Supportive care in multiple myeloma

Regulatory Effect and Mechanism of Erythroblastic Island Macrophages on Anemia in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma

Objective

To examine the clinical characteristics and anemia-related factors in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM), as well as the effect and mechanism of erythroblastic islands (EBIs) and EBI macrophages in NDMM patients with anemia.

Methods

We collected and analyzed clinical data to find anemia-related factors. Using flow cytometry, the numbers and ratios of erythroblasts and EBI macrophages were determined. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was used to determine the differences of EBI macrophages in NDMM patients with or without anemia.

Results

Based on the clinical characteristics of NDMM patients with anemia, MCV, abnormal levels of albumin, osteolytic lesions, and Durie-Salmon (DS) stage are risk factors for anemia. Patients with anemia have fewer erythroblasts, erythroblastic islands (EBIs), and EBI macrophages in their bone marrow than patients without anemia. RNA-seq analysis of EBI macrophages from the bone marrow of patients with and without anemia revealed that macrophages from patients with anemia are impaired and tend to promote the production of interleukin-6, which has been demonstrated to be an essential survival factor of myeloma cells and protects them from apoptosis.

Conclusion

In NDMM patients with anemia, EBI macrophages are impaired, which causes anemia in those patients. Our finding highlights the significance of EBI macrophages in anemia in NDMM patients and provides a new strategy for recovery from anemia in these patients.

Subcutaneous immunoglobulins in patients with multiple myeloma and secondary hypogammaglobulinemia: a randomized trial

Multiple myeloma is commonly associated with a reduction of non-paraprotein immunoglobulins, resulting in a higher risk of infections that represent the leading cause of the patients' death. Therefore, immunoglobulin replacement therapy appears a logical approach. A total number of 46 myeloma patients were randomly enrolled: 24 of them were assigned to receive subcutaneous immunoglobulins, and 22 were controls. The primary endpoint was the evaluation of the annual rate of severe infections in immunoglobulins-receiving patients as compared with those untreated. Subcutaneous immunoglobulins-treated patients showed a significantly lower number of severe infections per year. Adverse events were limited to the site of infusion and were easily manageable. Health-related quality of life was significantly better in subcutaneous immunoglobulins-receiving patients. By decreasing the rate of infections, the prophylactic administration of SCIg improves both adherence to chemotherapy and health-related quality of life, and is cost-effective by reducing the need of hospitalization and the use of antibiotics.

Infections in Hospitalised Patients with Multiple Myeloma: Main Characteristics and Risk Factors

OBJECTIVE

Multiple myeloma is a common haematological malignancy and immune dysfunction is the hallmark of the disease. It leads to an increased infection risk, which is still a major cause of mortality. The infection spectrum and characteristics have evolved with the introduction of novel agents. An understanding of risk factors that increase susceptibility to infections is critical in fighting them. This retrospective investigation aimed to establish the incidence and main characteristics of infections in non-transplanted hospitalised myeloma patients in our department over a 3-year period, as well as factors associated with infections.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 240 hospitalised patients with multiple myeloma (120 males and 120 females; average age: 69 years, range: 41-89 years) who were diagnosed or treated in our department from January 2008 to December 2010 were included in this study and their data were retrospectively analysed.

RESULTS

Infections were identified in 17.9% of hospitalised patients. The most common pathogen found was Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The frequency of gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens was similar. In 37.2% of cases, the agent was not isolated. The most common sites of infections were the urinary system and the blood (septicemia). The frequency of infection increased with duration of disease and the rate of reinfection was 41.9%. The patients treated with bortezomib had the highest infection occurrence. Fatal outcome occurred in 9.3% of cases.

CONCLUSION

The factors associated with infections in this investigation were female sex, 3B clinical stage of disease, increased serum creatinine and ferritin levels, neutropenia, poor general condition, and presence of catheters. Myeloma patients with one or more of these mentioned risk factors should be monitored with particular care in order to decrease the incidence and severity of infective complications.

Secondary immunodeficiency in lymphoproliferative malignancies

Secondary immunodeficiencies occur as a consequence of various diseases, including hematological malignancies, and the use of pharmacological therapies, such as immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory, and biological drugs. Infections are the main cause of morbidity and mortality in multiple myeloma (MM) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. Recent advances in treatment have prolonged the duration of remission and the time between relapse phases in MM and CLL patients. However, managing multiple relapses and the use of salvage therapies can lead to cumulative immunosuppression and a higher risk of infections. The pathogenesis of immune deficiency secondary to lymphoproliferative malignancy is multifactorial including disease- and treatment-related factors. Supportive treatment, including early vaccination, anti-infective prophylaxis, and replacement immunoglobulin, plays a key role in preventing infections in MM and CLL. This article provides an overview of the basic immunology necessary to understand the pathogenesis of secondary immunodeficiency and the infectious complications in MM and CLL. We also discuss the evidence supporting the role of prophylactic replacement immunoglobulin treatment in patients with antibody failure secondary to MM and CLL and the indications for its use. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Immunoglobulin replacement therapy in secondary hypogammaglobulinemia

Immunoglobulin (Ig) replacement therapy dramatically changed the clinical course of primary hypogammaglobulinemias, significantly reducing the incidence of infectious events. Over the last two decades its use has been extended to secondary antibody deficiencies, particularly those related to hematological disorders as lymphoproliferative diseases (LPDs) and multiple myeloma. In these malignancies, hypogammaglobulinemia can be an intrinsic aspect of the disease or follow chemo-immunotherapy regimens, including anti-CD20 treatment. Other than in LPDs the broadening use of immunotherapy (e.g., rituximab) and immune-suppressive therapy (steroids, sulfasalazine, and mycophenolate mofetil) has extended the occurrence of iatrogenic hypogammaglobulinemia. In particular, in both autoimmune diseases and solid organ transplantation Ig replacement therapy has been shown to reduce the rate of infectious events. Here, we review the existing literature about Ig replacement therapy in secondary hypogammaglobulinemia, with special regard for subcutaneous administration route, a safe, effective, and well-tolerated treatment approach, currently well established in primary immunodeficiencies and secondary hypogammaglobulinemias.

miR-29b negatively regulates human osteoclastic cell differentiation and function: implications for the treatment of multiple myeloma-related bone disease

Skeletal homeostasis relies upon a fine tuning of osteoclast (OCL)-mediated bone resorption and osteoblast (OBL)-dependent bone formation. This balance is unsettled by multiple myeloma (MM) cells, which impair OBL function and stimulate OCLs to generate lytic lesions. Emerging experimental evidence is disclosing a key regulatory role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the regulation of bone homeostasis suggesting the miRNA network as potential novel target for the treatment of MM-related bone disease (BD). Here, we report that miR-29b expression decreases progressively during human OCL differentiation in vitro. We found that lentiviral transduction of miR-29b into OCLs, even in the presence of MM cells, significantly impairs tartrate acid phosphatase (TRAcP) expression, lacunae generation, and collagen degradation, which are relevant hallmarks of OCL activity. Accordingly, expression of cathepsin K and metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) as well as actin ring rearrangement were impaired in the presence of miR-29b. Moreover, we found that canonical targets C-FOS and metalloproteinase 2 are suppressed by constitutive miR-29b expression which also downregulated the master OCL transcription factor, NAFTc-1. Overall, these data indicate that enforced expression of miR-29b impairs OCL differentiation and overcomes OCL activation triggered by MM cells, providing a rationale for miR-29b-based treatment of MM-related BD.

Quality of life and supportive care in multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma is the second most common haematological malignancy. Novel therapies have led to improvement in survival. Current myeloma management is matching the progress made in improved survival through disease control while optimising quality of life with effective supportive care. Supportive treatment is an essential part of the therapeutic management of myeloma patients because it is directed towards improving the patient’s quality of life and also can improve survival. The aim of this review is to highlight the relationship among life of quality, supportive care, and improvement in survival.

Conflict of interest:None declared.

Cost of palliative radiation to the bone for patients with bone metastases secondary to breast or prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

To estimate the costs (paid amounts) of palliative radiation episodes of care (REOCs) to the bone for patients with bone metastases secondary to breast or prostate cancer.

METHODS

Claims-linked medical records from patients at 98 cancer treatment centers in 16 US states were analyzed. Inclusion criteria included a primary neoplasm of breast or prostate cancer with a secondary neoplasm of bone metastases; ≥2 visits to ≥1 radiation center during the study period (1 July 2008 through 31 December 2009) on or after the metastatic cancer diagnosis date; radiation therapy to ≥1 bone site; and ≥1 complete REOC as evidenced by a >30-day gap pre- and post-radiation therapy.

RESULTS

The total number of REOCs was 220 for 207 breast cancer patients and 233 for 213 prostate cancer patients. In the main analysis (which excluded records with unpopulated costs) the median number of fractions per a REOC for treatment of metastases was 10. Mean total radiation costs (i.e., radiation direct cost + cost of radiation-related procedures and visits) per REOC were $7457 for patients with breast cancer and $7553 for patients with prostate cancer. Results were consistent in sensitivity analyses excluding patients with unpopulated costs.

CONCLUSIONS

In the US, current use of radiation therapy for bone metastases is relatively costly and the use of multi-fraction schedules remains prevalent.

Health-related quality of life and disease-specific complaints among multiple myeloma patients up to 10 yr after diagnosis: results from a population-based study using the PROFILES registry

BACKGROUND

This prospective population-based study describes health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and disease-specific complaints of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) up to 10 yr post-diagnosis.

METHODS

The Eindhoven Cancer Registry was used to select all patients diagnosed with MM from 1999 to 2010. Patients with MM completed the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-MY20 questionnaires at baseline (n = 156; 74% response rate) and 1 yr later (n = 80). The EORTC QLQ-C30 was also completed by an age- and sex-matched normative population (n = 500).

RESULTS

Patients with MM reported statistically significant and clinically relevant worse scores on all EORTC QLQ-C30 scales (all P's at least < 0.01) compared to the norm. Also, patients with MM reported a mean decrease (e.g., worsening) between baseline and 1-yr follow-up scores for: quality of life (mean, 68 vs. 55, respectively, P < 0.001; 74% of patients had a deteriorated score), fatigue (33 vs. 39, P < 0.05; 50%), nausea and vomiting (6.3 vs. 13, P < 0.05; 71%), pain (33 vs. 43, P < 0.05; 59%), and dyspnea (17 vs. 33, P < 0.001; 66%). The most bothering symptoms during the past week were tingling hands/feet (32%), back pain (28%), bone aches/pain (26%), pain in arm/shoulder (19%), and feeling drowsy (18%). Also, 37% worried about their future health, 34% thought about their disease, and 21% worried about dying.

CONCLUSION

Patients with MM experience a very high symptom burden and low HRQOL. Future studies should focus on possible mechanisms that can predict low HRQOL and high symptom burden in patients with MM and should investigate optimal ways to alleviate these.

Changes in pain and other symptoms in patients with painful multiple myeloma-related vertebral fracture treated with kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty

Patients with painful vertebral compression fractures produced by multiple myeloma (MM) often experience reduction in pain after spinal augmentation with kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty. Previous studies have shown pain reduction and improvement in functional status after augmentation, but no studies have examined the effect of augmentation on other cancer-related symptoms. We hypothesized that reduction in pain severity would be significantly associated with improvement in other reported symptoms. We retrospectively studied 79 patients who rated pain and symptom severity both before and after kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty. Pain was significantly reduced after spinal augmentation (1.3 on a 0 to 10 scale; effect size [ES] = .59; P < .001), as were anxiety (1.3; ES = .47), drowsiness (1.3; ES = .39), fatigue (1.1; ES = .32), depression (.7; ES = .28), and difficulty thinking clearly (.7; ES = .26) (all P < .05). Greater reduction in pain was associated with a greater number of symptoms being reduced. Interestingly, insomnia worsened regardless of any amount of improvement in pain. Because appropriate symptom control contributes to the overall well-being of cancer patients, future studies of pain reduction procedures should include measures of other symptoms to fully characterize the potential benefit of treating pain.

PERSPECTIVE

Appropriate symptom control contributes to overall well-being for cancer patients. This study demonstrated that pain reduction after spinal augmentation with vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty was positively associated with reduction in other patient-reported cancer-related symptoms. Future studies of these augmentation procedures should measure multiple symptoms, in addition to pain and functional status.

Maintaining bone health in patients with multiple myeloma: survivorship care plan of the International Myeloma Foundation Nurse Leadership Board

About 90% of individuals with multiple myeloma will develop osteolytic bone lesions from increased osteoclastic and decreased osteoblastic activity. Severe morbidities from pathologic fractures and other skeletal events can lead to poor circulation, blood clots, muscle wasting, compromised performance status, and overall poor survival. Supportive care targeting bone disease is an essential adjunct to antimyeloma therapy. In addition, the maintenance of bone health in patients with multiple myeloma can significantly improve quality of life. Oncology nurses and other healthcare providers play a central role in the management of bone disease and maintenance throughout the course of treatment. Safe administration of bisphosphonates, promotion of exercise, maintenance of adequate nutrition, vitamin and mineral supplementation, scheduled radiographic examinations, and monitoring of bone complications are among the important functions that oncology nurses and healthcare providers perform in clinical practice.

Myeloma bone disease: recent advances in biology, diagnosis, and treatment

Bone disease is a hallmark of multiple myeloma (MM). Occurring in the majority of MM patients, it is associated with bone pain, fractures, and hypercalcemia and has major impacts on quality of life. Furthermore, bone resorption activity has been shown to be an independent risk factor for overall survival in patients with symptomatic MM. Myeloma is characterized by a unique form of bone disease with lytic bone destruction that is not followed by reactive bone formation (uncoupling). This review focuses on recent advances in our understanding of the biology of osteoclast activation and osteoblast inhibition in MM, diagnostic standards, and recent progress in treatment options for myeloma bone disease. Translational research has enabled a rapid transfer of mechanistic insights from the bench to the bedside and will hopefully result in better treatment options and outcome for patients in near future.