scholarly journals Smoldering Multiple Myeloma: What Is the Threshold to Start Treatment?

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (12.5) ◽  
pp. 1777-1779
Author(s):  
Natalie S. Callander

Smoldering multiple myeloma represents approximately 10% to 15% of all myeloma cases, but more thorough evaluation may decrease that number in the future. Risk stratification is important in this patient population to avoid overtreatment or undertreatment. Patients with low-risk disease can be observed without treatment, but those at higher-risk should be enrolled on clinical trials. If a clinical trial is not an option in these patients, a time-limited intervention with lenalidomide ± dexamethasone can be considered.

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 130
Author(s):  
Tyler Lussier ◽  
Natalie Schoebe ◽  
Sabine Mai

Smoldering multiple myeloma is a heterogeneous asymptomatic precursor to multiple myeloma. Since its identification in 1980, risk stratification models have been developed using two main stratification methods: clinical measurement-based and genetics-based. Clinical measurement models can be subdivided in three types: baseline measurements (performed at diagnosis), evolving measurements (performed over time during follow-up appointments), and imaging (for example, magnetic resonance imaging). Genetic approaches include gene expression profiling, DNA/RNA sequencing, and cytogenetics. It is important to accurately distinguish patients with indolent disease from those with aggressive disease, as clinical trials have shown that patients designated as “high-risk of progression” have improved outcomes when treated early. The risk stratification models, and clinical trials are discussed in this review.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
María-Victoria Mateos ◽  
Shaji Kumar ◽  
Meletios A. Dimopoulos ◽  
Verónica González-Calle ◽  
Efstathios Kastritis ◽  
...  

Abstract Smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) is an asymptomatic precursor state of multiple myeloma (MM). Recently, MM was redefined to include biomarkers predicting a high risk of progression from SMM, thus necessitating a redefinition of SMM and its risk stratification. We assembled a large cohort of SMM patients meeting the revised IMWG criteria to develop a new risk stratification system. We included 1996 patients, and using stepwise selection and multivariable analysis, we identified three independent factors predicting progression risk at 2 years: serum M-protein >2 g/dL (HR: 2.1), involved to uninvolved free light-chain ratio >20 (HR: 2.7), and marrow plasma cell infiltration >20% (HR: 2.4). This translates into 3 categories with increasing 2-year progression risk: 6% for low risk (38%; no risk factors, HR: 1); 18% for intermediate risk (33%; 1 factor; HR: 3.0), and 44% for high risk (29%; 2–3 factors). Addition of cytogenetic abnormalities (t(4;14), t(14;16), +1q, and/or del13q) allowed separation into 4 groups (low risk with 0, low intermediate risk with 1, intermediate risk with 2, and high risk with ≥3 risk factors) with 6, 23, 46, and 63% risk of progression in 2 years, respectively. The 2/20/20 risk stratification model can be easily implemented to identify high-risk SMM for clinical research and routine practice and will be widely applicable.


2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melody Hermel ◽  
Rebecca Duffy ◽  
Alexander Orfanos ◽  
Isabelle Hack ◽  
Shayna McEnteggart ◽  
...  

Cardiac registries have filled many gaps in knowledge related to arrhythmogenic cardiovascular conditions. Despite the less robust level of evidence available in registries when compared with clinical trials, registries have contributed a range of clinically useful information. In this review, the authors discuss the role that registries have played – related to diagnosis, natural history, risk stratification, treatment, and genetics of arrhythmogenic cardiovascular conditions – in closing knowledge gaps, and their role in the future.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 421
Author(s):  
Niccolo’ Bolli ◽  
Nicola Sgherza ◽  
Paola Curci ◽  
Rita Rizzi ◽  
Vanda Strafella ◽  
...  

Smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM), an asymptomatic plasma cell neoplasm, is currently diagnosed according to the updated IMWG criteria, which reflect an intermediate tumor mass between monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and active MM. However, SMM is a heterogeneous entity and individual case may go from an “MGUS-like” behavior to “early MM” with rapid transformation into symptomatic disease. This wide range of clinical outcomes poses challenges for prognostication and management of individual patients. However, initial studies showed a benefit in terms of progression or even survival for early treatment of high-risk SMM patients. While outside of clinical trials the conventional approach to SMM generally remains that of close observation, these studies raised the question of whether early treatment should be offered in high-risk patients, prompting evaluation of several different therapeutic approaches with different goals. While delay of progression to MM with a non-toxic treatment is clearly achievable by early treatment, a convincing survival benefit still needs to be proven by independent studies. Furthermore, if SMM is to be considered less biologically complex than MM, early treatment may offer the chance of cure that is currently not within reach of any active MM treatment. In this paper, we present updated results of completed or ongoing clinical trials in SMM treatment, highlighting areas of uncertainty and critical issues that will need to be addressed in the near future before the “watch and wait” paradigm in SMM is abandoned in favor of early treatment.


2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Litchfield ◽  
Jenny Freeman ◽  
Henrik Schou ◽  
Mark Elsley ◽  
Robert Fuller ◽  
...  

Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 5-6
Author(s):  
Israr Khan ◽  
Abdul Rafae ◽  
Anum Javaid ◽  
Zahoor Ahmed ◽  
Haifza Abeera Qadeer ◽  
...  

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell disorder and demonstrates overexpression of B cell maturation antigen (BCMA). Our objective is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T) against BCMA in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search using PubMed, Cochrane, Clinicaltrials.gov, and Embase databases. We also searched for data from society meetings. A total of 935 articles were identified, and 610 were screened for relevance. Results: Data from thirty-one original studies with a total of 871 patients (pts) were included based on defined eligibility criteria, see Table 1. Hu et al. reported an overall response rate (ORR) of 100% in 33 pts treated with BCMA CAR-T cells including 21 complete response (CR), 7 very good partial response (VGPR), 4 partial response (PR). Moreover, 32 pts achieved minimal residual disease (MRD) negative status. Chen et al. reported ORR of 88%, 14% CR, 6% VGPR, and 82% MRD negative status with BCMA CAR-T therapy in 17 RRMM pts. In another clinical trial by Han et al. BCMA CAR-T therapy demonstrated an ORR of 100% among 7 evaluable pts with 43% pts having ≥ CR and 14% VGPR. An ORR of 100% with 64% stringent CR (sCR) and 36% VGPR was reported with novel anti-BCMA CART cells (CT103A). Similarly, Li et al. reported ORR of 87.5%, sCR of 50%, VGPR 12.5%, and PR 25% in 16 pts. BCMA targeting agent, JNJ-4528, showed ORR of 91%, including 4sCR, 2CR, 10MRD, and 7VGPR. CAR-T- bb2121 demonstrated ORR of 85%, sCR 36%, CR 9%, VGPR 57%, and MRD negativity of 100% (among 16 responsive pts). GSK2857916, a BCMA targeting CAR-T cells yielded ORR of 60% in both clinical trials. Three studies utilizing bispecific CART cells targeting both BCMA & CD38 (LCARB38M) reported by Zhao et al., Wang et al., and Fan et al. showed ORR of 88%, 88%, & 100% respectively. Topp et al. reported ORR of 31% along with 5 ≥CR and 5 MRD negative status in 42 pts treated with Bi T-cells Engager BiTE® Ab BCMA targeting antigen (AMG420). One clinical trial presented AUTO2 CART cells therapy against BCMA with an ORR of 43%, VGPR of 14%, and PR of 28%. CT053CAR-BCMA showed 14sCR and 5CR with a collective ORR of 87.5% and MRD negative status of 85% in 24 and 20 evaluable pts, respectively. Likewise, Mikkilineni et al. reported an ORR of 83%, sCR of 16.7%, and VGPR & PR of 25% and 41% in 12 pts treated with FHVH-BCMA T cells. Similar results are also reported in other clinical trials of BCMA targeting CART therapy (Table 1). The most common adverse effects exhibited were grade 1-3 hematologic (cytopenia) and cytokine release syndrome (CRS) (mostly reversible with tocilizumab). Conclusion: Initial data from ongoing clinical trials using BCMA targeting CAR-T therapy have yielded promising results both in terms of improved outcome and tolerable toxicity profiles. Although two phase 3 trails are ongoing, additional data is warranted to further ensure the safety and efficacy of anti-BCMA CAR-T cells therapy in pts with RRMM for future use. Disclosures Anwer: Incyte, Seattle Genetics, Acetylon Pharmaceuticals, AbbVie Pharma, Astellas Pharma, Celegene, Millennium Pharmaceuticals.: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arjun Lakshman ◽  
S. Vincent Rajkumar ◽  
Francis K. Buadi ◽  
Moritz Binder ◽  
Morie A. Gertz ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1527-1527
Author(s):  
Waqas Haque ◽  
Ann M. Geiger ◽  
Celette Sugg Skinner ◽  
Rasmi Nair ◽  
Simon Craddock Lee ◽  
...  

1527 Background: Patient accrual for cancer clinical trials is suboptimal. The complexity of applying eligibility criteria and enrolling patients may deter oncologists from recommending patients for a trial. As such, there is a need to understand how experience, training, and clinical decision support impact physician practices and intentions related to trial accrual. Methods: From May to September 2017, we conducted a survey on clinical trial accrual in a national sample of medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists. The 20-minute survey assessed barriers and facilitators to clinical trial accrual, including experience (e.g., “In the past 5 years, have you been a study or site PI of a trial?”), training (e.g., “Did you receive training about trial design and recruitment as part of medical school, residency, or fellowship? After fellowship?”), and clinical decision support (e.g., “What kind of clinical decision support has your practice implemented?). We used logistic regression to identify factors associated with frequency of discussing trials (with ≥25% of patients) and likelihood of recommending a trial to a patient (likely or very likely) in the future. Results: Survey respondents (n = 1,030) were mostly medical oncologists (59%), age 35-54 years (67%), male (74%), and not in academic practice (58%). About 18% of respondents (n = 183) reported discussing trials with ≥25% of their patients, and 80% reported being likely or very likely to recommend a trial to a patient in the future. Prior experience as principal investigator of a trial was associated with both frequency of discussing trials (OR 3.27, 95% CI 2.25, 4.75) and likelihood of recommending a trial in the future (OR 5.22, 95% CI 3.71, 7.34), as was receiving additional training in clinical trials after fellowship (discussion with patients: OR 2.48, 95% CI 1.80, 3.42; recommend in future: OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.37, 2.69). Implementing clinical decision support was not associated with discussing trials with ≥25% of patients (OR 1.12, 95% CI 0.76, 1.67), but was associated with being likely to recommend a trial in the future (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.11, 2.71). Conclusions: In a national survey of oncologists, we observed differences in physician practices and intention related to clinical trial accrual. Whereas the vast majority (80%) reported being likely or very likely to recommend trials in the future, far fewer (20%) reported discussing trials with their patients within the past 5 years. Implementation of clinical decision support – electronic tools intended to optimize patient care and identification of patient eligibility – was not associated with frequency of past discussion of clinical trials but was associated with recommending a trial in the future. Given the stronger association between experience as a site Principal Investigator and recommending a trial, future research should explore how improving opportunities to lead a clinical trial impact trial accrual.


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