Incidence, presenting features and outcome of extramedullary disease in multiple myeloma: a longitudinal study on 1003 consecutive patients

Incidence, clinical features, laboratory findings and outcome of patients with multiple myeloma presenting with extramedullary relapse

Extramedullary plasmacytomas constitute a rare and not well studied subset of multiple myeloma (MM) relapses. We report the incidence, clinical-laboratory features and outcome of patients with MM and extramedullary relapse (ExMeR). A total of 303 patients with symptomatic MM were recorded in a 13-year period in two institutions. Twenty-eight cases of ExMeR (9%) were recorded. There was an increased frequency of elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (p = 0.026), bone plasmacytomas (p = 0.001) and fractures (p = 0.002) at diagnosis, in patients with ExMeR compared to the others. ExMeR was associated with an ominous outcome, high LDH, constitutional symptoms and a statistically significant decrease of monoclonal paraprotein compared to levels at diagnosis (p = 0.009). Prior treatment with bortezomib was associated with a decreased hazard of ExMeR (p = 0.041). Overall survival (OS) was decreased in patients with ExMeR compared to the others (38 vs. 59 months, p = 0.006). Patients with MM with ExMeR have a lower OS and their clinical and laboratory features differ from those without.

Role of whole-body 64-slice multidetector computed tomography in treatment planning for multiple myeloma

PURPOSE

The authors evaluated the role of whole-body 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (WB-MDCT) in treatment planning for multiple myeloma.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This was a prospective study of 28 consecutive patients with multiple myeloma (19 men, nine women; age range, 51-73 years; mean age, 60 years) who underwent WB-MDCT and conventional radiography (CR) of the skeleton. The images were interpreted for the presence of bony lesions, medullary lesions, fractures and extraosseous lesions. We evaluated any changes in treatment planning as a result of WB-MDCT findings.

RESULTS

WB-MDCT was superior to CR for detecting bony lesions (p=0.001), especially of the spine (p=0.001) and thoracic cage (p=0.006). WB-MDCT upstaged 14 patients, with a significant difference in staging (p=0.002) between WB-MDCT and CR. Medullary involvement either focal (n=6) or diffuse (n=3) had a positive correlation with the overall score (r=0.790) and stage (r=0.618) of disease. Spine fractures were better detected at WB-MDCT (n=4) than at CR (n=2). Extraosseous soft tissue lesions (n=7) were detected only at WB-MDCT. Findings detected at the WB-MDCT led to changes in the patient's treatment plan in 39% of cases. Upstaging of seven patients (25%) altered the medical treatment plan, and four of 28 (14%) patients required additional radiotherapy (7%) and vertebroplasty (7%).

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that WB-MDCT has an impact on treatment planning and prognosis in patients with multiple myeloma, as it has high rate of detecting cortical and medullary bone lesions, spinal fracture and extraosseous lesions. This information may alter treatment planning in multiple myeloma due to disease upstaging and detection of spine fracture and extraosseous spinal lesions.

Extraskeletal multiple myeloma presenting with an atrial mass: a case report and a review of the literature

Introduction

Extraskeletal presentation at diagnosis or during the course of multiple myeloma is a rare event. The prognosis is usually very poor. At the moment there is no agreed gold standard for the treatment of this presentation.

Case presentation

A 79-year-old Caucasian woman was treated at our hospital for right atrial myeloma localization. Our patient showed the following signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure: dyspnea, hypotension, cyanosis and facial edema. Surgery was not considered feasible due to the extent of the disease. Our patient underwent external-beam radiation therapy using an intensity modulated technique, thus obtaining a persistent complete remission. Our patient has been in continuous complete local remission for 25 months since the end of radiotherapy.

Conclusion

The role of radiotherapy is not defined in multiple myeloma with extraskeletal presentation. Our regimen seems to be effective in controlling the disease in this patient.

This case report adds to the existing literature as it describes an unusual presentation of the disease and a new therapeutic approach to this rare presentation of multiple myeloma.

Standard and novel imaging methods for multiple myeloma: correlates with prognostic laboratory variables including gene expression profiling data

Multiple myeloma causes major morbidity resulting from osteolytic lesions that can be detected by metastatic bone surveys. Magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography can detect bone marrow focal lesions long before development of osteolytic lesions. Using data from patients enrolled in Total Therapy 3 for newly diagnosed myeloma (n=303), we analyzed associations of these imaging techniques with baseline standard laboratory variables assessed before initiating treatment. Of 270 patients with complete imaging data, 245 also had gene expression profiling data. Osteolytic lesions detected on metastatic bone surveys correlated with focal lesions detected by magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography, although, in two-way comparisons, focal lesion counts based on both magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography tended to be greater than those based on metastatic bone survey. Higher numbers of focal lesions detected by magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography were positively linked to high serum concentrations of C-reactive protein, gene-expression-profiling-defined high risk, and the proliferation molecular subgroup. Positron emission tomography focal lesion maximum standardized unit values were significantly correlated with gene-expression-profiling-defined high risk and higher numbers of focal lesions detected by positron emission tomography. Interestingly, four genes associated with high-risk disease (related to cell cycle and metabolism) were linked to counts of focal lesions detected by magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography. Collectively, our results demonstrate significant associations of all three imaging techniques with tumor burden and, especially, disease aggressiveness captured by gene-expression-profiling-risk designation. (Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00081939).

Extramedullary disease portends poor prognosis in multiple myeloma and is over-represented in high-risk disease even in the era of novel agents

BACKGROUND

Extramedullary disease is an uncommon manifestation in multiple myeloma and can either accompany newly diagnosed disease or develop with disease progression or relapse. We evaluated the impact of this disease feature on patients' outcome in the context of novel agents.

DESIGN AND METHODS

We analyzed clinical and biological features of extramedullary disease in 936 patients with multiple myeloma enrolled in Total Therapy protocols, 240 patients in non-Total Therapy protocols, and 789 non-protocol patients, all of whom had baseline positron emission tomography scans to document extramedullary disease at diagnosis and its subsequent development at the time of disease progression or relapse.

RESULTS

The most common sites for extramedullary disease at diagnosis were skin and soft tissue whereas liver involvement was the striking feature in extramedullary disease at disease relapse or progression. Regardless of therapy, extramedullary disease was associated with shorter progression-free and overall survival, as well as the presence of anemia, thrombocytopenia, elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase, cytogenetic abnormalities, and high-risk features in 70-and 80-gene risk models in univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis with logistic regression revealed that this disease feature was more prevalent in patients with an elevated centrosome index, as determined by gene expression profiling, as well as in myeloma molecular subtypes that are more prone to relapse. These include the MF subtype (also called the "MAF" subtype, associated with over-expression of the MAF gene seen with chromosome translocation 14;16 or 14;20) and the PR subtype (also called the "Proliferation" subtype, associated with overexpression of pro-proliferative genes).

CONCLUSIONS

These data show that extramedullary disease is more prevalent in genomically defined high-risk multiple myeloma and is associated with shorter progression-free survival and overall survival, even in the era of novel agents. All clinical trials included in the analyses were registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00083551, NCT00083876, NCT00081939, NCT00572169, NCT00644228,NCT00002548,NCT00734877).

Abdominal manifestations of extraosseous myeloma: cross-sectional imaging spectrum

Extraosseous myeloma, defined as the myelomatous involvement outside the skeleton system, is rare and often associated with advanced multiple myeloma. There has been a recent increase in the clinicoradiological incidence of this entity, possibly secondary to increased survival of patients and frequent use of imaging. This has led to the development of new clinical staging guidelines for multiple myeloma, which include the use of imaging modalities positron emission tomography/computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for accurate detection and optimal management. The aims of this review were to discuss the significance of identification of extraosseous disease, to describe the spectrum and common sites of extraosseous involvement in the abdomen, and to review the imaging findings of extraosseous myeloma in the abdomen.

Extramedullary disease in plasma cell myeloma: the iceberg phenomenon

Extramedullary (EM) plasmacytomas (EMPs) that are not progression of intramedullary (IM) plasma cell myeloma (PCM) are usually indolent. In contrast, EM spread of IM PCM is associated with a poor prognosis. The recently introduced Durie-Salmon PLUS staging system includes EM disease in the poor prognosis category. One study noted an increase in EM disease both at diagnosis and during follow-up of PCM in 2000-2007 compared with previous years raising concerns that adoption of novel agents (thalidomide, lenalidomide and bortezomib) and greater use of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) might be contributory to this. It is uncertain if this is a true increase or merely greater detection due to the increasing use of more sensitive imaging techniques (computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography) or a reflection of the evolving natural history of PCM in an era when patients are living longer (median overall survival before 1996 was 29.9 months vs 44.8 months after 1996). Recent studies suggest there are important biological differences between PCM with or without EM spread that are offering clues that might explain the propensity for dissemination and a more aggressive clinical course. For example, EM relapse in PCM with and without deletion 13 was 30.8 vs 5.6%, suggesting the biology of a plasma cell subclone before HCT can affect the nature of the relapse after HCT. This article will explore the clinical, biological and treatment implications of EM spread of PCM. In addition, the impact of extramedullary disease on the outcomes of autologous and allogeneic HCT for PCM will be analyzed. Allogeneic HCT early in the course of high-risk PCM with EM disease is a consideration since graft vs myeloma effects may be essential to achieve maximal survival benefits.

Latest advances and current challenges in the treatment of multiple myeloma

Effectively treating patients with multiple myeloma is challenging. The development of therapeutic regimens over the past decade that incorporate the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib and the immunomodulatory drugs thalidomide and lenalidomide has been the cornerstone of improving the outcome of patients with myeloma. Although these treatment regimens have improved patient survival, nearly all patients eventually relapse. Our improved understanding of the biology of the disease and the importance of the microenvironment has translated into ongoing work to help overcome the challenge of relapse. Several classes of agents including next-generation proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory agents, selective histone-deacetylase inhibitors, antibody and antitumor immunotherapy approaches are currently undergoing preclinical and clinical evaluation. This Review provides an update on the latest advances in the treatment of multiple myeloma. In particular, we focus on novel therapies including modulating protein homeostasis, kinases inhibitors, targeting accessory cells and cytokines, and immunomodulatory agents. A discussion of the challenges associated with these therapeutic approaches is also presented.

Multiple myeloma with extramedullary disease

Plasmacytoma is a tumor mass consisting of atypical plasma cells. Incidence of plasmacytomas associated with multiple myeloma range from 7% to 17% at diagnosis and from 6% to 20% during the course of the disease. In both situations, occurrence of extramedullary disease has been consistently associated with a poorer prognosis of myeloma. Extramedullary relapse or progression occurs in a variety of clinical circumstances and settings, and therefore requires individualization of treatment. Alkylating agents, bortezomib, and immunomodulatory drugs, along with corticoids, have been used to treat extramedullary relapse but, because of the relatively low frequency or detection rate of extramedullary relapse, no efficacy data are available from controlled studies in this setting.

Extramedullary plasmacytomas in the context of multiple myeloma

Plasmacytoma is a frequent complication of multiple myeloma, either at diagnosis or within disease progression. The extramedullary disease confers a poorer prognosis and is biologically distinct with high-risk molecular and histological features, being resistant to conventional treatments. Radiation therapy remains the most effective treatment for extramedullary lesions to achieve local control. There are very limited data from randomized trials regarding the most appropriate systemic treatment. Case reports such as those presented here, as well as retrospective analysis of series, suggest that lenalidomide is an effective agent, in combination with dexamethasone, in this setting. Additional studies are needed to define the proper management of this condition.

Soft-Tissue Plasmacytomas in Multiple Myeloma: Incidence, Mechanisms of Extramedullary Spread, and Treatment Approach

We provide an overview on soft-tissue extramedullary plasmacytomas (EMPs) in multiple myeloma (MM). We reviewed the incidence of EMPs in MM, myeloma bone marrow homing, possible mechanisms of extramedullary spread, and prognosis and response to therapy. The incidence of EMPs is 7% to 18% at MM diagnosis and up to 20% at relapse. The current notion that EMPs are more frequent after treatment with novel agents remains to be proven, especially considering that different patterns of disease recurrence can emerge as patients live longer in the era of novel drugs. Bone marrow genetic abnormalities are not associated with extramedullary spread per se, which also suggests that microenvironmental interactions are key. Possible mechanisms of extramedullary spread include decreased adhesion molecule expression and downregulation of chemokine receptors. EMPs usually show plasmablastic morphology with negative CD56 expression. High-dose therapy with autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) can overcome the negative prognostic impact of extramedullary disease in younger selected patients. EMPs do not typically respond to thalidomide alone, but in contrast, responses to bortezomib have been reported. The incidence of EMPs in patients with MM is high and is associated with poor outcome in patients treated conventionally. A potential first-line treatment option seems to be a bortezomib-containing regimen followed by ASCT, whenever possible. Experimental studies on the mechanisms of myeloma cell adhesion, myeloma growth at extramedullary sites, and drug sensitivity are priorities for this area of continuing therapeutic challenge.

Incidence of extramedullary disease in patients with multiple myeloma in the era of novel therapy, and the activity of pomalidomide on extramedullary myeloma

We studied 174 consecutive patients with relapsed refractory multiple myeloma (MM) enrolled on a phase II clinical trial of pomalidomide plus low-dose dexamethasone at Mayo Clinic. Extramedullary disease (EMD) was present at the time of trial entry in 7.5% (13 of 174 patients). The rate of EMD in the first 3 years following diagnosis of MM was 3%. The response of EMD to pomalidomide plus low-dose dexamethasone included two complete and two partial responses among the 13 patients (response rate, 31%). Overall survival measured from trial entry was significantly shorter for patients with treatment-emergent EMD compared with those who did not have EMD, (median 16 months versus not reached, P=0.002).

Radiotherapy for multiple myeloma with skin involvement

Multiple myeloma metastatic to the skin is a rare occurrence that usually reflects a high tumour burden. Here, we report the case of a woman with known multiple myeloma who developed cutaneous lesions on the right leg. Limited-field radiation treatment was successfully used to decrease her tumour bulk. Unfortunately, the patient died of complications related to systemic treatment a few months after developing the cutaneous involvement.

Imaging of extraosseous myeloma: CT, PET/CT, and MRI features

OBJECTIVE

A minority of patients with multiple myeloma have imaging findings of extraosseous involvement. Extraosseous myeloma may affect any organ and can mimic other malignancies. The objective of this article is to describe the clinical relevance of extraosseous myeloma and to present the diverse imaging findings of extraosseous myeloma.

CONCLUSION

The presence of radiologically detectable extraosseous myeloma is associated with a poor prognosis and thus is an important factor in the initial workup and follow-up evaluation.

Treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma in the era of novel agents

The introduction of the Immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) and proteasome inhibitors, used either as a single-agent or combined with classic anti-myeloma therapies, has improved the outcome for patients with relapsed myeloma. However, there is currently no generally accepted standard treatment for relapsed/refractory myeloma patients, partly because of the absence of trials comparing the efficacy of the novel agents in relapsed/refractory myeloma. Choice of a new treatment regimen depends on both patient and disease-specific characteristics. A lenalidomide-based regimen is the first choice in patients with neuropathy, while bortezomib has the highest efficacy in patients with renal insufficiency and is not associated with increased risk of thromboembolism. A second autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT) can be applied in patients with a progression-free period of ≥ 18-24 months after the first auto-SCT. In high-risk relapse such as occurring early after auto-SCT consolidation with allogeneic SCT can be considered. In this review we provide an overview of the various salvage regimens and give recommendations for treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory myeloma in different clinical settings.

Plasma cell leukaemia and other aggressive plasma cell malignancies

Extramedullary plasma cell cancers, such as plasma cell leukaemia (PCL) and multiple extramedullary plasmacytomas (MEP) are very aggressive malignancies. These can be primary (de-novo) or secondary due to progressive prior multiple myeloma (MM). Recent reports suggest an increase in incidence of these disorders. Compared to MM, organ invasion is common in PCL, while soft tissue tumors involving the head, neck or paraspinal area are common sites for MEP. Markers of poor prognosis are frequently observed in these extramedullary forms of plasma cell cancers, and survival is significantly inferior compared to patients with MM. Conventional chemotherapeutic and radiotherapy approaches have been employed with variable results. Even high dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell rescue has not been able to demonstrate consistent improvement in survival outcome. Although not specifically evaluated, novel anti-plasma cell agents, such as the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib, and immunomodulatory drugs, such as lenalidomide, appear to be active against these aggressive cancers. Clinical and translational research directed at improved understanding of disease biology and development of novel therapeutics is urgently needed.

Comparison of a new whole-body continuous-table-movement protocol versus a standard whole-body MR protocol for the assessment of multiple myeloma

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate a whole body (WB) continuous-table-movement (CTM) MR protocol for the assessment of multiple myeloma (MM) in comparison to a step-by-step WB protocol.

METHODS

Eighteen patients with MM were examined at 1.5T using a WB CTM protocol (axial T2-w fs BLADE, T1-w GRE sequence) and a step-by-step WB protocol including coronal/sagittal T1-w SE and STIR sequences as reference. Protocol time was assessed. Image quality, artefacts, liver/spleen assessability, and the ability to depict bone marrow lesions less than or greater than 1 cm as well as diffuse infiltration and soft tissue lesions were rated. Potential changes in the Durie and Salmon Plus stage and the detectability of complications were assessed.

RESULTS

Mean protocol time was 6:38 min (CTM) compared to 24:32 min (standard). Image quality was comparable. Artefacts were more prominent using the CTM protocol (P = 0.0039). Organ assessability was better using the CTM protocol (P < 0.001). Depiction of bone marrow and soft tissue lesions was identical without a staging shift. Vertebral fractures were not detected using the CTM protocol.

CONCLUSIONS

The new protocol allows a higher patient throughput and facilitates the depiction of extramedullary lesions. However, as long as vertebral fractures are not detectable, the protocol cannot be safely used for clinical routine without the acquisition of an additional sagittal sequence.