0000000000020231

AUTHOR

Joan Bargay

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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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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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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Bone marrowVEGFCexpression is associated with multilineage dysplasia and several prognostic markers in adult acute myeloid leukemia, but not with survival

Vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGFC) stimulates leukemia cell proliferation and survival, and promotes angiogenesis. We studied VEGFC expression in bone marrow samples from 353 adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients and its relationship with several clinical, cytogenetic, and molecular variables. We also studied the expression of 84 genes involved in VEGF signaling in 24 patients. We found that VEGFC expression was higher in AML patients with myelodysplasia-related changes (AML-MRC) than in patients with non-AML-MRC. We also found an association between VEGFC expression and the patient cytogenetic risk group, with those with a worse prognosis having higher VEGFC expression leve…

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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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Longitudinal Immunogenomic Profiling of Tumor and Immune Cells for Minimally-Invasive Monitoring of Smoldering Multiple Myeloma (SMM): The Immunocell Study

Background: Although great strides were made in the management of MM, our best chances to eradicate this malignancy may lie in preventing its progression.Most current models to predict risk of transformation in SMM are commonly established at diagnosis and not reevaluated over time, because some parameters such as tumor burden or genetic abnormalities require invasive bone marrow (BM) aspirates. It could be hypothesized that periodic monitoring of tumor biomarkers is needed to improve risk-stratification of SMM patients, and so would be new minimally-invasive methods that can replace those performed in BM samples. Such methods should also monitor immune profiles, to identify patients with s…

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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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