Carfilzomib, Pomalidomide, and Dexamethasone As Second-line Therapy for Lenalidomide-refractory Multiple Myeloma

This phase 2 trial investigated reinduction with carfilzomib, pomalidomide, and dexamethasone (KPd) and continuous pomalidomide/dexamethasone in patients at first progression during lenalidomide maintenance. The second objective was to evaluate high-dose melphalan with autologous stem cell transplantation (HDM/ASCT) at first progression. Patients were eligible who had progressive disease according to International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) criteria. Treatment consisted of 8 cycles carfilzomib (20/36 mg/m2), pomalidomide (4 mg) and dexamethasone. Patients without prior transplant received HDM/ASCT. Pomalidomide 4 mg w/o dexamethasone was given until progression. One hundred twelve patients were registered of whom 86 (77%) completed 8 cycles of KPd. Thirty-five (85%) eligible patients received HDM/ASCT. The median time to discontinuation of pomalidomide w/o dexamethasone was 17 months. Best response was 37% ≥ complete response, 75% ≥ very good partial response, 92% ≥ partial response, respectively. At a follow-up of 40 months median PFS was 26 and 32 months for patients who received KPd plus HDM/ASCT and 17 months for patients on KPd (hazard ratio [HR] 0.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.37-1.00, P = 0.051). PFS was better after longer duration of prior lenalidomide (HR 3.56, 95% CI 1.42-8.96, P = 0.035). Median overall survival (OS) was 67 months. KPd-emerging grade 3 and 4 adverse events included hematologic (41%), cardiovascular (6%), respiratory (3%), infections (17%), and neuropathy (2%). KPd followed by continuous pomalidomide is an effective and safe triple drug regimen in second-line for patients previously exposed to bortezomib and/or refractory to lenalidomide

Role of radiography, MRI and FDG-PET/CT in diagnosing, staging and therapeutical evaluation of patients with multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma is a malignant B-cell neoplasm that involves the skeleton in approximately 80% of the patients. With an average age of 60 years and a 5-years survival of nearly 45% Brenner et al. (Blood 111:2516–2520, 35) the onset is to be classified as occurring still early in life while the disease can be very aggressive and debilitating. In the last decades, several new imaging techniques were introduced. The aim of this review is to compare the different techniques such as radiographic survey, multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI), fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography- (FDG-PET) with or without computed tomography (CT), and 99mTc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (99mTc-MIBI) scintigraphy. We conclude that both FDG-PET in combination with low-dose CT and whole-body MRI are more sensitive than skeleton X-ray in screening and diagnosing multiple myeloma. WB-MRI allows assessment of bone marrow involvement but cannot detect bone destruction, which might result in overstaging. Moreover, WB-MRI is less suitable in assessing response to therapy than FDG-PET. The combination of PET with low-dose CT can replace the golden standard, conventional skeletal survey. In the clinical practise, this will result in upstaging, due to the higher sensitivity

The treatment of AL amyloidosis in the Netherlands in 2013

AL amyloidosis is the only form of amyloidosis caused by a small plasma cell clone in the bone marrow. The produced aberrant free light chain forms, together with serum amyloid P, deposits in several organs leading to organ dysfunction. Involvement of the heart is the most important prognostic factor. Treatment of systemic AL amyloidosis is based on treatments as used in multiple myeloma, however is much more complicated due to organ dysfunction and worse clinical condition of the patients. Aim of treatment is to achieve a complete haematological response. Organ responses can occur later on. High dose melphalan followed by stem cell transplantation is given to younger en fit patients. Older patients are treated with oral melphalan and dexamethasone. Bortezomib also seems to be well tolerated by patients and has good clinical efficacy. Several randomised phase III studies, such as the HOVON 104, have started to investigate superiority of treatment with proteasome inhibitors. Treatment of patients in clinical studies is highly recommended

Update in the multiple myeloma treatment guideline 2018

Recently the guideline ‘Treatment multiple myeloma 2018’ was published. Below are the most important changes from the 2015 guideline. These changes concern the initial treatment of patients eligible for autologous stem cell transplantation, the initial treatment of patients who are not eligible for autologous stem cell transplantation and the patients with a relapse of the sickness. The changes are based on new clinical data that have become available from randomized phase 3 trials. The most recent version of the entire guideline can be found on the websites of both the NVvH and HOVON. The guideline will be adjusted per module. The expectation is that this will already happen in the coming months as several treatment combinations will be registered and hopefully also be available in the short term. This summary concerns patients who cannot be treated in a trial context. At all times treatment within a study context is preferable