101 treatment induces trafficking of TRPC1 to the membrane and co-immunoprecipitation studies indicate that MTI-101 treatment induces a TRPC1-STIM1 complex. Moreover, treatment with calpeptin inhibited MTI-101-induced Ca2+ influx and cell death, indicating a role of calpain in the mechanism of MTI-101-induced cytotoxicity. Finally, components of the SOCE pathway were found to be poor prognostic indicators among MM patients, suggesting that this pathway is attractive for the treatment of MM.

scholarly journals Targeting Protein Kinase C in Glioblastoma Treatment

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 381
Author(s):  
Noelia Geribaldi-Doldán ◽  
Irati Hervás-Corpión ◽  
Ricardo Gómez-Oliva ◽  
Samuel Domínguez-García ◽  
Félix A. Ruiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Protein Kinase C ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Combined Treatment ◽  
Primary Brain Tumor ◽  
Kinase C ◽  
Pkc Isozymes ◽  
New Generation ◽  
Effective Drugs

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most frequent and aggressive primary brain tumor and is associated with a poor prognosis. Despite the use of combined treatment approaches, recurrence is almost inevitable and survival longer than 14 or 15 months after diagnosis is low. It is therefore necessary to identify new therapeutic targets to fight GBM progression and recurrence. Some publications have pointed out the role of glioma stem cells (GSCs) as the origin of GBM. These cells, with characteristics of neural stem cells (NSC) present in physiological neurogenic niches, have been proposed as being responsible for the high resistance of GBM to current treatments such as temozolomide (TMZ). The protein Kinase C (PKC) family members play an essential role in transducing signals related with cell cycle entrance, differentiation and apoptosis in NSC and participate in distinct signaling cascades that determine NSC and GSC dynamics. Thus, PKC could be a suitable druggable target to treat recurrent GBM. Clinical trials have tested the efficacy of PKCβ inhibitors, and preclinical studies have focused on other PKC isozymes. Here, we discuss the idea that other PKC isozymes may also be involved in GBM progression and that the development of a new generation of effective drugs should consider the balance between the activation of different PKC subtypes.

MASS-FIX versus standard methods to predict for PFS and OS among multiple myeloma patients participating on the STAMINA trial.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 8009-8009
Author(s):  
Angela Dispenzieri ◽  
Amrita Y. Krishnan ◽  
Bonnie Arendt ◽  
Surendra Dasari ◽  
Yvonne Adeduni Efebera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Multiple Myeloma ◽  
Flow Cytometry ◽  
Multiple Testing ◽  
Residual Disease ◽  
Progression Free Survival ◽  
Complete Response ◽  
Independent Effect ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Different Response

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]

Consolidation and Maintenance in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma

2021 ◽  
pp. JCO.21.01045
Author(s):  
Pieter Sonneveld ◽  
Meletios A. Dimopoulos ◽  
Meral Beksac ◽  
Bronno van der Holt ◽  
Sara Aquino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Myeloma ◽  
Minimal Residual Disease ◽  
Residual Disease ◽  
Progression Free Survival ◽  
Complete Response ◽  
Primary Study ◽  
Controlled Clinical Trial ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Consolidation Treatment ◽  
Minimal Residual

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.

Isatuximab plus carfilzomib and dexamethasone in east Asian patients with relapsed multiple myeloma: IKEMA subgroup analysis.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e20015-e20015
Author(s):  
Kihyun Kim ◽  
Chang Ki Min ◽  
Youngil Koh ◽  
Kenichi Ishizawa ◽  
Sung-Hyun Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Myeloma ◽  
Disease Progression ◽  
Residual Disease ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Progression Free Survival ◽  
Complete Response ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Asian Patients ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
East Asian Patients

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]

scholarly journals Deep Phenotyping Reveals Distinct Immune Signatures Correlating with Prognostication, Treatment Responses, and MRD Status in Multiple Myeloma

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstantinos Papadimitriou ◽  
Nikolaos Tsakirakis ◽  
Panagiotis Malandrakis ◽  
Panagiotis Vitsos ◽  
Andreas Metousis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Myeloma ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Residual Disease ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Induction Treatment ◽  
Molecular Characteristics ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Incurable Disease ◽  
Deep Phenotyping

Despite recent advances, Multiple Myeloma (MM) remains an incurable disease with apparent heterogeneity that may explain patients’ variable clinical outcomes. While the phenotypic, (epi)genetic, and molecular characteristics of myeloma cells have been thoroughly examined, there is limited information regarding the role of the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment in the natural history of the disease. In the present study, we performed deep phenotyping of 32 distinct immune cell subsets in a cohort of 94 MM patients to reveal unique immune profiles in both BM and peripheral blood (PB) that characterize distinct prognostic groups, responses to induction treatment, and minimal residual disease (MRD) status. Our data show that PB cells do not reflect the BM microenvironment and that the two sites should be studied independently. Adverse ISS stage and high-risk cytogenetics were correlated with distinct immune profiles; most importantly, BM signatures comprised decreased tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and erythroblasts, whereas the unique Treg signatures in PB could discriminate those patients achieving complete remission after VRd induction therapy. Moreover, MRD negative status was correlated with a more experienced CD4- and CD8-mediated immunity phenotype in both BM and PB, thus highlighting a critical role of by-stander cells linked to MRD biology.

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