0000000000020225

AUTHOR

Albert Oriol

Analysis of treatment efficacy in the GEM-CESAR trial for high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma patients: Comparison between the standard and IMWG MRD criteria and QIP-MS including FLC (QIP-FLC-MS)

8512 Background: The GEM-CESAR trial is a potentially curative strategy for high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma (HRsMM) patients (pts) in which the primary endpoint is the achievement of sustained minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity in the bone marrow (BM) by next generation flow (NGF). The value of BM MRD assessment in MM is proven, but alternative, non-invasive methods, accurately reflecting disease burden are needed. Methods: Pts received six 4-week cycles of KRd as induction (K:36mg/m2 twice weekly, R: lenalidomide 25mg po od days 1-21 and d:dexamethasone 40mg po weekly) followed by melphalan 200mg/m2, two further cycles of KRd as consolidation and up to 2 years of Rd (R:10mg/d…

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Qip-Mass Spectrometry in High Risk Smoldering Multiple Myeloma Patients Included in the GEM-CESAR Trial: Comparison with Conventional and Minimal Residual Disease IMWG Response Assessment

Introduction: The GEM-CESAR trial is a potentially curative strategy for high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma (HRsMM) patients in which the primary endpoint is the assessment of bone marrow minimal residual disease negativity by next generation flow (NGF). However, alternative methods of tumor burden evaluation in serum, like Quantitative Immunoprecipitation Mass Spectrometry (QIP-MS), a polyclonal antibody-based technology to identify intact immunoglobulins, have been also evaluated. Patients and Methods: Ninety HRsMM patients included in the GEM-CESAR trial received six 4-weeks cycles of carfilzomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone followed by high dose melphalan and ASCT and 2 further cy…

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Single-Cell Characterization of the Multiple Myeloma (MM) Immune Microenvironment Identifies CD27-Negative T Cells As Potential Source of Tumor-Reactive Lymphocytes

Background: The broad use of immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) and the breakthrough of novel immunotherapies in MM, urge the optimization of immune monitoring to help tailoring treatment based on better prediction of patients' response according to their immune status. For example, current T cells immune monitoring is of limited value because the phenotype of tumor-reactive T cells is uncertain. Aims: To characterize the MM immune microenvironment at the single-cell level and to identify clinically relevant subsets for effective immune monitoring. Methods: We used a semi-automated pipeline to unveil full cellular diversity based on unbiased clustering, in a large flow cytometry dataset of 86 n…

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Randomized Trial of Lenalidomide and Dexamethasone Versus Clarythromycin, Lenalidomide and Dexamethasone As First Line Treatment in Patients with Multiple Myeloma Not Candidates for Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation: Results of the GEM-Claridex Clinical Trial

Continuous treatment with lenalidomide (R) and dexamethasone (d) is a standard of care for multiple myeloma (MM) patients (pts) not candidates for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). As previously reported, the addition of Clarithromycin (C) to Rd has proven to be safe and effective, and case-control analyses suggested a significant additive value with the combination. C optimizes the therapeutic effect of glucocorticoids by increasing the area under the curve, has immunomodulatory effects and may have direct antineoplastic properties. However, there are not randomized phase III trials confirming these results. GEM-Claridex in an open, randomized, phase III trial for untreated new…

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Pembrolizumab as Consolidation Strategy in Patients with Multiple Myeloma: Results of the GEM-Pembresid Clinical Trial

PD1 expression in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells is increased after treatment in multiple myeloma patients with persistent disease. The GEM-Pembresid trial analyzed the efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab as consolidation in patients achieving at least very good partial response but with persistent measurable disease after first- or second-line treatment. Moreover, the characteristics of the immune system were investigated to identify potential biomarkers of response to pembrolizumab. One out of the 17 evaluable patients showed a decrease in the amount of M-protein, although a potential late effect of high-dose melphalan could not be ruled out. Fourteen adverse events were considered related to pem…

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Measurable Residual Disease by Next-Generation Flow Cytometry in Multiple Myeloma.

[Purpose] Assessing measurable residual disease (MRD) has become standard with many tumors, but the clinical meaning of MRD in multiple myeloma (MM) remains uncertain, particularly when assessed by next-generation flow (NGF) cytometry. Thus, we aimed to determine the applicability and sensitivity of the flow MRD-negative criterion defined by the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG).

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Biological and clinical significance of dysplastic hematopoiesis in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma

On behalf of the PETHEMA/GEM Cooperative Group.

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Deep MRD profiling defines outcome and unveils different modes of treatment resistance in standard- and high-risk myeloma

PETHEMA/GEM Cooperative Group.

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Competition between clonal plasma cells and normal cells for potentially overlapping bone marrow niches is associated with a progressively altered cellular distribution in MGUS vs myeloma

Disappearance of normal bone marrow (BM) plasma cells (PC) predicts malignant transformation of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and smoldering myeloma (SMM) into symptomatic multiple myeloma (MM). The homing, behavior and survival of normal PC, but also CD34 hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), B-cell precursors, and clonal PC largely depends on their interaction with stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) expressing, potentially overlapping BM stromal cell niches. Here, we investigate the distribution, phenotypic characteristics and competitive migration capacity of these cell populations in patients with MGUS, SMM and MM vs healthy adults (HA) aged 60 years. Our result…

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Clinical Significance and Biomarkers to Predict Unsustained Complete Remission in Transplant-Eligible Multiple Myeloma

Background: Transplant-eligible MM patients are achieving unprecedented CR rates with frontline therapy. This urges the question about what other tests are informative upon a negative immunofixation (IFx-), as well as if patients with short duration CR continue having dismal survival with modern frontline plus salvage therapies and if so, how to predict risk of unsustained CR. Aim: To provide an optimal definition of unsustained CR and biomarkers to predict it in transplant-eligible MM patients treated with optimal therapy. Methods: A total of 262 patients enrolled in the PETHEMA/GEM2012MENOS65 trial and who were in CR after receiving six induction cycles of bortezomib, lenalidomide and dex…

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Heavy and Light Chain Monitoring in High Risk Smoldering Multiple Myeloma Patients Included in the GEM-CESAR Trial: Comparison with Conventional and Minimal Residual Disease IMWG Response Assessment

Introduction: The GEM-CESAR trial is a potentially curative strategy for high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma (HRsMM) patients (pts) in which the primary endpoint is the achievement of bone marrow minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity. However, other methods of disease evaluation in serum such as heavy+light chain (HLC) assessment, with a potential complementary value to the IMWG response criteria, have also been tested. Aim: To evaluate the performance of HLC assay in HRsMM pts at diagnosis and after consolidation, comparing the results with standard serological methods and Next Generation Flow (NGF) for the assessment of bone marrow MRD. Patients and Methods: Ninety HRsMM pts include…

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Assessment of Treatment Response By Ife, Next Generation Flow Cytometry and Mass Spectrometry Coupled with Liquid Chromatography in the GEM2012MENOS65 Clinical Trial

Abstract Introduction : In patients (pts) with multiple myeloma (MM), next generation flow cytometry (NGF) and next generation sequencing have shown an increased capacity to identify the presence of disease and to anticipate patient's prognosis as compared to serum protein immunofixation (IFE). However, both methods rely on bone marrow (BM) samples and it is important to explore alternative techniques applicable in more accessible samples such as peripheral blood. Patients and Methods: Newly diagnosed MM pts enrolled in the PETHEMA/GEM2012MENOS65 trial received six cycles of induction with bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (VRD), intensification with high-dose therapy (melphalan or…

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A machine learning model based on tumor and immune biomarkers to predict undetectable MRD and survival outcomes in multiple myeloma

Abstract Purpose: Undetectable measurable residual disease (MRD) is a surrogate of prolonged survival in multiple myeloma. Thus, treatment individualization based on the probability of a patient achieving undetectable MRD with a singular regimen could represent a new concept toward personalized treatment, with fast assessment of its success. This has never been investigated; therefore, we sought to define a machine learning model to predict undetectable MRD at the onset of multiple myeloma. Experimental Design: This study included 487 newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma. The training (n = 152) and internal validation cohorts (n = 149) consisted of 301 transplant-eligible patients…

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Circulating tumor and immune cells for minimally invasive risk stratification of smoldering multiple myeloma

Abstract Purpose: Early intervention in smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) requires optimal risk stratification to avoid under- and overtreatment. We hypothesized that replacing bone marrow (BM) plasma cells (PC) for circulating tumor cells (CTC), and adding immune biomarkers in peripheral blood (PB) for the identification of patients at risk of progression due to lost immune surveillance, could improve the International Myeloma Working Group 20/2/20 model. Experimental Design: We report the outcomes of 150 patients with SMM enrolled in the iMMunocell study, in which serial assessment of tumor and immune cells in PB was performed every 6 months for a period of 3 years since enrollment. Resul…

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