The potential link between Covid-19 and multiple myeloma: A new saga

Endothelial injury and dysfunction with emerging immunotherapies in multiple myeloma, the impact of COVID-19, and endothelial protection with a focus on the evolving role of defibrotide

Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) were among the groups impacted more severely by the COVID-19 pandemic, with higher rates of severe disease and COVID-19-related mortality. MM and COVID-19, plus post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection, are associated with endothelial dysfunction and injury, with overlapping inflammatory pathways and coagulopathies. Existing treatment options for MM, notably high-dose therapy with autologous stem cell transplantation and novel chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies and bispecific T-cell engaging antibodies, are also associated with endothelial cell injury and mechanism-related toxicities. These pathologies include cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity that may be exacerbated by underlying endotheliopathies. In the context of these overlapping risks, prophylaxis and treatment approaches mitigating the inflammatory and pro-coagulant effects of endothelial injury are important considerations for patient management, including cytokine receptor antagonists, thromboprophylaxis with low-molecular-weight heparin and direct oral anticoagulants, and direct endothelial protection with defibrotide in the appropriate clinical settings.

The possible role of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 activators in the management of Covid-19

COVID-19 is caused by a novel SARS-CoV-2 leading to pulmonary and extra-pulmonary manifestations due to oxidative stress (OS) development and hyperinflammation. COVID-19 is primarily asymptomatic though it may cause acute lung injury (ALI), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), systemic inflammation, and thrombotic events in severe cases. SARS-CoV-2-induced OS triggers the activation of different signaling pathways, which counterbalances this complication. One of these pathways is nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), which induces a series of cellular interactions to mitigate SARS-CoV-2-mediated viral toxicity and OS-induced cellular injury. Nrf2 pathway inhibits the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the development of cytokine storm in COVID-19. Therefore, Nrf2 activators may play an essential role in reducing SARS-CoV-2 infection-induced inflammation by suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome in COVID-19. Furthermore, Nrf2 activators can attenuate endothelial dysfunction (ED), renin-angiotensin system (RAS) dysregulation, immune thrombosis, and coagulopathy. Thus this mini-review tries to clarify the possible role of the Nrf2 activators in the management of COVID-19. Nrf2 activators could be an effective therapeutic strategy in the management of Covid-19. Preclinical and clinical studies are recommended in this regard.

Cellular mechanisms associated with sub-optimal immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 bivalent booster vaccination in patients with Multiple Myeloma

BACKGROUND

The real-world impact of bivalent vaccines for wild type (WA.1) and Omicron variant (BA.5) is largely unknown in immunocompromised patients with Multiple Myeloma (MM). We characterize the humoral and cellular immune responses in patients with MM before and after receiving the bivalent booster, including neutralizing assays to identify patterns associated with continuing vulnerability to current variants (XBB1.16, EG5) in the current post-pandemic era.

METHODS

We studied the humoral and cellular immune responses before and after bivalent booster immunization in 48 MM patients. Spike binding IgG antibody levels were measured by SARS-CoV-2 spike binding ELISA and neutralization capacity was assessed by a SARS-CoV-2 multi-cycle microneutralization assays to assess inhibition of live virus. We measured spike specific T-cell function using the QuantiFERON SARS-CoV-2 (Qiagen) assay as well as flow-cytometry based T-cell. In a subset of 38 patients, high-dimensional flow cytometry was performed to identify immune cell subsets associated with lack of humoral antibodies.

FINDINGS

We find that bivalent vaccination provides significant boost in protection to the omicron variant in our MM patients, in a treatment specific manner. MM patients remain vulnerable to newer variants with mutations in the spike portion. Anti-CD38 and anti-BCMA therapies affect the immune machinery needed to produce antibodies.

INTERPRETATION

Our study highlights varying immune responses observed in MM patients after receiving bivalent COVID-19 vaccination. Specifically, a subgroup of MM patients undergoing anti-CD38 and anti-BCMA therapy experience impairment in immune cells such DCs, B cells, NK cells and TFH cells, leading to an inability to generate adequate humoral and cellular responses to vaccination.

FUNDING

National Cancer Institute (National Institutes of Health), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (National Institutes of Health), NCI Serological Sciences Network for COVID-19 (SeroNet) and The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Management of patients with multiple myeloma and COVID-19 in the post pandemic era: a consensus paper from the European Myeloma Network (EMN)

In the post-pandemic COVID-19 period, human activities have returned to normal and COVID-19 cases are usually mild. However, patients with multiple myeloma (MM) present an increased risk for breakthrough infections and severe COVID-19 outcomes, including hospitalization and death. The European Myeloma Network has provided an expert consensus to guide patient management in this era. Vaccination with variant-specific booster vaccines, such as the bivalent vaccine for the ancestral Wuhan strain and the Omicron BA.4/5 strains, is essential as novel strains emerge and become dominant in the community. Boosters should be administered every 6-12 months after the last vaccine shot or documented COVID-19 infection (hybrid immunity). Booster shots seem to overcome the negative effect of anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies on humoral responses; however, anti-BCMA treatment remains an adverse predictive factor for humoral immune response. Evaluation of the immune response after vaccination may identify a particularly vulnerable subset of patients who may need additional boosters, prophylactic therapies and prevention measures. Pre-exposure prophylaxis with tixagevimab/cilgavimab is not effective against the new dominant variants and thus is no longer recommended. Oral antivirals (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and molnupiravir) and remdesivir are effective against Omicron subvariants BA.2.12.1, BA.4, BA.5, BQ.1.1 and/or XBB.1.5 and should be administered in MM patients at the time of a positive COVID-19 test or within 5 days post symptoms onset. Convalescent plasma seems to have low value in the post-pandemic era. Prevention measures during SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks, including mask wearing and avoiding crowded places, seem prudent to continue for MM patients.