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Background: Despite recent advances in therapeutic options, there remains an unmet need for treating patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, especially in those previously exposed or refractory to lenalidomide. This updated efficacy and safety analysis from the phase 3 CANDOR study compared carfilzomib, daratumumab, and dexamethasone (KdD) with carfilzomib and dexamethasone (Kd) in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.Methods: In this updated analysis of the randomised, multicentre, open-label, phase 3 CANDOR study, patients (aged ≥18 years) with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, at least a partial response to between one and three previous therapies, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-2, were recruited from 102 medical centres globally and randomly assigned (2:1) by interactive voice or web response software to receive KdD or Kd. Participants were stratified by disease stage, previous proteasome inhibitor or anti-CD38 antibody exposure, and number of previous therapies. All patients received intravenous infusions of carfilzomib twice per week at 56 mg/m2 (20 mg/m2 on days 1 and 2 during cycle 1) on days 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, and 16 of each 28-day cycle. Daratumumab (8 mg/kg) was administered intravenously on days 1 and 2 of cycle 1 and at 16 mg/kg weekly for the remaining doses of the first two cycles, then every 2 weeks for four cycles (cycles 3-6), and every 4 weeks thereafter. Patients received 40 mg dexamethasone weekly (20 mg for patients >75 years old). This analysis was a preplanned interim analysis for overall survival; however, at the time of data cutoff, overall survival data were not mature. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival. Here, we provide updated progression-free survival data, assessed centrally by Onyx Response Computer Algorithm in the intention-to-treat population, with 11 months additional follow-up. Adverse events were assessed in the safety population, which included all participants who received at least one dose of trial treatment. CANDOR is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03158688, and is active but not recruiting.Findings: Between June 13, 2017, and June 25, 2018, 466 patients were enrolled, of whom 312 received KdD and 154 received Kd. At data cutoff (June 15, 2020), median follow-up was 27·8 months (IQR 25·6-29·5) for KdD and 27·0 months (13·2-28·6) for Kd. Median progression-free survival was 28·6 months (95% CI 22·7-not estimable [NE]) in the KdD group and 15·2 months (11·1-19·9) in the Kd group (hazard ratio 0·59 [95% CI 0·45-0·78], log-rank p<0·0001). Treatment-emergent adverse events in the safety population were consistent with the primary analysis. Grade 3 or worse treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 268 (87%) patients in the KdD group and 116 (76%) in the Kd group; most commonly thrombocytopenia (76 [25%] vs 25 [16%], respectively), hypertension (65 [21%] vs 23 [15%]), pneumonia (54 [18%] vs 14 [9%]), and anaemia (53 [17%] vs 23 [15%]). Serious adverse events occurred in 194 (63%) patients with KdD and 76 (50%) with Kd. Adverse events leading to death occurred in 27 (9%) patients in the KdD group and seven (5%) in the Kd group; most commonly septic shock (five [2%] vs one (1%]) and pneumonia (four [1%] vs none). No new treatment-related deaths have occurred since the primary analysis.Interpretation: A clear, maintained progression-free survival benefit of KdD over Kd with longer follow-up was confirmed, making KdD an emerging standard-of-care for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.Funding: Amgen and Janssen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frontline therapy for multiple myeloma (MM) is evolving to include novel combinations that can achieve unprecedented deep response rates. Several treatment strategies exist, varying in induction regimen composition, use of transplant and or consolidation and maintenance. In this sea of different treatment permutations, the overarching theme is the powerful prognostic factors of disease risk and achievement of minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity. MM has significant inter-patient variability that requires treatment to be individualized. Risk-adapted and response-adapted strategies which are increasingly being explored to define the extent and duration of therapy, and eventually aim for functional curability. In addition, with T-cell redirection therapies rapidly revolutionizing myeloma treatments, the current standard of care for myeloma will change. This review analyzes the current relevant literature in upfront therapy for fit myeloma patients and provides suggestions for treatment approach while novel clinical trials are maturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We applied a claims-based definition of disability status as a proxy for performance status (PS) and examined associations between PS and mortality in a population-based cohort of older US adults with multiple myeloma (MM). We identified older (≥66 years) Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with MM January 1, 2008-December 31, 2011, who began first-line therapy in the study period (through December 31, 2012). We estimated predicted probability of poor PS for each patient at initiation of each line up to fourth-line therapy, classified as poor (predicted probability ≥0.11) or good (<0.11) PS, and examined mortality. Crude overall survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank test for survival comparison between PS groups. Cox proportional hazards models evaluated the association between poor PS and mortality risk, adjusted for baseline characteristics by lines of therapy. Of 12,547 patients, 5841, 2372, and 819 initiated second-, third-, and fourth-line in the study period. Poor PS proportions were 16.6%, 21.8%, 18.4%, and 18.2% at each line. Crude overall survival was worse for poor PS patients across lines (P < 0.01 for each). Adjusted hazards ratios (95% CI) of mortality for patients with poor versus good PS were 1.28 (1.18–1.40), first-line; 1.55 (1.36–1.77), second-line; 1.35 (1.10–1.65), third-line; 1.22 (0.84–1.76), fourth-line. The claims-based prediction model for disability status performed as expected as a proxy for PS in older Medicare patients with MM. PS was an independent risk factor for mortality. Further studies assessing the effect of PS on mortality by therapies are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Belantamab mafodotin (GSK2857916), an immunoconjugate targeting B-cell maturation antigen, showed single-agent activity in the phase 1 DREAMM-1 study in heavily pre-treated patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. We further investigated the safety and activity of belantamab mafodotin in the DREAMM-2 study.Methods: DREAMM-2 is an open-label, two-arm, phase 2 study done at 58 multiple myeloma specialty centres in eight countries. Patients (aged ≥18 years) with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma with disease progression after three or more lines of therapy and who were refractory to immunomodulatory drugs and proteasome inhibitors, and refractory or intolerant (or both) to an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-2 were recruited, centrally randomly assigned (1:1) with permuted blocks (block size 4), and stratified by previous lines of therapy (≤4 vs >4) and cytogenetic features to receive 2·5 mg/kg or 3·4 mg/kg belantamab mafodotin via intravenous infusion every 3 weeks on day 1 of each cycle until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The intention-to-treat population comprised all randomised patients, regardless of treatment administration. The safety population comprised all patients who received at least one dose of belantamab mafodotin. The primary outcome was the proportion of randomly assigned patients in the intention-to-treat population who achieved an overall response, as assessed by an independent review committee. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03525678, and is ongoing.Findings: Between June 18, 2018, and Jan 2, 2019, 293 patients were screened and 196 were included in the intention-to-treat population (97 in the 2·5 mg/kg cohort and 99 in the 3·4 mg/kg cohort). As of June 21, 2019 (the primary analysis data cutoff date), 30 (31%; 97·5% CI 20·8-42·6) of 97 patients in the 2·5 mg/kg cohort and 34 (34%; 23·9-46·0) of 99 patients in the 3·4 mg/kg cohort achieved an overall response. The most common grade 3-4 adverse events in the safety population were keratopathy (in 26 [27%] of 95 patients in the 2·5 mg/kg cohort and 21 [21%] of 99 patients in the 3·4 mg/kg cohort), thrombocytopenia (19 [20%] and 33 [33%]), and anaemia (19 [20%] and 25 [25%]); 38 (40%) of 95 patients in the 2·5 mg/kg cohort and 47 (47%) of 99 in the 3·4 mg/kg cohort reported serious adverse events. Two deaths were potentially treatment related (one case of sepsis in the 2·5 mg/kg cohort and one case of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in the 3·4 mg/kg cohort).Interpretation: Single-agent belantamab mafodotin shows anti-myeloma activity with a manageable safety profile in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.Funding: GlaxoSmithKline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The revised International Staging System (R-ISS) combines ISS with genetic markers and lactate dehydrogenase and can prognosticate newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM). Early relapse (<24 months) after upfront autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT) strongly predicts inferior overall survival (OS). We examined the ability of R-ISS in predicting early relapse and its independent prognostic effect on postrelapse survival after an early relapse. Using the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research database we identified MM patients receiving first AHCT within 18 months after diagnosis with available R-ISS stage at diagnosis (n = 628). Relative risks of relapse/progression, progression-free survival (PFS), and OS were calculated with the R-ISS group as a predictor in multivariate analysis. Among early relapsers, postrelapse survival was tested to identify factors affecting postrelapse OS. The cumulative incidence of early relapse was 23%, 39%, and 50% for R-ISS I, R-ISS II, and R-ISS III, respectively (P <.001). Shorter PFS and OS were seen with higher stage R-ISS. R-ISS was independently predictive for inferior postrelapse OS among early relapsers, as was the presence of ≥3 comorbidities and the use of ≥2 induction chemotherapy lines. R-ISS stage at diagnosis predicts early post-AHCT relapse and independently affects postrelapse survival among early relapsers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Hemorrhagic cystitis occurs more frequently following haploidentical donor transplantation compared with matched related donor transplantation. • This higher frequency occurs despite the receipt of identical graft-versus-host disease prevention. • The grater susceptibility appears related to the inherent immune deficiency of HLA mismatch. ABSTRACT Hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) is a common and important complication of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Reactivation of BK virus is its most common cause. The more intense immunosuppressive regimens administered to recipients of grafts from alternative donors have been reported to account for the increased susceptibility to HC in this population. This study compares patients undergoing HCT with either a haploidentical donor or a matched related donor, all of whom received identical immunosuppression with a post-transplantation cyclophosphamide-based regimen. The incidence of HC was significantly higher in the patients receiving a haploidentical graft (P =.01). The higher incidence of HC in haploidentical graft recipients is therefore directly related to the inherent immune deficiency that follows HLA-mismatched transplantation, independent of the intensity of pharmacologic immunosuppression. This finding carries significant clinical impact for the prevention and treatment of HC in haploidentical graft recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • NK, NK-T, and T cell peripheral immunotypes differ between MRDpos and MRDneg MM. • Lenalidomide maintenance has pleiotropic effects on NK, NK-T, and T cell immunotypes. • Peripheral T cells skew to an exhausted state during maintenance in MRDpos patients. Abstract Data indicate reversal of immune dysfunction with active treatment; however, the precise contribution of specific immune effector and immune suppressor components to achieve a minimal residual disease (MRD) state and immunomodulatory drug–mediated immunomodulatory effects in multiple myeloma (MM) patients remains poorly understood. In this prospective proof-of-principle study we sought to determine the dynamic alterations in natural killer (NK), NK-T, and T cells, including maturation and activating/inhibitory repertoire associated with MRDpos versus MRDneg status after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and during lenalidomide-based maintenance therapy. Of the 46MM patients enrolled, 36 had bone marrow MRD assessment 60+ days post-ASCT, 30 had longitudinal blood immunotyping during maintenance (pretherapy and after cycles 1, 3, and 6), and 20 had both MRD assessment and longitudinal immunotyping. Multicolor flow cytometry was used for MRD and immunotyping. Although the absolute number of NK cells was significantly lower in patients with MRDpos response, phenotypically NK cells in these patients displayed higher expression of activating receptors KIRDS4 and decreased expression of inhibitory molecules NKG2A compared with the MRDneg group. Furthermore, we observed significantly lower frequencies of T cells displaying KIR3DL1 in MRDpos versus MRDneg patients. Longitudinal immunotyping during lenalidomide maintenance showed loss of mature NK effector function, augmentation of NK-T effector function, and acquisition of PD1 independent anergic state. Our findings also suggest skewing of T cells toward an exhausted state during the maintenance phase in MRDpos patients. Put together, these observations provide a distinctive signature for MRDneg and MRDpos groups. These data support exploration of immune profiling in prospective clinical trials according to MRD-defined responses to identify patients that may benefit from maintenance intensification/modification or maintenance withdrawal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The authors report a comparison of 3 contemporaneous staging systems for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation using the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research database. • The Revised International Staging System is the most optimal staging system. • The authors recommend that serum lactate dehydrogenase and cytogenetic data be performed on every multiple myeloma patient at diagnosis to allow accurate prognostication. Abstract The Revised International Staging System (R-ISS) and the International Myeloma Working Group 2014 (IMWG 2014) are newer staging systems used to prognosticate multiple myeloma (MM) outcomes. We hypothesized that these would provide better prognostic differentiation for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) compared with ISS. We analyzed the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research database from 2008 to 2014 to compare the 3 systems (N = 628) among newly diagnosed MM patients undergoing upfront autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT). The median follow-up of survivors was 48 (range, 3 to 99) months. The R-ISS provided the greatest differentiation between survival curves for each stage (for overall survival [OS], the differentiation was 1.74 using the R-ISS, 1.58 using ISS, and 1.60 using the IMWG 2014). Univariate analyses at 3 years for OS showed R-ISS I at 88% (95% confidence interval [CI], 83% to 93%), II at 75% (95% CI, 70% to 80%), and III at 56% (95% CI, 3% to 69%; P <.001). An integrated Brier score function demonstrated the R-ISS had the best prediction for PFS, though all systems had similar prediction for OS. Among available systems, the R-ISS is the most optimal among available prognostic tools for newly diagnosed MM undergoing AHCT. We recommend that serum lactate dehydrogenase and cytogenetic data be performed on every MM patient at diagnosis to allow accurate prognostication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network Myeloma Intergroup Workshop on Minimal Residual Disease and Immune Profiling was convened on December 1, 2016 at the American Society of Hematology meeting to discuss the emerging data and technologies for minimal residual disease assessment and immune profiling in myeloma. Particular emphasis was placed on developing strategies to incorporate these techniques into clinical trial design. This document reviews the literature, summarizes the topics discussed in the workshop, and provides recommendations for integration of these techniques into future clinical trial design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared postrelapse overall survival (OS) after autologous/allogeneic (auto/allo) versus tandem autologous (auto/auto) hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Postrelapse survival of patients receiving an auto/auto or auto/allo HCT for MM and prospectively reported to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research between 2000 and 2010 were analyzed. Relapse occurred in 404 patients (72.4%) in the auto/auto group and in 178 patients (67.4%) in the auto/allo group after a median follow-up of 8.5 years. Relapse occurred before 6 months after a second HCT in 46% of the auto/allo patients, compared with 26% of the auto/auto patients. The 6-year postrelapse survival was better in the auto/allo group compared with the auto/auto group (44% versus 35%; P  = .05). Mortality due to MM was 69% (n = 101) in the auto/allo group and 83% (n = 229) deaths in auto/auto group. In multivariate analysis, both cohorts had a similar risk of death in the first year after relapse (hazard ratio [HR], .72; P  = .12); however, for time points beyond 12 months after relapse, overall survival was superior in the auto/allo cohort (HR for death in auto/auto =1.55; P  = .005). Other factors associated with superior survival were enrollment in a clinical trial for HCT, male sex, and use of novel agents at induction before HCT. Our findings shown superior survival afterrelapse in auto/allo HCT recipients compared with auto/auto HCT recipients. This likely reflects a better response to salvage therapy, such as immunomodulatory drugs, potentiated by a donor-derived immunologic milieu. Further augmentation of the post-allo-HCT immune system with new immunotherapies, such as monoclonal antibodies, checkpoint inhibitors, and others, merit investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Proteasome inhibitors have revolutionized outcomes in multiple myeloma, but they are used empirically, and primary and secondary resistance are emerging problems. We have identified TJP1 as a determinant of plasma cell proteasome inhibitor susceptibility. TJP1 suppressed expression of the catalytically active immunoproteasome subunits LMP7 and LMP2, decreased proteasome activity, and enhanced proteasome inhibitor sensitivity in vitro and in vivo. This occurred through TJP1-mediated suppression of EGFR/JAK1/STAT3 signaling, which modulated LMP7 and LMP2 levels. In the clinic, high TJP1 expression in patient myeloma cells was associated with a significantly higher likelihood of responding to bortezomib and a longer response duration, supporting the use of TJP1 as a biomarker to identify patients most likely to benefit from proteasome inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Myeloma Working Group consensus aimed to provide recommendations for the optimal use of 18fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET/CT in patients with multiple myeloma and other plasma cell disorders, including smouldering multiple myeloma and solitary plasmacytoma. 18F-FDG PET/CT can be considered a valuable tool for the work-up of patients with both newly diagnosed and relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma because it assesses bone damage with relatively high sensitivity and specificity, and detects extramedullary sites of proliferating clonal plasma cells while providing important prognostic information. The use of 18F-FDG PET/CT is mandatory to confirm a suspected diagnosis of solitary plasmacytoma, provided that whole-body MRI is unable to be performed, and to distinguish between smouldering and active multiple myeloma, if whole-body X-ray (WBXR) is negative and whole-body MRI is unavailable. Based on the ability of 18F-FDG PET/CT to distinguish between metabolically active and inactive disease, this technique is now the preferred functional imaging modality to evaluate and to monitor the effect of therapy on myeloma-cell metabolism. Changes in FDG avidity can provide an earlier evaluation of response to therapy compared to MRI scans, and can predict outcomes, particularly for patients who are eligible to receive autologous stem-cell transplantation. 18F-FDG PET/CT can be coupled with sensitive bone marrow-based techniques to detect minimal residual disease (MRD) inside and outside the bone marrow, helping to identify those patients who are defined as having imaging MRD negativity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment of multiple myeloma has substantially changed over the past decade with the introduction of several classes of new effective drugs that have greatly improved the rates and depth of response. Response criteria in multiple myeloma were developed to use serum and urine assessment of monoclonal proteins and bone marrow assessment (which is relatively insensitive). Given the high rates of complete response seen in patients with multiple myeloma with new treatment approaches, new response categories need to be defined that can identify responses that are deeper than those conventionally defined as complete response. Recent attempts have focused on the identification of residual tumour cells in the bone marrow using flow cytometry or gene sequencing. Furthermore, sensitive imaging techniques can be used to detect the presence of residual disease outside of the bone marrow. Combining these new methods, the International Myeloma Working Group has defined new response categories of minimal residual disease negativity, with or without imaging-based absence of extramedullary disease, to allow uniform reporting within and outside clinical trials. In this Review, we clarify several aspects of disease response assessment, along with endpoints for clinical trials, and highlight future directions for disease response assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]