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(1) Background: to retrospectively evaluate safety and efficacy of combined microwave ablation (MWA) and bilateral expandable titanium SpineJack (SJ) implants followed by vertebroplasty (VP) for the treatment of painful thoracolumbar pathological vertebral compression fracture. (2) Methods: from July 2017 to October 2022, twenty-eight patients (13 women and 15 men; mean age 68 ± 11 years) with a history of primary neoplasm and thirty-six painful vertebral metastases with vertebral compression fracture underwent combined MWA and bilateral expandable titanium SpineJack implants with vertebroplasty. We analyzed safety through complications rate, and efficacy through vertebral height restoration and pain decrease, evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS), and Functional Mobility Scale (FMS), and local tumor control. Contrast-enhanced CT scans were performed at 1, 3, and 6 months and a contrast-enhanced spine MRI at 6 months after the procedure. (3) Results: Technical success rate was 100%. No procedure-related major complications or death occurred. Vertebral height restoration was observed in 22 levels (58%), with a mean anterior height restoration of 2.6 mm ± 0.6 and a mean middle height restoration of 4.4 mm ± 0.6 (p < 0.001). Mean VAS score of pain evaluation on the day before treatment was 6.3 ± 1.5 (range 4–9). At the 6-month evaluation, the median VAS score for pain was 0.4 ± 0.6 (range 0–2) with a mean reduction of 93.65% (6.8 ± 0.7 vs. 0.4 ± 0.6; p < 0.000) compared with baseline evaluation. Contrast-enhanced CT scans were performed at 1, 3, and 6 months and a contrast-enhanced spine MRI was performed at 6 months after the procedure, showing no local recurrence, implant displacement, or new fractures in the treated site. (4) Conclusions: combined microwave ablation and bilateral expandable titanium SpineJack implants with vertebroplasty is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of pathological compressive vertebral fractures. The vertebral stabilization achieved early and persistent pain relief, increasing patient mobility, improving recovery of walking capacity, and providing local tumor control.

The combination of elotuzumab, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (EloRd) enhanced the clinical benefit over Rd with a manageable toxicity profile in the ELOQUENT-2 trial, leading to its approval in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). The present study is a 3-year follow-up update of a previously published Italian real-life RRMM cohort of patients treated with EloRd. This revised analysis entered 319 RRMM patients accrued in 41 Italian centers. After a median follow-up of 36 months (range 6-55), 236 patients experienced disease progression or died. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 18.4 and 34 months, respectively. The updated multivariate analyses showed a significant reduction of PFS and OS benefit magnitude only in cases with ISS stage III. Major adverse events included grade 3/4 neutropenia (18.5%), anemia (15.4%), lymphocytopenia (12.5%), and thrombocytopenia (10.7%), while infection rates and pneumonia were 33.9% and 18.9%, respectively. No new safety signals with longer follow-up have been observed. Of 319 patients, 245 (76.7%) reached at least a partial remission. A significantly lower response rate was found in patients previously exposed to lenalidomide. In conclusion, our study confirms that EloRd is a safe and effective regimen for RRMM patients, maintaining benefits across multiple unfavorable subgroups. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PDF file - 23K, Proteins identified in MMECs upon HIF-1�siRNA and panobinostat treatment (MALDITOFF mass spectrometry).

PDF file - 114K, Lack of HIF-1alpha expression by BM macrophages in normoxia condition.

PDF file - 2376K, Panobinostat effect on MMECs in the presence of BM cells and proteomic analysis of MMECs upon treatment with HIF-1α·siRNA or panobinostat.

PDF file - 133K, HIF-1alpha protein correlates with VEGFR-2, FGFR-2 and HGF.

PDF file - 17K, Real Time RT-PCR Primers.

PDF file - 166K, HIF-1alpha protein does not correlate with AKT, and VHL.

Purpose: To investigate the role of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in angiogenesis and drug resistance of bone marrow endothelial cells of patients with multiple myeloma.Experimental Design: HIF-1α mRNA and protein were evaluated in patients with multiple myeloma endothelial cells (MMEC) at diagnosis, at relapse after bortezomib- or lenalidomide-based therapies or on refractory phase to these drugs, at remission; in endothelial cells of patients with monoclonal gammapathies of undetermined significance (MGUS; MGECs), and of those with benign anemia (controls). The effects of HIF-1α inhibition by siRNA or panobinostat (an indirect HIF-1α inhibitor) on the expression of HIF-1α proangiogenic targets, on MMEC angiogenic activities in vitro and in vivo, and on overcoming MMEC resistance to bortezomib and lenalidomide were studied. The overall survival of the patients was also observed.Results: Compared with the other endothelial cell types, only MMECs from 45% of relapsed/refractory patients showed a normoxic HIF-1α protein stabilization and activation that were induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The HIF-1α protein correlated with the expression of its proangiogenic targets. The HIF-1α inhibition by either siRNA or panobinostat impaired the MMECs angiogenesis–related functions both in vitro and in vivo and restored MMEC sensitivity to bortezomib and lenalidomide. Patients with MMECs expressing the HIF-1α protein had shorter overall survival.Conclusions: The HIF-1α protein in MMECs may induce angiogenesis and resistance to bortezomib and lenalidomide and may be a plausible target for the antiangiogenic management of patients with well-defined relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. It may also have prognostic significance. Clin Cancer Res; 20(4); 847–58. ©2013 AACR.

PDF file - 403K, HIF-1alpha protein negative MMECs are sensitive to the antiangiogenic effect of bortezomib and lenalidomide.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a monoclonal plasma cell neoplasia that commonly involves the kidney. Renal impairment is a serious complication during the course of the disease, and it is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The most frequent mechanism of injury is represented by the precipitation of monoclonal free light chains (FLCs) in the distal tubule of nephron, defining a dramatic condition known as light chain cast nephropathy (LCCN). A prompt and early identification of the cause of renal disease, particularly in case of acute kidney injury (AKI), is mandatory for its effective management, avoiding the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). In case of LCCN, in order to achieve renal recovery, it is needed, besides preventive measures, urgent intervention based on vigorous rehydration, correction of precipitating factors and effective anti-plasma cell chemotherapy. Currently, the association of the Proteasome Inhibitor Bortezomib with high-dose of Dexamethasone represents the standard association in newly diagnosed patients. The addition of another drug such as Cyclophosphamide or an Immunomodulatory Drugs may improve FLCs reduction but could be toxic. Interesting is the role of the newest therapeutic agents, particularly anti-CD38 Monoclonal Antibodies, whose efficacy and tolerance have been documented in patients without renal impairment. Despite controversial results from randomized studies, recent data suggest that in patients with LCCN and AKI requiring dialysis the association of systemic therapy with an extra-corporeal approach of FLCs removal, may increase renal response recovery rates. In this chapter, it is summarized physio-pathological basis of MM renal impairment, clinical manifestations, diagnostic procedures, and therapeutic management, included autologous stem cell transplantation.

Here we describe the case of a caucasian man referred to our Center for a suspicion of Multiple Myeloma which comprehensive work-up ruled out the presence of plasma cells neoplasm and allowed us to perform a diagnosis of brown tumor (BT).

The clinical management of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma is challenging and there is a paucity of tools to help clinicians make more informed decisions for the most suitable treatment options. We aimed to investigate the clinical utility of the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) frailty score in the setting of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, by examining its ability to capture different patient-reported health-related quality of life profiles.We did a cross-sectional analysis of a prospective observational study of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma in Italy and the UK (30 hospitals across northern, central, and southern Italy, and one hospital in London, UK). Inclusion criteria were age 18 years or older and patients who had received at least one previous line of therapy and no more than five lines. Participants were excluded if they had a psychiatric disorder or major cognitive dysfunction, or any grade 3 or higher adverse event within 2 weeks before study entry. On study initiation, physicians had to assess frailty according to the IMWG criteria, which included the Charlson Comorbidity Index, the Katz Activity of Daily Living, and the Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living. Patients were asked to complete patient-reported outcome measures, including the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and its validated multiple myeloma module (QLQ-MY20). A multivariable linear regression model was used to assess the mean differences in health-related quality of life scores between frailty groups to account for key potential confounding factors.Overall, between Nov 13, 2017, and Nov 15, 2021, 415 patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, with a median age of 69·8 years (IQR 62·8-75·2) were enrolled. The median time since diagnosis was 4·4 years (IQR 2·5-7·1) and most patients (351 [85%]) had received at least two previous lines of therapy. According to the IMWG frailty score, 200 (48%) were classified as fit, 112 (27%) were classified as intermediate-fit, and 103 (25%) patients were classified as frail. Each frailty group was associated with a distinct health-related quality of life profile, with most notable differences between fit and frail patients. The largest clinically meaningful adjusted differences between fit and frail patients by the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire were observed for physical functioning (Δ=-19·0 [95% CI -25·6 to -12·5; p0·0001), fatigue (Δ=16·7 [9·7 to 23·7]; p0·0001), insomnia (Δ=13·4 [4·1 to 22·6]; p=0·0047), and dyspnoea (Δ=12·5 [4·6 to 20·4]; p=0·0021). The most prevalent clinically important symptom in the overall population was pain; however, its prevalence varied between IMWG frailty groups at 70·9% in frail patients, 55·9% in intermediate-fit patients, and 50·5% in fit patients.Our findings show the clinical utility of the IMWG frailty score in the setting of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, in helping to distinguish between groups of patients with distinct health-related quality of life profiles. Further research is needed to examine the value of patient-reported outcome data in improving assessment of frailty in the setting of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.Fondazione GIMEMA Franco Mandelli Onlus and Amgen.

The treatment landscape for hematologic malignancies has changed since the recent approval of highly effective chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies (CAR-T). Moreover, more than 600 active trials are currently ongoing. However, early enthusiasm should be tempered since several issues are still unsolved and represent the challenges for the coming years. The lack of initial responses and early relapse are some hurdles to be tackled. Moreover, new strategies are needed to increase the safety profile or shorten the manufacturing process during CAR-T cells therapy production. Nowadays, most clinically evaluated CAR-T cells products are derived from autologous immune cells. The use of allogeneic CAR-T cells products generated using cells from healthy donors has the potential to change the scenario and overcome many of these limitations. In addition, CAR-T cells carry a high price tag, and there is an urgent need to understand how to pay for these therapies as many of today’s current payment systems do not feature the functionality to address the reimbursement gap. Finally, the clinical experience with CAR-T cells for solid tumors has been less encouraging, and development in this setting is desirable.

Interactions of multiple myeloma (MM) cells with endothelial cells (ECs) enhance angiogenesis and MM progression. Here, we investigated the role of Notch signaling in the cross talk between ECs and MM cells enabling angiogenesis. MMECs showed higher expression of Jagged1/2 ligands, of activated Notch1/2 receptors, and of Hes1/Hey1 Notch target genes than ECs from monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance patients, suggesting that homotypic activation of Notch pathway occurs in MM. MM cells co-cultured with MMECs triggered Notch activation in these cells through a cell-to-cell contact-dependent way via Jagged1/2, resulting in Hes1/Hey1 overexpression. The angiogenic effect of Notch pathway was analyzed through Notch1/2·siRNAs and the γ-secretase inhibitor MK-0752 by in vitro (adhesion, migration, chemotaxis, angiogenesis) and in vivo (Vk12598/C57B/6 J mouse model) studies. Activated Notch1/2 pathway was associated with the overangiogenic MMEC phenotype: Notch1/2 knockdown or MK-0752 treatment reduced Hes1/Hey1 expression, impairing in vitro angiogenesis of both MMECs alone and co-cultured with MM cells. MM cells were unable to restore angiogenic abilities of treated MMECs, proving that MMEC angiogenic activities closely rely on Notch pathway. Furthermore, Notch1/2 knockdown affected VEGF/VEGFR2 axis, indicating that the Notch pathway interferes with VEGF-mediated control on angiogenesis. MK-0752 reduced secretion of proangiogenic/proinflammatory cytokines in conditioned media, thus inhibiting blood vessel formation in the CAM assay. In the Vk12598/C57B/6 J mouse, MK-0752 treatment restrained angiogenesis by reducing microvessel density. Overall, homotypic and heterotypic Jagged1/2-mediated Notch activation enhances MMECs angiogenesis. Notch axis inhibition blocked angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that the Notch pathway may represent a novel therapeutic target in MM.

No abstract available

The lack of a randomized trial comparing carfilzomib (K) versus elotuzumab (Elo) associated with lenalidomide and dexamethasone (Rd) prompted us to assess the relative usefulness of one triplet over the other. Five independent retrospective cohorts of 883 relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) patients, including 300 EloRd and 583 KRd cases, outside clinical trials, entered this non-randomized comparison. KRd cohort accounted for a higher incidence of younger patients, cases with ≥3 lines of therapy, already exposed to lenalidomide, International Staging System (ISS) stage III, and abnormal lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) level compared with EloRd cohort. Moreover, cytogenetic risk categories, detected in roughly one-third of cases, were equally distributed between the two therapy arms. The probability of CR+VGPR response was significantly higher in KRd (n = 314, 53.9%) than in EloRd patients (n = 111, 37.0%). Likewise, the cumulative incidence function of CR+VGPR, taking into account the competitive risk of death, was significantly higher in KRd arm patients than those in the EloRd arm (p = .003). Moreover, KRd treatment significantly reduced the progression or death risk by 46% in an adjusted multivariate analysis (HR: 0.54, 95% CI 0.42-0.69, p .0001). Finally, in an adjusted illness-progression/death model, the effect of KRd versus EloRd was of higher magnitude among those who achieved CR+VGPR (-39% hazard ratio reduction, p = .02) than among those who achieved VGPR (-29% hazard ratio reduction, p = .007). With limitations characteristic to any retrospective analysis, this current clinical practice study's overall results demonstrated potential benefits of KRd therapy compared with EloRd. This observation may help the daily clinical practice.

Introduction Over the last two decades, the outcomes of patients with multiple myeloma (MM), a malignant plasma cells dyscrasia, have dramatically improved. The development and the introduction of the immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) which include thalidomide, lenalidomide, and pomalidomide, have contributed significantly to these improvements. Evidence acquisition The IMiDs have been shown a multitude of mechanisms of action, including antiangiogenic, cytotoxic and immunomodulatory. The more recent discoveries that the IMiDs bind to cereblon and thus regulate the ubiquitination of key transcription factors including IKZF1 and IKZF3, have provided new insight about their activities. Evidence synthesis The IMIDs are widely used in the treatment of the different setting of MM patients and particularly lenalidomide represents the backbone in the therapy of newly diagnosed transplant eligible and transplant ineligible patients, in the maintenance setting post-transplant and in the relapsed/refractory setting, while pomalidomide is currently utilized in the relapsed/refractory setting. Conclusions Here the mechanisms of action, the clinical efficacy and the management of side effects are reviewed as well as the new classes of cereblon E3 ligase modulator (CELMoD) and their promising clinical data are described.

Background Clinical decision-making in patients with relapsed refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) is challenging and identification of patients who can benefit the most from a given therapy is of critical importance. The International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) index is one of the most robust scores to evaluate frailty, and it has been validated for patients with newly diagnosed MM. However, little is known on its applicability in the setting of RRMM and of its relationships with patient-reported health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Objectives The primary objective of this study was to investigate whether the IMWG frailty score is able to detect distinct patient-reported HRQoL profiles in the setting of RRMM. A secondary objective was to assess the prevalence of patient-reported clinically important symptoms by frailty groups (ie., fit, intermediate-fit, and frail). Patients and Methods This was an international (Italy and UK) prospective cohort observational study that consecutively enrolled patients from 30 centers. The patients were eligible if they had received at least 1 prior therapy (but no more than 5) and had RRMM according to IMWG criteria. An additional inclusion criterion at the time of study entry was the availability of all variables incorporated into the IMWG frailty score to allow classification of patients in the following three groups: fit, intermediate-fit and frail. Baseline assessment of HRQOL was mandatory to be included in this study and patients completed a set of well-validated measures including the EORTC QLQ-C30 and its myeloma module (QLQ-MY20). The scores from EORTC QLQ-C30 and MY20 questionnaires were summarized by means and standard deviations, overall and by frailty group. Unadjusted differences in mean scores were compared between frailty groups. We also estimated the adjusted mean differences in HRQoL scores of respectively fit and intermediate groups vs frail patients, using a multivariable linear regression model, adjusting for a number of key potential confounders including: sex, education, time since diagnosis, number of previous lines of therapy, previous transplantation, currently receiving therapy, myeloma status (refractory vs relapsed only) and type of MM at diagnosis (secretory vs else). We also assessed the prevalence of clinically important symptoms, based on previously published evidence-based thresholds, by IMWG frailty group. Results Overall, 365 RRMM patients were enrolled between November 2017 and December 2018. Median age was of 69.7 years (IQR, 62.7-75.0) and 296 had received at least two previous lines of therapy. According to the IMWG frailty score evaluation at study entry, 192 (53%), 85 (23%) and 88 (24%) patients were classified as fit, intermediate-fit and frail. Each group was associated with a clearly distinct patient-reported HRQoL profile with both fit and intermediate-fit groups reporting statistically and clinically meaningful better outcomes (ie., improved functional status and lower symptom burden) than frail patients in the majority of the scales from the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-MY20. For example, mean scores of the EORTC QLQ-C30 physical functioning scale were 71.2, 62.2, and 47.5 for fit, intermediate-fit and frail patients, respectively (p Conclusions: In the setting of RRMM, the IMWG frailty score is able to detect clearly distinct patient-reported HRQoL profiles. Current findings may lay the groundwork for the development of a patient-centered frailty index, which also incorporates HRQoL data, to be used in patients with RRMM treated in real-life. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Efficace: Janssen: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy, Other: Grants (to Institution); Amgen: Consultancy, Other: Grants (to Institution); Takeda: Consultancy. Gaidano: Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Beigene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Astrazeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Petrucci: BMS: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Takeda: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Amgen: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; GSK: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Karyopharm: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board. Tafuri: Celgene: Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding. Larocca: Amgen: Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; GSK: Honoraria; Takeda: Other: Advisory Board. Molica: Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Astrazeneca: Honoraria. Gozzetti: Janssen: Honoraria; AbbVie: Honoraria. Vignetti: Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Incyte: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria. Cavo: Novartis: Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel Accommodations, Speakers Bureau; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy, Honoraria; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES, Speakers Bureau; Bristol-Myers Squib: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau.

Background. Infections represent a major cause of toxicity in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients, and their incidence is higher during the first 4 months of therapy (Dumontet, Leukemia 2018). The use of prophylactic levofloxacin for the first 3 months of therapy demonstrated to reduce rates of infections (Dryson, Lancet Hematol 2019). However, factors predicting the risk of infections in patients treated with novel agents and the need for antimicrobial prophylaxis for all vs selected patients remain under debate. We investigated the incidence of severe infections and associated baseline risk-factors in NDMM patients. Methods. Data from Italian patients enrolled in clinical trials and receiving carfilzomib-based (IST-CAR-506, IST-CAR-561), bortezomib-based (EMN02) and lenalidomide-based (EMN01, RV-MM-PI-0752, RV-MM-EMN-441) treatment were pooled together and analyzed. The primary aim of the analysis was to evaluate the incidence of severe infections, defined as any grade (G) 3-5 event or G2 if involving the lung/lower respiratory tract (CTCAE version 4.0). The rate of early severe infections (i.e. infections occurring during the first 4 months of treatment) was also analyzed. Secondary goals were to identify baseline factors associated with an increased risk of early severe infections and to evaluate the impact of early severe infections on treatment outcome. Results. A total of 1892 patients were included in the analysis. Median age was 65 years, 970 (51%) patients were transplant eligible (TE) and 922 (49%) transplant ineligible (NTE). Overall, 1059 (56%) patients received IMiD-based induction therapy and 833 (44%) a PI-based induction therapy. Median follow-up was 68 months. We recorded 898 infections of any grade, of which 436 (49%) were considered severe. Most frequent severe infections included lung/lower respiratory tract infection (50%), febrile neutropenia (23%) and sepsis/septic shock (10%). Overall, severe infections occurred when myeloma response to treatment was ≤PR in 62% of cases, VGPR in 29% and sCR/CR in 9%. 654 (35%) patients reported at least 1 infection of any grade and 377 (20%) patients at least one severe infection. Early infections (first 4 months) occurred in 243 patients (13%) and early severe infections in 129 patients (6.8%). Overall, 21 patients (1.1%) died due to infection, of whom 6 during the first 4 months. In a multivariate analysis (Table), main factors associated with increased risk of early severe infections were ISS stage 3 (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.32-3.48), presence of del17p by FISH (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.1-2.96), intermediate fit status (OR 1.88 95% CI 1.1-3.21) and frail status (OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.08-4.18) according to IMWG frailty score (Palumbo, Blood 2015). No difference in risk of early severe infections was observed according to induction treatment with PI vs IMiD (OR 1.10, 95%CI 0.68-1.78). In a time-dependent Cox regression analysis adjusted for potential confounders (age, RISS stage and performance status), the risk of disease progression/death was significantly higher in patients who had an early severe infection compared to patients without early severe infection (median PFS 21.3 months vs 31.3 months, HR 1.32, 95% CI 1.07-1.63, p Conclusions. We found that 34% of patients experiencing severe infections had the event during the first 4 months of therapy. Patients with aggressive disease and elderly frail patients are at higher risk of early severe infections, hampering treatment adherence and efficacy, and eventually affecting PFS and OS. Identifying patients more susceptible to severe infections through easily available parameters could pave the way for the evaluation of risk-adapted antimicrobial prophylaxis in clinical trials. Table 1 Disclosures D'Agostino: GSK: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Offidani:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria. Petrucci:BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GSK: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sanofi: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Liberati:JANSSEN: Honoraria; AMGEN: Honoraria; CELGENE: Honoraria; ROCHE: Honoraria, Research Funding; PFIZER: Honoraria, Research Funding; ONCOPEPTIDES AB: Honoraria, Research Funding; TAKEDA: Honoraria, Research Funding; MORPHOSYS: Honoraria, Research Funding; ONCONOVA: Honoraria, Research Funding; ABBVIE: Honoraria, Research Funding; NOVARTIS: Honoraria, Research Funding; KARYOPHARM: Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Honoraria; BEIGENE: Honoraria; ARCHIGEN: Honoraria; BIOPHARMA: Honoraria; FIBROGEN: Honoraria; INCYTE: Honoraria; VERASTEM: Honoraria, Research Funding. Benevolo:Amgen: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria. Gaidano:Sunesys: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Astrazeneca: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Galli:Takeda: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria. Corradini:Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Incyte: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel and accommodations paid by for; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel and accommodations paid by for; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel and accommodations paid by for; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria; Servier: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other; BMS: Other; KiowaKirin: Consultancy, Honoraria; Kite: Consultancy, Honoraria; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel and accommodations paid by for; F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel and accommodations paid by for. Conticello:Amgen, Takeda, Janssen: Honoraria. Cavo:Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel accomodations, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; GlaxoSmithKline: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Karyopharm: Honoraria; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel accomodations, Speakers Bureau. Sonneveld:Skyline Dx: Honoraria, Research Funding; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Sanofi: Consultancy; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Boccadoro:Mundipharma: Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Sanofi: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; GlaxoSmithKline: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AbbVie: Honoraria. Bringhen:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Karyopharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. OffLabel Disclosure: The presentation includes discussion of off-label use of a drug or drugs for the treatment of multiple myeloma (including carfilzomib, cyclophosphamide, dexamethasone, bortezomib, melphalan, prednisone and lenalidomide).

Background. High-dose melphalan followed by autologous stem cell transplantation is a standard of care in transplant-eligible newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients and is also an option at relapse. Therefore, since the minimum number of CD34+ cells required to ensure adequate bone marrow recovery after myeloablative chemotherapy is 2x10^6/kg, an adequate upfront stem-cell collection is necessary in MM patients. Approximately 5-15% of MM patients mobilized with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) or G-CSF+cyclophosphamide (G-CSF/CY) fail stem-cell collection ( Methods. NDMM patients undergoing stem-cell mobilization with cyclophosphamide (2-4 g/m2) and G-CSF (5-10 mcg/kg/day), with on-demand plerixafor according to clinical practice ( Results. At the data cut-off (09 June 2020), a total of 252 patients had been enrolled: of these, 192 patients (59, 29-72 years) were available for the analysis. The median number of induction cycles before mobilization was 4 (range 1-7); median time from diagnosis to mobilization was 6 months (IQR 5-8). Induction therapy consisted of a bortezomib-based regimen in 171 (90%), carfilzomib/lenalidomide-based regimen in 14 (7%), lenalidomide-based regimen in 3 patients (2%). 187/192 (97%) patients successfully collected ≥2 x 10^6/Kg CD34: of these, 153/192 (80%) collected with G-CSF/CY, 29/192 (15%) required the administration of plerixafor. The PM rate was 5/192 (2.5%): of these, 3/5 did not receive plerixafor in addition to G-CSF/CY, while 2/5 failed stem-cell collection despite the use of plerixafor. The median number of CD34 collected was 9.8x10^6/Kg (6.7-14.2). The median number of CD34/Kg collected with or without plerixafor was 5.1 (4.3-9.1) and 10.6 (8.1-14.4), respectively. The median number of apheresis days was 1 (IQR 1-2), with a stem-cell collection efficiency (CD34 number collected/ days of apheresis) equal to 7.7 x10^6 CD34/kg/day. The median number of apheresis days was 1 without plerixafor and 2 with plerixafor, with a stem-cell collection efficiency (CD34 number collected/ days of apheresis) equal to 8.8 without plerixafor and 3 with plerixafor. In patients who received plerixafor, the median number of CD34/ul pre-apheresis was 16 (10-19.5); after the administration of plerixafor, the median number of CD34/ul pre-apheresis increased to 46 (21-81). Non hematological AEs within 30 days after mobilization occurred in 8% of patients (grade 3-4: 2%); all grade and grade 3-4 infections occurred in 2% of patients each. In a multivariate analysis, main factors predicting the use of plerixafor were ISS 3 (vs. 1, OR 4.43; p=0.008), bone marrow plasma cells at diagnosis >60% (OR 3.85; p=0.006), white blood cell (WBC) count pre-mobilization (OR 6.66; p Conclusion. "On-demand" plerixafor combined with G-CSF/CY is a safe and effective rescue strategy for stem-cell collection in MM, reducing the PM rate to 2.5%. Extensive bone marrow plasmacytosis, ISS 3 disease at diagnosis, use of lenalidomide during induction and a low WBC count pre-mobilization predicted the use of plerixafor. Thus, pre-emptive administration of plerixafor in patients presenting one or more risk factors for poor mobilization might help in further reducing the PM rate. Disclosures Mina: Amgen: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Petrucci:Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sanofi: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GSK: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Lemoli:AbbVie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BerGenBio ASA: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jazz: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Servier: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Research Funding. Offidani:BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria. Musto:Amgen: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria. Corradini:F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel and accommodations paid by for; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel and accommodations paid by for; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Honoraria; Incyte: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel and accommodations paid by for; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel and accommodations paid by for; KiowaKirin: Consultancy, Honoraria; Servier: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other; BMS: Other; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel and accommodations paid by for; Kite: Consultancy, Honoraria. Cavo:BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel accomodations, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel accomodations, Speakers Bureau; GlaxoSmithKline: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Karyopharm: Honoraria. Boccadoro:GlaxoSmithKline: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding; Sanofi: Honoraria, Research Funding; AbbVie: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Mundipharma: Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding. Larocca:Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GSK: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria. OffLabel Disclosure: The presentation includes discussion of off-label use of a drug or drugs for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma (including cyclophosphamide, G-CSF and plerixafor).

The Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a plasma cells hematological malignancy with a median age of 69 years at diagnosis. The autologous stem cell transplantation is the standard of care for this disease but less than half of newly diagnosed patients are assessed for this treatment due to comorbidities or complications of disease. The management of transplant ineligible MM patients is based on the balance safety and efficacy of the new available regimen and a careful assessment of the frailty status is mandatory to define the goals. In this review we discuss of the clinical dilemmas in the management and define how to manage them based on the evidence from clinical trials and “real life” experience.

In recent years, with the aim of reducing transplant-related mortality, new conditioning regimens have been explored in patients not eligible for conventional haemopoietic stem cell transplantation. In this setting, we investigated safety and feasibility of the treosulfan-fludarabine-thiotepa combination prior to allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with advanced lympho-proliferative diseases and at high transplant risk. Twenty-seven consecutive patients, median age 43 years (range 19-60), entered this study. All of them were affected by lympho-proliferative disease in advanced phase and have been heavily pre-treated. The median haemopoietic stem cell transplant co-morbidity index was 1 (range 0-3). Twenty-five patients had regular engraftment, while the remaining two patients were not evaluable for early deaths. Non-haematological toxicity was limited. No patient developed veno-occlusive disease. The estimated probability of overall survival and progression-free survival with a median follow-up of 40 months was 52% (95% confidence interval 33-73) and 50% (95% confidence interval 30-70) respectively. Six patients have relapsed; all of them were not in remission before transplantation. The treosulfan-fludarabine-thiotepa combination is a reduced toxicity but myeloablative regimen that can be proposed to patients not fitting criteria for conventional myeloablative transplant regimens. Longer follow-up and prospective randomized studies are necessary to evaluate this regimen.

Purpose: To investigate the role of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in angiogenesis and drug resistance of bone marrow endothelial cells of patients with multiple myeloma. Experimental Design: HIF-1α mRNA and protein were evaluated in patients with multiple myeloma endothelial cells (MMEC) at diagnosis, at relapse after bortezomib- or lenalidomide-based therapies or on refractory phase to these drugs, at remission; in endothelial cells of patients with monoclonal gammapathies of undetermined significance (MGUS; MGECs), and of those with benign anemia (controls). The effects of HIF-1α inhibition by siRNA or panobinostat (an indirect HIF-1α inhibitor) on the expression of HIF-1α proangiogenic targets, on MMEC angiogenic activities in vitro and in vivo, and on overcoming MMEC resistance to bortezomib and lenalidomide were studied. The overall survival of the patients was also observed. Results: Compared with the other endothelial cell types, only MMECs from 45% of relapsed/refractory patients showed a normoxic HIF-1α protein stabilization and activation that were induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The HIF-1α protein correlated with the expression of its proangiogenic targets. The HIF-1α inhibition by either siRNA or panobinostat impaired the MMECs angiogenesis–related functions both in vitro and in vivo and restored MMEC sensitivity to bortezomib and lenalidomide. Patients with MMECs expressing the HIF-1α protein had shorter overall survival. Conclusions: The HIF-1α protein in MMECs may induce angiogenesis and resistance to bortezomib and lenalidomide and may be a plausible target for the antiangiogenic management of patients with well-defined relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. It may also have prognostic significance. Clin Cancer Res; 20(4); 847–58. ©2013 AACR.

Introduction Lenalidomide (Len) and low-dose Dexamethasone (dex) (Rd) in continuous is a new standard of care for elderly newly-diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients (pts), as established by FIRST trial (Facon et al, Blood 2018). Methods and results This is a retrospective, multicentric study conducted in Italy with the aim of evaluating efficacy and tolerability of Rd in a real-life population. Thirty-seven centers were involved and data of 429 pts are available. Pts were considered eligible for the study when completing at least 2 cycles of Rd regimen. Table 1 summarizes the characteristics of pts at time of MM diagnosis. Median age was 78 years (range 57-92), 36.6% had an ECOG PS≥2, creatinine clearance (ClCr) was After a median follow-up of 11 months, most pts are still on treatment (60,4%), the median number of administered cycles was 7 (range 2-33). Overall response rate (ORR, ≥PR) was 74.5% with 34.1% of pts obtaining at least a VGPR. Clinical Benefit Rate (CBR, including minimal responses) was 83.3%. Responses were rapid with median time to first and to best response respectively of 1.8 (range 1-8) and 5 (1-26) months. Median OS and PFS were not reached with a 1-y and 2-y OS of 84.8 and 73.8% and a 1-y and 2-y PFS of 78.6 and 65%. Median EFS was 19.8 months. In univariate analysis, factors significatively impairing ORR were frailty (fit/unfit/frail 91.2/77/55.9%, p2 81.7/61.6%, p upper level of normal (ULN) (65.8 vs 77%, p=0.034). 1-y PFS is significantly shorter in pts with lower ECOG (0-1 vs 2, 66.5 vs 84.8%, pULN (66.4 vs 83.2%, p=0.02), lower ClCr (50 57.2/81.3/80.1%, P=0.01), presence of t(14;16) (42.9 vs 80.4% p=0.01) and amp(1q) (63.5 vs 85.6%, p=0.01); factor impairing OS are ECOG (0-1/>2 93.4 vs 69.4%, pULN (75.1 vs 97.1, p=0004), impaired ClCr (50 64/83.7/88.2%, p2 74.2 vs 47.3%, p In multivariate analysis ORR is significantly correlated with ECOG>2 (p=0.05), LDH >ULN (p=0.005) and presence of amp1q (p=0.006); PFS was significantly affected by R-ISS III (p=0.04), LDH >ULN (P=0.01) and ClCr2 still impact on OS (p Dose reduction of Len or dex was required respectively in 20.7% and 22.1% and 39.2% needed cycle delay for adverse events (AEs). Grade 3-4 (G3-4) AEs occurred in 52% of pts with 30.9 and 36.6% having at least a hematological or extra-hematological G3-4 AE. In particular, 17.9 and 16.6% of pts had severe neutropenia and anemia while the most common non-hematological AEs were infections (25.8%, G3-4 12.2%), mainly involving respiratory tract (71.2%). Gastroenteric and cutaneous AEs were quite common (22.1 and 19.2%), mainly diarrhea and itching, but in the vast majority were mild. G3-4 asthenia was present in 22.8% of pts. Although 99% of pts was given antithrombotic prophylaxis, 8.5% had a thromboembolic event, a third of severe entity. G-CSF and EPO analogs were required in 27.4 and 26% of pts. Conclusion Real-life data confirm efficacy and tolerability of Rd in elderly NDMM pts. Performance status by ECOG and IMWG frailty score and severe renal impairment but not age itself act as limiting factors affecting outcome. These data must be confirmed by longer follow-up. Disclosures Conticello: Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Mangiacavalli:Janssen cilag: Consultancy; celgene: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy. Zambello:Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Belotti:Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Molteni:Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Aquino:Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Del Fabro:Janssen: Consultancy. Galli:Leadiant (Sigma-Tau): Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria.

Objective To characterize the natural history of immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis–associated myopathy and to provide guidelines for recognition. Patients and Methods Fifty-one patients with systemic immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis and biopsy-confirmed muscle amyloid deposition diagnosed between January 1, 1995, and December 31, 2015, were included in this study. Results Common presenting symptoms were muscle weakness in 49 patients (96%), dysphagia in 23 (45%), myalgia in 17 (33%), macroglossia in 17 (33%), jaw claudication in 13 (25%), and hoarseness in 9 (18%). The median time from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis was almost 2 years. Less than two-thirds of the patients with an outside muscle biopsy (16 of 27) had an established pathologic confirmation of amyloidosis due to failure to routinely incorporate Congo red staining. Moreover, 12 patients were incorrectly treated before diagnosis of amyloid myopathy. More than half of the patients had normal creatine kinase levels at diagnosis. Cardiac troponin T levels were elevated above the reference range in 5 of 12 patients who lacked evidence of cardiac involvement. Median overall survival was 32 months. Factors associated with inferior survival were involvement of more than 2 organs (median survival, 13 months), cardiac involvement (median survival, 15 months), and absence of stem cell transplant (median survival, 18 months). With the exclusion of patients treated with stem cell transplant, no improvement in survival was seen over the 1995-2004 and 2005-2015 decades. Conclusion Immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis–associated myopathy is rare. Delay in diagnosis is common, and there is a high rate of pathologic and clinical misdiagnosis. Awareness of elevation of cardiac troponin T levels in the absence of cardiac disease may be a clue to diagnosis.

Bortezomib (bort) has improved overall survival in patients with multiple myeloma (MM), but the majority of them develop drug resistance. In this study, we demonstrate that bone marrow (BM) fibroblasts (cancer-associated fibroblasts; CAFs) from bort-resistant patients are insensitive to bort and protect the RPMI8226 and patients' plasma cells against bort-induced apoptosis. Bort triggers CAFs to produce high levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and transforming growth factor (TGF) β. Proteomic studies on CAFs demonstrate that bort resistance parallels activation of oxidative stress and pro-survival autophagy. Indeed, bort induces reactive oxygen species in bort-resistant CAFs and activates autophagy by increasing light chain 3 protein (LC3)-II and inhibiting p62 and phospho-mammalian target of rapamycin. The small-interfering RNA knockdown of Atg7, and treatment with 3-methyladenine, restores bort sensitivity in bort-resistant CAFs and produces cytotoxicity in plasma cells co-cultured with CAFs. In the syngeneic 5T33 MM model, bort-treatment induces the expansion of LC3-II(+) CAFs. TGFβ mediates bort-induced autophagy, and its blockade by LY2109761, a selective TβRI/II inhibitor, reduces the expression of p-Smad2/3 and LC3-II and induces apoptosis in bort-resistant CAFs. A combination of bort and LY2109761 synergistically induces apoptosis of RPMI8226 co-cultured with bort-resistant CAFs. These data define a key role for CAFs in bort resistance of plasma cells and provide the basis for a novel targeted therapeutic approach.

This phase 2 trial evaluated three low-dose intensity subcutaneous bortezomib-based treatments in patients ⩾75 years with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM). Patients received subcutaneous bortezomib plus oral prednisone (VP, N=51) or VP plus cyclophosphamide (VCP, N=51) or VP plus melphalan (VMP, N=50), followed by bortezomib maintenance, and half of the patients were frail. Response rate was 64% with VP, 67% with VCP and 86% with VMP, and very good partial response rate or better was 26%, 28.5% and 49%, respectively. Median progression-free survival was 14.0, 15.2 and 17.1 months, and 2-year OS was 60%, 70% and 76% in VP, VCP, VMP, respectively. At least one drug-related grade ⩾3 non-hematologic adverse event (AE) occurred in 22% of VP, 37% of VCP and 33% of VMP patients; the discontinuation rate for AEs was 12%, 14% and 20%, and the 6-month rate of toxicity-related deaths was 4%, 4% and 8%, respectively. The most common grade ⩾3 AEs included infections (8–20%), and constitutional (10–14%) and cardiovascular events (4–12%); peripheral neuropathy was limited (4–6%). Bortezomib maintenance was effective and feasible. VP, VCP and VMP regimens demonstrated no substantial difference. Yet, toxicity was higher with VMP, suggesting that a two-drug combination followed by maintenance should be preferred in frail patients.

Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is a soluble pattern recognition receptor that binds with high affinity and selectivity to fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2), thus inhibiting its pro-angiogenic activity. Here we investigated the effects of PTX3 on monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and multiple myeloma (MM) patient-derived bone marrow (BM) plasma cells (PCs), endothelial cells (ECs), and fibroblasts (FBs), and assessed whether PTX3 can modulate the cross-talk between PCs and those microenvironment cells. PTX3 and FGF2 expression was evaluated by ELISA. Functional studies, including cell viability, wound healing, chemotaxis, and Matrigel® assays, were performed on MGUS and MM ECs and FBs upon the PTX3 treatment. Through western blot PTX3-induced modulation in FGF2/FGF receptor signalling pathways was evaluated in MGUS and MM ECs and FBs through western blot. Co-cultures between MM ECs/FBs and human PC lines were used to evaluate possible PTX3 indirect effects on MM PCs. Adhesion molecules were studied by flow cytometry. PTX3 provides a direct time- and dose-dependent apoptotic effect on MM ECs and FBs, but not on either MM primary PCs or human PC lines. PTX3 inhibits migration of MM ECs and FBs in a dose-dependent manner, and impacts in vitro and in vivo FGF2-mediated MM angiogenesis. Co-cultures of PCs and ECs/FBs show that PTX3 treatment indirectly impairs PC viability and adhesion. We conclude that PTX3 is an anti-angiogenic factor in MM and behaves as a cytotoxic molecule on MM cells by inhibiting the cross-talk between PCs and ECs/FBs. Copyright © 2012 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Introduction: The phase 3 GIMEMA-MMY-3006 trial comparing bortezomib-thalidomide-dexamethasone (VTD) versus thalidomide-dexamethasone (TD) as induction therapy before, and consolidation after, double autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) provided the first demonstration of increased CR rate, the primary study endpoint, and prolonged PFS with VTD (Cavo M et al, Lancet 2010). However, updating trial results with longer follow-up than earlier reported is needed to assess the effects of treatment interventions on OS and to identify factors predicting for favorable long term outcomes. Aims: We performed a post-hoc analysis of that study to evaluate long term results and construct a prognostic index of survival. Methods: 474 patients were enrolled, 236 randomized to VTD and 238 to TD. Median follow-up for surviving patients was 124 months (IQR: 117-131). Analyses were performed on an intention-to-treat basis. Semi-parametric Cox regression analysis was used to construct the prognostic index. To assess the evolution of prognosis over time, conditional survival CS(t|s) estimate for PFS was calculated as the probability of surviving without progression a further 2 (t) years (yrs) after having already survived s yrs. Results: Estimates of PFS and OS at 10 yrs for the VTD arm were 34% (HR=0.62; 95% CI=0.50-0.77; p Conclusions: With a follow up of 10 yrs, the final analysis of the GYMEMA MMY-3006 trial comparing VTD versus TD showed a persistent PFS benefit translating into extended OS for the VTD arm. A prognostic model based on cytogenetic, ISS stage and achievement of CR, identified three risk groups with statistically different long-term survival probabilities. Both IR and HR groups significantly benefited from VTD. A PFS time of 78 months predicted for long term survival outcomes in the LR and IR groups. Disclosures Tacchetti: Celgene: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Di Raimondo:Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria. Zamagni:Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Bringhen:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Takeda: Consultancy. Offidani:Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Amgen: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Takeda: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board. Montefusco:Celgene: Other: Advisory Board; Amgen: Other: Advisory Board; Janssen: Other: Advisory Board. Cavo:Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GlaxoSmithKline: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AbbVie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.