Consolidation therapy with autologous stem cell transplantation in plasma cell leukemia after VAD, high-dose cyclophosphamide and EDAP courses: a report of three cases and a review of the literature

Primary plasma cell leukemia and autologous stem cell transplantation

BACKGROUND

Primary plasma cell leukemia is a rare disorder accounting for less than 5% of malignant plasma cell diseases. It has a poor prognosis compared to multiple myeloma, with a median survival of 8-12 months. The results of conventional therapy are disappointing though autologous stem cell transplantation may improve survival.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis was undertaken of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation experience of 272 patients with plasma cell leukemia and 20844 with multiple myeloma undergoing first autologous transplantation between 1980 and 2006. All patients were reported to the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation registry using MED-A (limited data) or MED-B (extensive data) forms. All patients were included regardless of availability of complete data.

RESULTS

There was no difference in type of graft or use of total body irradiation between patients with plasma cell leukemia and multiple myeloma, but the group with plasma cell leukemia was transplanted earlier after diagnosis (6.0 versus 7.7 months, P=0.000). Patients with plasma cell leukemia were more likely to enter complete remission after transplantation but their overall survival (25.7 months, 95% confidence interval 19.5-31.9 months) was inferior to that of patients with multiple myeloma (62.3 months, 95% confidence interval 60.4-64.3 months) (P=0.000), due to the short duration of their post-transplant response and increased non-relapse-related mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

This largest study ever reported on plasma cell leukemia suggests that autologous transplantation can improve outcome, although results are markedly inferior to those achieved in patients with multiple myeloma, highlighting the need for novel approaches to this aggressive disorder.

Primary plasma cell leukemia in the era of new drugs: has something changed?

Primary plasma cell leukemia (PPCL) is a rare and aggressive variant of multiple myeloma. This disease is associated with a very poor prognosis, and unfortunately it has not significantly improved during the last three decades. Autologous stem cell transplantation is generally recommended in eligible patients, but survival in transplanted PPCL patients is significantly lower than that of multiple myeloma. Recent preliminary data indicate that new drugs, in particular lenalidomide and bortezomib, could significantly improve the clinical outcome of PPCL, increasing response rate and duration, as well as survival. In this review we report an updated literature analysis about the current therapeutic scenario of PPCL, with a particular focus on the use of novel agents.

IgA plasma cell leukemia

Plasma cell leukemia (PCL) is a rare entity. There are two presentations of PCL, primary or secondary. The primary or de novo form of PCL presents with an acute and rapidly progressive leukemic phase. This form occurs when the patient has no pre-existing multiple myeloma (MM). The secondary form is the most advanced form of MM. The PCL is a rare disorder representing 1–2% of the diagnosed cases of MM. Median age at presentation is usually above 50 years. The monoclonal protein in patients with PCL may be IgG (50%), IgA (15%), or in rare cases IgD or IgE (6%). We report a case of IgA primary PCL that is very rare. Patient was started on combination therapy with vincristine, adriamycin, and dexamethasone. There was poor response and patient died three months after diagnosis.

Efficacy and safety of bortezomib in patients with plasma cell leukemia

BACKGROUND

The prognosis of patients with plasma cell leukemia (PCL), an aggressive variant of multiple myeloma (MM), is usually poor. Bortezomib is the first proteasome inhibitor approved for the treatment of advanced MM. Currently available information regarding the role of bortezomib in PCL is scanty and derives from anecdotal, single-case reports.

METHODS

The authors conducted a retrospective survey of unselected Italian patients with primary or secondary PCL who were treated with bortezomib outside of clinical trials. Twelve evaluable patients were recorded who had received bortezomib for 1 to 6 cycles as either a single agent or variously combined with other drugs. Three patients were treated with bortezomib as frontline therapy, and 9 patients received bortezomib after 1 to 4 lines of chemotherapy, including autologous stem cell transplantation and thalidomide.

RESULTS

According to the International uniform response criteria of the International Myeloma Working Group, 5 partial responses (defined as a reduction in M-protein of >50%), 4 very good partial responses (defined as a reduction of >90% in M-protein), and 2 complete responses (defined as negative immunofixation) were achieved, for a response rate of 92%. Responses did not appear to be influenced by previous treatments or by other clinical or biologic parameters, including chromosome 13 deletion or the combination of bortezomib with other drugs. The median progression-free and overall survivals after bortezomib were 8 months and 12 months, respectively. At the time of last follow-up, 8 patients were alive 6 to 21 months after treatment with bortezomib, 4 of whom were in very good partial or complete responses. Grade 3/4 hematologic or neurologic toxicities (graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events [CTCAE; version 3]) were reported to occur in 9 patients and 1 patient, respectively, whereas 6 patients experienced possible or documented infections.

CONCLUSIONS

Bortezomib appears to be an effective drug for PCL that could significantly improve the usually adverse clinical outcome of these patients.

Primary plasma cell leukemia: morphologic, immunophenotypic, and cytogenetic features of 4 cases treated with chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation

Plasma cell leukemia (PCL) is a neoplastic disorder of plasma cells of which there are 2 forms, primary PCL and secondary PCL, the latter occurring in patients with a history of plasma cell myeloma. We describe 4 patients with primary PCL. In all cases, the bone marrow aspirate smears and biopsy specimens demonstrated a diffuse infiltrate of atypical plasma cells that were difficult to classify using morphologic criteria alone. Immunophenotypic studies showed that each case was positive for plasma cell-associated antigens (cytoplasmic immunoglobin, CD38, or CD138) and negative for CD20. Of 4 cases, 3 had complex karyotypes, including the t(11;14)(q13;q32) or del(11)(q13). Despite chemotherapy and the use of novel therapeutic agents and stem cell transplantation, all 4 patients had short survival.

Successful treatment of multi-agent chemotherapy with rituximab for IgM plasma cell leukemia

A 67-year-old woman presented with impaired general performance, suffering from fatigue, dyspnea on exertion, and paresthesia of the finger tips. The laboratory findings showed increased white blood cells at 11.37 x 10(3)cells/microl with 26.5% abnormal cells, low haemoglobin and, elevated creatinine, although serum lactate dehydrogenase and calcium levels were normal. Serum immunofixation was positive for monoclonal IgM-kappa paraprotein. Total serum protein and the IgM component were elevated. X-ray examination of the skeleton was normal. Bone marrow aspiration showed 59.5% infiltration of abnormal cells that were characterized by typical mature plasmacytoid morphology. Abnormal cells expressed surface CD20, surface CD138, and cytoplasmic IgM, but not surface CD56 nor surface IgM by flow cytometric immunophenotyping with CD38 gating. Immunohistochemistry showed surface CD38, surface CD20, and cytoplasmic IgM. The clinical findings led to the diagnosis of the IgM Plasma cell leukemia (PCL). The patient received multi-agent chemotherapy (VAD and EDAP with rituximab). The clinical symptoms disappeared, leading to the tumor load reduction. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of successful treatment of multi-agent chemotherapy with rituximab for IgM PCL.

Primary plasma cell leukemia: report of 17 new cases treated with autologous or allogeneic stem-cell transplantation and review of the literature

Primary plasma cell leukemia (PPCL) is a rare hematologic malignancy characterized by the proliferation of plasma cells in blood, bone marrow, and other organs in the absence of established multiple myeloma. PPCL has a poor prognosis when treated with conventional therapy for multiple myeloma. We describe here 17 new cases of PPCL who underwent stem-cell transplantation (SCT) (2 cases observed by the authors and 15 cases from the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry [IBMTR]). The first case was diagnosed in a 21-year-old male who presented with leukocytosis and acute renal failure. He was treated with hyper-CVAD, entered complete remission, and then proceeded to high-dose chemotherapy with peripheral stem-cell support. He is currently in complete remission 23 months after initial diagnosis and 19 months after autologous SCT. The second case was observed in a 31-year-old male who presented with leukocytosis and hepatic infiltration with plasma cells. He was treated with VAD chemotherapy and underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from his HLA-identical sister. He remained in complete remission for 3 years and then developed progressive refractory disease, dying 7 years after the initial diagnosis. In addition to these 2 cases, 15 further unpublished cases of PPCL from the IBMTR are reported here (treated between 1993 and 2001, 6 by autologous and 9 by allogeneic transplantation). Finally, the features of PPCL, the outcome, published data of SCT for PPCL, and indications for treatment are discussed.

CD27-triggering on primary plasma cell leukaemia cells has anti-apoptotic effects involving mitogen activated protein kinases

Primary plasma cell leukaemia (PCL) is a rare plasma cell malignancy, which is related to multiple myeloma (MM) and is characterized by a poor prognosis. In a previous study we demonstrated that PCL plasma cells display a high expression of CD27, in contrast to MM plasma cells. The present study was set out to assess the functional properties of CD27 expressed on PCL plasma cells by triggering with its ligand CD70. Using CD27-expressing purified plasma cells from a PCL patient we demonstrated that CD27-triggering modestly inhibited spontaneous and dexamethasone-induced apoptosis. In vitro stimulation and Western blotting showed that activation of p38 and extracellular-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) was associated with CD27-mediated signal transduction. Specific inhibition of p38 and ERK1/2 MAPK abolished the anti-apoptotic effects of CD27-triggering. Interestingly, simultaneous inhibition of p38 and ERK1/2 strongly sensitized PCL cells for dexamethasone-induced apoptosis. Finally, in dexamethasone-treated PCL cells, CD27-triggering was associated with persistent DNA-binding activity of activator protein 1 (AP-1) but not of nuclear factor-kappaB. These findings suggest that, in primary PCL, specific anti-apoptotic pathways exist that might provide novel therapeutic targets.

Consolidation therapy with autologous blood stem cell transplantation in a patient with primary plasma cell leukaemia

Primary plasma cell leukaemia (PPCL) is a rare form of plasma cell dyscrasia. Conventional melphalan-based treatment is often ineffective, with a reported median survival of 2-7 months only. We report a 53-year-old man with PPCL who was treated with four cycles of combination chemotherapy including vincristine, adriamycin and dexamethasone that resulted in a good partial remission. High-dose melphalan 200 mg/m2 and autologous peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) rescue was then given 6 months after diagnosis. Maintenance interferon-alpha was started 8 weeks after transplantation with good drug compliance. Complete remission was achieved and molecular remission was documented 11 months after autologous PBSC transplantation. In conclusion, high-dose therapy followed by autologous stem cell rescue is a feasible option for PPCL that can result in a reasonably sustained remission.

Treatment of plasma cell leukemia with vincristine, liposomal doxorubicin and dexamethasone

Primary plasma cell (PCL) leukemia is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by a malignant proliferation of plasma cells in the bone marrow and peripheral blood. Survival with standard therapy using melphalan is very poor. Doxorubicin encapsulated with liposomes has less cardiotoxicity, is at least as efficient and has fewer side effects than conventional doxorubicin. Two female patients (69 and 54 yr old) with primary PCL are described in this study. They both received a modified form of VAD (vincristine, doxorubicin and dexamethasone), a regimen which includes liposomal doxorubicin (40 mg/m2 for 1 d), vincristine (2 mg for 1 d) and dexamethasone 40 mg per os on days 1-4, 9-12 and 17-20. A disease evaluation of the first patient after six courses of the modified \VAD regimen showed no plasma cells in the peripheral blood, a decrease in the serum M protein level and a plasma cell infiltration in the bone marrow of less than 5%. The patient died from a cardiac episode 24 months post-diagnosis, while she was in complete hematological remission. The second patient also exhibited good tolerance to liposomal doxorubicin with no side effects, achieved complete haematological remission and remains in good condition 7 months after the last VAD administration. These results suggest that this modified form of VAD regimen also seems to work in PCL and is well tolerated with no side effects.

Primary plasma cell leukaemia: a report of 18 cases

Primary plasma cell leukaemia (P-PCL) is a variant of multiple myeloma (MM) first diagnosed in the leukemic phase, with >2000/mm(3) circulating plasma cells (PCs) and plasmacytosis >20% of the white cell count. We investigated the clinical characteristics, therapy, immunophenotype and prognosis factors of 18 patients. Common features at diagnosis were asthenia (seven patients), renal insufficiency (ten patients), bone pain (seven patients), splenomegaly or hepatomegaly (five patients). Hypercalcemia was present at diagnosis in seven patients and was the most potent poor prognosis factor (P<0.05). Most patients (16 out of 18) were treated with an anthracyclin containing regiment; complete remission was attained in one patient and partial remission in 11 patients while six patients had no response. The median survival time from diagnosis was 7 months (2--12, 95% confidence interval), but response to treatment had favorable predictive value (P<0.05). The PCs were usually positive for mature B-cell markers (PCA-1, CD38). They expressed integrins which may increase their binding to endothelial cells and thus participate in PCL physiopathology by favoring plasmocyte extramedullary spread.

Autologous stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma after VAD and EDAP courses: a high incidence of oligoclonal serum Igs post transplantation

Thirty-seven patients with multiple myeloma (stage II and III, 65% increased beta2-microglobulin level) were prospectively treated with a median of 3.7 VAD courses (range 2-8) followed by cyclophosphamide (6 g/m2) in conjunction with G-CSF (5 microg/kg filgrastrim (n = 14), or 3.5 microg/kg lenograstrim (n = 22)), and peripheral stem cell (PSC) isolation. After regeneration this was followed by one EDAP course and high-dose melphalan (HDM, 200 mg/m2) in combination with re-infusion of PSC. Adequate stem cell mobilization was obtained with both G-CSF regimens. A median of 41x10(6) CD34+ cells/kg (range 4.5-161) was collected in a median of 1.6 leukapheresis procedures following filgrastrim (n = 14) and 24x10(6) CD34+ cells/kg (range 2. 3-80) in a median of 1.7 leukapheresis procedures following lenograstrim (n = 22) which indicated no significant difference (P = 0.24) between both G-CSF regimens. A rapid hematological recovery was obtained after HDM with reinfusion of a median of 9.3x10(6) CD34+ cells/kg. After the total courses the overall response was 84% with a complete remission rate of 30%. Currently the median overall survival is 44.0 months (95% CI 38.9-49.1) with a median follow-up of 33 months (range 3-51) and a median event-free survival of 29.0 months (95% CI 25.3-32.7) (n = 33). Post transplantation a high incidence of oligloclonal serum immunoglobulins (Igs) was observed. In 73% of the patients new oligoclonal or monoclonal serum bands were noticed 3 months post transplantation. IgG-lambda and IgG-kappa bands predominated. In 48% of the cases the oligoclonal Igs disappeared after a median follow-up of 22 months (range 8-36), whereas in 52% of the cases the oligoclonal Igs persisted with a median follow-up of 31 months (range 21-45), which did not correlate with a significant difference in overall, and event-free survival between both subgroups.

Nonsecretory myeloma, immunoglobulin D myeloma, and plasma cell leukemia

Nonsecretory myeloma, which accounts for 1% to 5% of all myelomas, is characterized by the absence of detectable M-protein in serum and urine. The presenting features of nonsecretory myeloma are similar to those in patients with a detectable M-protein, except for the absence of renal function impairment. The response to therapy and survival of patients with nonsecretory myeloma are similar to those of patients with measurable M-protein. Immunoglobulin D myeloma represents 2% of all myelomas. Patients with IgD myeloma usually present with a small band or no evident M-spike on serum electrophoresis and heavy light-chain proteinuria. Thus, IgD myeloma can be considered a variant of Bence Jones myeloma; the presence of the IgD M-protein and the predominance of the lambda light chain are the only distinctive features. The median survival of patients with IgD myeloma is almost 2 years, with one fifth of them surviving for more than 5 years. Plasma cell leukemia is also a rare form of plasma cell dyscrasia (2% to 4% of all myelomas). The primary form accounts for 60% of the cases. In primary PCL, the constellation of adverse biologic prognostic factors in patients with advanced aggressive myeloma is already present at diagnosis. In fact, primary PCL has a more aggressive clinical presentation than MM, with a higher frequency of extramedullary involvement, anemia, thrombocytopenia, hypercalcemia, and renal failure. Treatment with a single alkylating agent plus prednisone is not appropriate. Combination chemotherapy with VAD, cyclophosphamide and etoposide, or VCMP/VBAP is a better initial option. Given the poor prognosis of primary PCL, intensification with high-dose therapy followed by stem cell rescue should be offered to affected patients.