Long-term follow-up of patients with multiple myeloma treated with total body irradiation-Melphalan conditioning

Bortezomib-based induction therapy followed by autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients: A single-center experience and review of Indian literature

INTRODUCTION

High-dose chemotherapy with melphalan, followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHCT) remains the standard of care for consolidation therapy of fit patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM), for more than 20 years now.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This is a retrospective study of NDMM patients who underwent AHCT at our center from 2011 to 2018. Data was undertaken using the hospital electronic medical records (EMR).

RESULTS

Among transplant eligible patients (which were 764), 78 patients (10.2%) underwent AHCT. The predominant stage in the study cohort was International Scoring System (ISS)-III (55%), and IgG-kappa (44%) was the commonest subtype of multiple myeloma (MM). Light chain myeloma was found in 23.5% of patients. Pretransplant, 42%, 48%, and 10% patients were in more than very good partial response (>VGPR), very good partial response (VGPR), and partial response (PR), respectively. The median duration of follow-up was 57.2 months (range: 12.1-120.2 months). The entire cohort's 5-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were 89.1% and 41.8%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Bortezomib based triplet induction regimens were effective and well tolerated in this retrospective analysis of Indian patients. We observed that AHCT effectively achieves deep and durable remission in MM.

Phase 1 Study of the Combination of Escalated Total Marrow Irradiation Using Helical Tomotherapy and Fixed High-Dose Melphalan (140 mg/m²) Followed by Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation at First Relapse in Multiple Myeloma

PURPOSE

A second intensification is an option at first relapse in multiple myeloma (MM) after more than 36 months of initial remission. Many conditioning regimens have been tested, with or without total body irradiation (TBI). Recently, it was found that TBI could be replaced by total marrow irradiation (TMI) using helical tomotherapy, with promising results.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

This study was a prospective multicenter phase 1 trial that aimed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of TMI administered in association with melphalan 140 mg/m², followed by autologous stem cell transplantation as consolidation at first relapse in MM. Four dose levels were explored: 8 Gy, 10 Gy, 12 Gy, and 14 Gy. The dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was defined as grade 4 neutropenia >15 days, grade 4 thrombopenia >28 days, and all other grade 4 nonhematologic toxic effects except nausea, vomiting, alopecia, mucositis, and reaction to autologous stem cell infusion.

RESULTS

Thirteen patients were included; only 1 DLT at the third escalated dose level (12 Gy) was observed, whereas 1 patient was treated at 14 Gy with no adverse events. The MTD was not reached. The rate of acute toxicity was low: 38% of grade 3-4 diarrhea, mucositis, or unexplained fever. Regarding the lungs, the mean dose administered was systematically less than 8 Gy. After a median follow-up of 55 months, 70% of participants were alive. Of these 13 patients, 38.5% were in very good partial response and 30.8% were in complete response. Three of them were progression-free. Six patients were long survivors, still alive after 55 months of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Total marrow irradiation provides good results with a good tolerance profile at first relapse in MM and makes it possible to increase the dose delivered to the planning target volume while sparing organs at risk. This technique could be discussed for all regimens before auto- or allo-stem cell rescue when TBI is required.

High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplant for multiple myeloma: Predictors of long-term outcome

Background & objectives

Survival of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) has improved in the past two decades following use of novel agents and autologous stem cell transplantation. To determine predictors of long-term outcome, data of MM patients who underwent autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) at a tertiary care centre in north India were retrospectively analyzed.

Methods

Between 1995 and 2016, 349 MM patients underwent ASCT. Patients' median age was 52 yr, ranging from 29 to 68 yr, 68.2 per cent were males. Thirty three per cent patients had international staging system (ISS) Stage III and 68.5 per cent had received novel agents-based induction. High-dose melphalan (200 mg/m²) was used for conditioning; patients with renal insufficiency (estimated glomerular filtration rate <40 ml/min) received melphalan 140-150 mg/m².

Results

Post-transplant, 317 of 349 (90.8%) patients responded; complete [complete response (CR)] -213 (61%)], very good partial response (VGPR) -62 (17.8%) and PR in 42 (12%)]. Induction with novel agents, pre-transplant chemosensitive disease, transplant in first remission and serum albumin (≥3.5 g/dl) were predictors of significant response. At a median follow up of 73 months, median overall survival (OS) was 90 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 70.8-109.2], and progression-free survival (PFS) was 41 months (95% CI 33.0-49.0). On multivariate analysis, achievement of CR post-transplant, transplant in first remission, ISS Stages I and II (vs. III), absence of extramedullary disease and serum albumin ≥3.5 g/dl were predictors of prolonged OS. For PFS, achievement of post-transplant CR and transplant in first remission were predictors of superior outcome.

Interpretation & conclusions

Treatment with novel agents, achievement of complete remission post-transplant, ISS Stages I and II, absence of extramedullary disease and transplant in first remission were predictors of long-term survival for patients with MM.