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In the phase 3 POLLUX trial, daratumumab in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone (D-Rd) significantly improved progression-free survival in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) compared with lenalidomide and dexamethasone (Rd) alone. Here, we present patient-reported outcomes (PROs) from POLLUX, assessed using the validated European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30-item (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the EuroQol 5-dimensional descriptive system (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaires. Changes from baseline are presented as least-squares mean changes with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) derived from a mixed-effects model. PRO assessment compliance rates were high and similar in both D-Rd and Rd groups through cycle 40 (week 156). In this on-treatment analysis, mean changes from baseline were significantly greater in EORTC QLQ-C30 global health status, physical functioning, and pain scores in the D-Rd group versus the Rd group at multiple time points; however, magnitude of changes was low, suggesting no meaningful impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Subgroup results were similar to those in the overall population. In the POLLUX study, baseline HRQoL was maintained with prolonged D-Rd treatment. These findings complement the sustained and significant improvement in progression-free survival observed with D-Rd and supports its use in patients with RRMM. Clinical trial registration: NCT02076009.

The regimen of carfilzomib, daratumumab, and dexamethasone (KdD) shows activity in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. KdD at the twice-weekly 56 mg/m(2) carfilzomib dose (KdD56) was used in the randomized phase 3 CANDOR study (NCT03158688), whereas KdD at the once-weekly 70 mg/m(2) carfilzomib dose (KdD70) was used in the phase 1 b EQUULEUS study (NCT01998971). We analyzed efficacy data from comparable CANDOR and EQUULEUS patients using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW)-adjusted models. These weights were calculated from propensity scores derived to balance prespecified baseline covariates. The side-by-side and adjusted comparisons showed similar efficacy for overall response rates and progression-free survival in the two groups, with a series of sensitivity analyses showing consistent findings. Safety data were generally consistent with the known safety profiles of each individual drug. Once-weekly KdD70 is comparable to twice-weekly KdD56 in terms of efficacy and safety while being a more convenient dosing option.

Jie Jin,1,2 Rumiko Okamoto,3 Sung-Soo Yoon,4 Lee-Yung Shih,5 Jun Zhu,6 Ting Liu,7 Xiaonan Hong,8 Lixia Pei,9 Brendan Rooney,10 Helgi van de Velde,11 Huiqiang Huang12 1Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University College of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; 2Key Laboratory of Hematologic Malignancies, Diagnosis and Treatment, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; 3Department of Chemotherapy, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center, Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan; 4Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 5Division of Hematology–Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Linkou, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; 6Department of Lymphoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China; 7Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China; 8Lymphoma and GI Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China; 9Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Raritan, NJ, USA; 10Janssen Research & Development, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, UK; 11Oncology Clinical Research, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Boston, MA, USA; 12Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China Introduction: This subgroup analysis of the LYM-3002 Phase III study (NCT00722137) investigated whether substituting bortezomib for vincristine in frontline R-CHOP (rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) therapy could improve outcomes in East Asian patients with newly diagnosed mantle-cell lymphoma (MCL). Materials and methods: A total of 121 East Asian patients from China, Taiwan, Japan, and the Republic of Korea with stage II–IV MCL who were ineligible or not considered for stem-cell transplantation were enrolled to six to eight 21-day cycles of R-CHOP or VR-CAP (R-CHOP with bortezomib replacing vincristine). Results: The primary end point was progression-free survival. After a median follow-up of 42.4 months, median progression-free survival in East Asian patients was 13.9 (R-CHOP) versus 28.6 (VR-CAP) months (HR 0.7, P=0.157; 43% improvement with VR-CAP). Secondary end points (R-CHOP vs VR-CAP), including complete response rate (47% vs 63%), duration of complete response (median 16.6 vs 46.7 months), and treatment-free interval (median 21 vs 46.5 months), were improved with VR-CAP. VR-CAP was associated with increased but manageable toxicity. The most frequent adverse events were hematologic toxicities. Conclusion: VR-CAP was effective in East Asian patients with newly diagnosed MCL, and could be considered for patients in whom stem-cell transplantation is not an option. Keywords: mantle-cell lymphoma, bortezomib, VR-CAP, R-CHOP

IMPORTANCE Herpes zoster, a frequent complication following autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), is associated with significant morbidity. A nonlive adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine has been developed to prevent posttransplantation zoster. OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy and adverse event profile of the recombinant zoster vaccine in immunocompromised autologous HSCT recipients. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Phase 3, randomized, observer-blinded study conducted in 167 centers in 28 countries between July 13, 2012, and February 1, 2017, among 1846 patients aged 18 years or older who had undergone recent autologous HSCT. INTERVENTIONS Participants were randomized to receive 2 doses of either recombinant zoster vaccine (n=922) or placebo (n=924) administered into the deltoid muscle; the first dose was given 50 to 70 days after transplantation and the second dose 1 to 2 months thereafter. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary end point was occurrence of confirmed herpes zoster cases. RESULTS Among 1846 autologous HSCT recipients (mean age, 55 years; 688 [37%] women) who received 1 vaccine or placebo dose, 1735 (94%) received a second dose and 1366 (74%) completed the study. During the 21-month median follow-up, at least 1 herpes zoster episode was confirmed in 49 vaccine and 135 placebo recipients (incidence, 30 and 94 per 1000 person-years, respectively), an incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 0.32 (95% CI, 0.22-0.44; P

Smith: Revolution Medicines: Research Funding; Astellas Pharma: Research Funding; fujiFilm: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding. Levis:Astellas: Consultancy, Research Funding; FUJIFILM: Consultancy, Research Funding; Menarini: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Agios: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Daiichi Sankyo Inc: Consultancy, Honoraria. Perl:Astellas: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Non-financial support included travel costs for advisory board meetings as well as a medical writing company that assisted with manuscript preparation/submission and slide deck assembly for academic meeting presentations of trial data., Research Funding; BioMed Valley Discoveries: Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other, Research Funding; Arog: Consultancy, Other: Non-financial support included travel costs for advisory board meetings.; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Non-financial support included travel costs for advisory board meetings.; Actinium Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Clinical Advisory Board member, Research Funding; Agios: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Non-financial support included travel costs for advisory board meetings.; Jazz: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Non-financial support included travel costs for advisory board meetings.; NewLink Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Non-financial support included travel costs for advisory board meetings.; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Non-financial support included travel costs for advisory board meetings.; Bayer: Research Funding; FujiFilm: Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Other: Advisory board, Non-financial support included travel costs for advisory board meetings as well as a medical writing company that assisted with manuscript preparation/submission and slide deck assembly for academic meeting presentations of the data., Research Funding. Martinelli:Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Honoraria; Roche: Consultancy, Other: trial grant; Ariad: Consultancy, Other: trial grant; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: trial grant; Amgen: Consultancy, Other: trial grant; Pfizer: Consultancy, Other: trial grant; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: trial grant; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: trial grant; Novartis: Consultancy, Other: trial grant; Incyte: Consultancy, Other: trial grant. Berman:Astellas: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Montesinos:Karyopharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Research support; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Research support, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Research support, Speakers Bureau; Teva: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Research support, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Research support, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Research support, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Research support, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Baer:Abbvie: Research Funding; Astellas: Research Funding; Al Therapeutics: Research Funding; Forma: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Kite: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding. Larson:Celgene: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy; Novartis: Honoraria, Other: Contracts for clinical trials. Yokoyama:Astellas: Other: Travel expenses. Recher:Incyte: Honoraria; Astellas: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Sunesis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Jazz: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astellas: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Macrogenics: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Yoon:MSD: Consultancy; Kyowa Hako Kirin: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy; Genentech, Inc.: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Yuhan Pharma: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria. Hill:Astellas: Employment; Ligacept, LLC.: Other: Stock, Patents Royalties. Rosales:Astellas: Employment. Bahceci:Astellas: Employment, Patents Royalties.

Importance Low-molecular-weight heparin is recommended over warfarin for the treatment of acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with active cancer largely based on results of a single, large trial. Objective To study the efficacy and safety of tinzaparin vs warfarin for treatment of acute, symptomatic VTE in patients with active cancer. Design, Settings, and Participants A randomized, open-label study with blinded central adjudication of study outcomes enrolled patients in 164 centers in Asia, Africa, Europe, and North, Central, and South America between August 2010 and November 2013. Adult patients with active cancer (defined as histologic diagnosis of cancer and receiving anticancer therapy or diagnosed with, or received such therapy, within the previous 6 months) and objectively documented proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism, with a life expectancy greater than 6 months and without contraindications for anticoagulation, were followed up for 180 days and for 30 days after the last study medication dose for collection of safety data. Interventions Tinzaparin (175 IU/kg) once daily for 6 months vs conventional therapy with tinzaparin (175 IU/kg) once daily for 5 to 10 days followed by warfarin at a dose adjusted to maintain the international normalized ratio within the therapeutic range (2.0-3.0) for 6 months. Main Outcomes and Measures Primary efficacy outcome was a composite of centrally adjudicated recurrent DVT, fatal or nonfatal pulmonary embolism, and incidental VTE. Safety outcomes included major bleeding, clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding, and overall mortality. Results Nine hundred patients were randomized and included in intention-to-treat efficacy and safety analyses. Recurrent VTE occurred in 31 of 449 patients treated with tinzaparin and 45 of 451 patients treated with warfarin (6-month cumulative incidence, 7.2% for tinzaparin vs 10.5% for warfarin; hazard ratio [HR], 0.65 [95% CI, 0.41-1.03]; P = .07). There were no differences in major bleeding (12 patients for tinzaparin vs 11 patients for warfarin; HR, 0.89 [95% CI, 0.40-1.99]; P = .77) or overall mortality (150 patients for tinzaparin vs 138 patients for warfarin; HR, 1.08 [95% CI, 0.85-1.36]; P = .54). A significant reduction in clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding was observed with tinzaparin (49 of 449 patients for tinzaparin vs 69 of 451 patients for warfarin; HR, 0.58 [95% CI, 0.40-0.84]; P = .004). Conclusions and Relevance Among patients with active cancer and acute symptomatic VTE, the use of full-dose tinzaparin (175 IU/kg) daily compared with warfarin for 6 months did not significantly reduce the composite measure of recurrent VTE and was not associated with reductions in overall mortality or major bleeding, but was associated with a lower rate of clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding. Further studies are needed to assess whether the efficacy outcomes would be different in patients at higher risk of recurrent VTE. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT01130025

BACKGROUND: Bortezomib with dexamethasone is a standard treatment option for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Carfilzomib with dexamethasone has shown promising activity in patients in this disease setting. The aim of this study was to compare the combination of carfilzomib and dexamethasone with bortezomib and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. METHODS: In this randomised, phase 3, open-label, multicentre study, patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who had one to three previous treatments were randomly assigned (1:1) using a blocked randomisation scheme (block size of four) to receive carfilzomib with dexamethasone (carfilzomib group) or bortezomib with dexamethasone (bortezomib group). Randomisation was stratified by previous proteasome inhibitor therapy, previous lines of treatment, International Staging System stage, and planned route of bortezomib administration if randomly assigned to bortezomib with dexamethasone. Patients received treatment until progression with carfilzomib (20 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 2 of cycle 1; 56 mg/m(2) thereafter; 30 min intravenous infusion) and dexamethasone (20 mg oral or intravenous infusion) or bortezomib (1·3 mg/m(2); intravenous bolus or subcutaneous injection) and dexamethasone (20 mg oral or intravenous infusion). The primary endpoint was progression-free survival in the intention-to-treat population. All participants who received at least one dose of study drug were included in the safety analyses. The study is ongoing but not enrolling participants; results for the interim analysis of the primary endpoint are presented. The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01568866. FINDINGS: Between June 20, 2012, and June 30, 2014, 929 patients were randomly assigned (464 to the carfilzomib group; 465 to the bortezomib group). Median follow-up was 11·9 months (IQR 9·3-16·1) in the carfilzomib group and 11·1 months (8·2-14·3) in the bortezomib group. Median progression-free survival was 18·7 months (95% CI 15·6-not estimable) in the carfilzomib group versus 9·4 months (8·4-10·4) in the bortezomib group at a preplanned interim analysis (hazard ratio [HR] 0·53 [95% CI 0·44-0·65]; p

In this paper, we demonstrated thin film semitransparent anode electrode using Ni/Ag/Ni (3/6/3 nm) on green and red phosphorescent OLEDs, which have basically high efficiency and good optical characteristics. Moreover, we applied this semitransparent anode on flexible green and red phosphorescent OLEDs, which were then optimized for possible applications on flexible substrates. First, we studied optimization using various conditions of Ni/Ag/Ni electrodes via transmittance and sheet resistance. We then fabricated the devices on a glass substrate with ITO or Ni/Ag/Ni electrodes as well as on a flexible substrate with a Ni/Ag/Ni electrode for green and red phosphorescent OLEDs. Consequently, we could be proposed that the potential of our semitransparent anode electrode is demonstrated. Green phosphorescent OLEDs characteristics using ITO or Ni/Ag/Ni anode electrodes were coincided and those of the red phosphorescent OLEDs were improved by semitransparent electrodes at 10,000 cd/m2 criterion. Therefore, this research suggests for additional studies to be conducted on flexible and high-performance phosphorescent OLED displays and light applications for ITO-free processes.

We suggested that Ni/Ag/Ni semitransparent electrodes for the exchange of indium-tin-oxide (ITO) electrode, which is the most commonly used as a transparent electrode in spite of the structural defects, limited supply of indium, and toxic, could be apply on flexible Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (OLEDs). Red phosphorescent OLEDs (PHOLEDs) using different types of electrodes as ITO and various conditions of Ni/Ag/Ni electrode were fabricated and analyzed. The electrical and optical properties of device using Ni/Ag/Ni electrode were improved than that of devices on ITO glass substrate at the 10,000 cd/m2 criterion due to the micro-cavity effect even though their transmittance has lower than ITO glass. In addition, we also fabricated red PHOLEDs of same structure on Ni/Ag/Ni flexible substrate of various conditions. As a result, flexible red PHOLED showed competitive characteristics compared to the device on a glass substrate. Therefore, this study could be suggested to additional research on flexible OLEDs display and light applications for ITO-free fabrication.

Reduction in ventricular size after third ventriculostomy often appears minimal. In order to determine if changes in ventricular size are a reliable measure of a functioning ventriculostomy, and which ventricle is more sensitive to this change, we compared pre-operative lateral and third ventricular diameter with serial post-operative axial CT and/or MRI scans in a series of 27 consecutive third ventriculostomies. Of eleven patients with aqueductal stenosis, fifteen with mass lesions and one with a Chiari I, six patients were shunted before 1 month and two refused radiographic follow-up. In the remaining nineteen patients, with an average follow-up of 20 months, the average (s.d.) third ventricular change was -30 (11)% for twelve improved patients, and +13 (18)% for the seven patients without improvement (p0.00001). The average (s.d.) lateral ventricular change was -23 (15)% for improved patients, and +5 (21)% for those without improvement (p0.005). A decrease in third ventricular size by a least 15% was seen in all significantly improved patients. Similar results were found in 9 patients with scans performed exactly one month post-operatively. Among the aqueductal stenosis patients, factors associated with failure were age70 years associated with symptoms of NPH, symptomatic, shunted hydrocephalus since before age 1 year and a history of meningitis. In the remaining patients, failures occurred with a history of meningitis, subdural hematoma, Chiari I malformation or following open tumor surgery or intraventricular AVM rupture. Although both the lateral and third ventricles change in diameter after third ventriculostomy, the third ventricular diameter is more reliable. As early as one month post-operatively, ventricular diameter reflects the clinical outcome of the operation. A decrease in third ventricular diameter by at least 15% was seen in all successful cases and in none of the failures.

We have demonstrated lower driving voltage and efficient blue phosphorescent organic light emitting diodes (PHOLEDs) using iridium(III) bis[(4,6-di-fluoropheny)-pyridinato-N,C2] picolinate (Flrpic) doped in new host material 9-(4-(triphenylsilyl)phenyl)-9H-carbazole (SPC) and 2,2',2"-(1,3,5-benzenetryl)tris(1-phenyl)-1H-benzimidazol (TPBi) as double-emitting layer (D-EML) system. The D-EML was employed to have good electron transportability and exciton confinement. Additionally, we fabricated white organic light-emitting diode (WOLED) using a phosphorescent red emitter; bis(2-phenylquinolinato)-acetylacetonate iridium III (Ir(pq)2acac) doped in SPC and TPBi as D-EML. The properties of white device exhibited a maximum luminous efficiency of 19.03 cd/A, a maximum external quantum efficiency of 9.91%, and a maximum power efficiency of 12.30 lm/W. It also showed white emission with CIE(x,y) coordinates of (x = 0.38, y = 0.37) at 8 V.

Objectives: It is widely assumed that, at matched transfusional iron-loading rates, responses to chelation therapy are similar, irrespective of the underlying condition. However, data are limited for rare transfusiondependent anaemias, and it remains to be elucidated if response differs, depending on whether the anaemia has a primary haemolytic or production mechanism. Methods: The efficacy and safety of deferasirox (Exjade) in rare transfusion-dependent anaemias were evaluated over 1 yr, with change in serum ferritin as the primary efficacy endpoint. Initial deferasirox doses were 10–30 mg⁄ kg ⁄ d, depending on transfusion requirements; 34 patients had production anaemias, and 23 had haemolytic anaemias. Results: Patients with production anaemias or haemolytic anaemias had comparable transfusional iron-loading rates (0.31 vs. 0.30 mL red blood cells ⁄ kg ⁄ d), mean deferasirox dosing (19.3 vs. 19.0 mg⁄ kg ⁄ d) and baseline median serum ferritin (2926 vs. 2682 ng ⁄ mL). Baseline labile plasma iron (LPI) levels correlated significantly with the transfusional iron-loading rates and with serum ferritin levels in both cohorts. Reductions in median serum ferritin levels were initially faster in the production than the haemolytic anaemias, but at 1 yr, similar significant reductions of 940 and 617 ng ⁄mL were attained, respectively ()26.0% overall). Mean LPI decreased significantly in patients with production (P < 0.0001) and haemolytic (P = 0.037) anaemias after the first dose and was maintained at normal mean levels (

The prospective 1-year Evaluation of Patients' Iron Chelation with Exjade (EPIC) study enrolled a large cohort of 116 patients with aplastic anemia; the present analyses evaluated the efficacy and safety of deferasirox in this patient population. After 1 year, median serum ferritin decreased significantly from 3254 ng/mL at baseline to 1854 ng/mL (P < .001). Decreases occurred in chelation-naive (3229-1520 ng/mL; P < .001, last-observation-carried-forward analysis), and previously chelated (3263-2585 ng/mL; P = .21, last-observation-carried-forward analysis) patients and were reflective of dose adjustments and ongoing iron intake. Baseline labile plasma iron levels were within normal range despite high serum ferritin levels. The most common drug-related adverse events were nausea (22%) and diarrhea (16%). Serum creatinine increases more than 33% above baseline and the upper limit of normal occurred in 29 patients (25%), but there were no progressive increases; concomitant use of cyclosporine had a significant impact on serum creatinine levels. The decrease in mean alanine aminotransferase levels at 1 year correlated significantly with reduction in serum ferritin (r = 0.40, P < .001). Mean absolute neutrophil and platelet counts remained stable during treatment, and there were no drug-related cytopenias. This prospective dataset confirms the efficacy and well characterizes the tolerability profile of deferasirox in a large population of patients with aplastic anemia. This study was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00171821.