Soluble B-cell maturation antigen as a monitoring marker for multiple myeloma

Objective: Response to treatment in multiple myeloma (MM) is routinely measured by serum and urine M-protein and free light chain (FLC), as described by the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) consensus statement. A non-negligible subgroup of patients however present without measurable biomarkers, others become oligo or non-secretory during recurrent relapses. The aim of our research was to evaluate soluble B-cell maturation antigen (sBCMA) as a monitoring marker measured concurrent with the standard monitoring in MM patients at diagnosis, at relapse and during follow up, in order to establish its potential usefulness in oligo and non-secretory disease.Method: sBCMA levels were measured in 149 patients treated for plasma cell dyscrasia (3 monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance, 5 smoldering myeloma, 7 plasmacytoma, 8 AL amyloidosis and 126 MM) and 16 control subjects using a commercial ELISA kit. In 43 newly diagnosed patients sBCMA levels were measured at multiple timepoints during treatment, and compared to conventional IMWG response and progression free survival (PFS).Results: sBCMA levels among control subjects were significantly lower than among newly diagnosed or relapsed MM patients [20.8 (14.7–38.7) ng/mL vs. 676 (89.5–1,650) and 264 (20.7–1,603) ng/mL, respectively]. Significant correlations were found between sBCMA and the degree of bone marrow plasma cell infiltration. Out of the 37 newly diagnosed patients who have reached partial response or better per IMWG criteria, 33 (89%) have had at least a 50% drop in sBCMA level by therapy week 4. Cohorts made similarly to IMWG response criteria—achieving a 50% or 90% drop in sBCMA levels compared to level at diagnosis—had statistically significant differences in PFS.Conclusion: Our results confirmed that sBCMA levels are prognostic at important decision points in myeloma, and the percentage of BCMA change is predictive for PFS. This highlights the great potential use of sBCMA in oligo- and non-secretory myeloma

Venetoclaxalapú mentőkezelés (11;14)-transzlokációs myeloma multiplexben az első vonalbeli kezelésre adott nem megfelelő válasz esetén = Venetoclax-based salvage in multiple myeloma with (11;14) translocation after suboptimal response to first-line therapy

Bevezetés: A myeloma multiplex az egyik leggyakoribb hematológiai malignitás, évi kb. 400 esettel Magyarországon. Az utóbbi évtizedben bevezetett új gyógyszerek sokat javítottak a legtöbb beteg túlélésén, azok azonban, akik az első vonalbeli kezelésre nem jól reagálnak, és nem juttathatók őssejt-transzplantációra, igen rossz prognózissal néznek szembe. A szelektív Bcl-2-inhibitor venetoclax rendkívül hatásosnak bizonyult relabált/refrakter betegekben, második vonalban, mentőkezelésként való alkalmazásáról azonban kevés az adat. Célkitűzés: Kutatásunk célja a Klinikánkon venetoclax mentőkezelésben részesült t(11;14)-betegek adatainak elemzése és a terápia hatékonyságának értékelése volt. Módszer: 2017 és 2021 között 13 beteg esetében alkalmaztunk a frontline kezelésre adott szuboptimális válasz miatt venetoclaxkezelést, adataikat retrospektíven elemeztük. Eredmények: Betegcsoportunkban nagyon gyakoriak voltak az adverz prognosztikai faktorok: del(17p) 4 betegnél, amp(1q21) 5 betegnél, míg 3. stádium 6 betegnél volt jelen. Ennek ellenére mind a 13 beteg kiválóan reagált a venetoclaxterápiára, 6 nagyon jó parciális választ, 7 pedig komplett választ ért el. Minden alkalmas beteget transzplantációra tudtunk juttatni. Medián 38 hónapos követés után sem a medián progressziómentes, sem a medián teljes túlélést nem értük el, csupán 3 beteg progrediált, és 1-et veszítettünk el. Következtetés: Vizsgálatunk azt mutatta, hogy a standard korai terápiára szuboptimálisan reagáló és mentőkezelésre szoruló t(11;14)-betegek esetében a venetoclax különösen jó kezelési opció. | Introduction: Multiple myeloma is one of the most common hematologic malignancies, with approximately 400 patients diagnosed in Hungary annually. Novel therapies emerging in the last decade have made a great impact on most patients’ survival, however, those responding poorly to standard first-line therapy and failing to proceed to stem cell transplantation face a dire prognosis. Venetoclax, a selective Bcl-2 inhibitor has been shown very effective in the treatment of relapsed/refractory t(11;14) patients, but there are only a few studies about its safety and efficacy when used as salvage in the second line. Objective: The aim of our study was to analyze the data of t(11;14) patients treated with venetoclax salvage at our clinic and to evaluate its efficacy. Method: Between 2017 and 2021, 13 patients received venetoclax therapy at our clinic after suboptimal response to frontline treatment, whose data we analyzed retrospectively. Results: Adverse prognostic markers were very prevalent in our group, 4 of our patients had del(17p), 5 had amp(1q21) and 6 had stage 3. Nevertheless, all 13 patients responded well to venetoclax therapy, with 6 reaching very good partial response and 7 complete response. All eligible patients (10) could proceed to transplantation. After median 38 months follow up, neither median progression-free, nor median overall survival was reached, since only 3 patients progressed and 1 died. Conclusion: We have shown that when salvage is needed for t(11;14) patients who respond suboptimally to standard frontline therapy, venetoclax is a remarkably good option