Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation: An Effective Salvage Therapy in Multiple Myeloma

Eighty-one patients treated with high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) as part of salvage therapy after a frontline ASCT were included in a retrospective analysis. The median time between the first and the salvage ASCT was 47 months. After salvage ASCT, 75 patients (93%) achieved at least a partial response, including 67% very good partial responses, and no toxic death was reported. Sixteen patients (20%) underwent consolidation therapy, whereas 30 patients (37%) underwent some form of maintenance therapy after salvage ASCT. For all patients, the median overall survival (OS) was 10 years from diagnosis and 4 years from salvage ASCT. The median progression-free survival (PFS) from the date of the first ASCT to the date of the first relapse was 40 months, and the median PFS from the date of salvage ASCT to the date of subsequent progression was 18 months. In the multivariate analysis of prognostic factors, three independent factors unfavorably affected PFS: a short duration of response to the first ASCT (cut-off value of 24 months), a response less than a very good partial response after salvage therapy, and no maintenance treatment after salvage ASCT. Age over 60 years and a short duration of response after the first ASCT were the two factors adversely affecting OS from the time of diagnosis and OS from the time of salvage ASCT. Our data show that salvage ASCT is a feasible option that should be routinely considered at the time of relapse for patients with a response duration of more than 2 years to frontline high-dose therapy.     

Outcome of a Salvage Third Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Multiple Myeloma

To evaluate the outcomes of salvage third autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma. We analyzed 570 patients who had undergone a third ASCT between 1997 and 2010 (European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation data), of whom 482 patients underwent tandem ASCT and a third ASCT at first relapse (AARA group) and 88 patients underwent an upfront ASCT with second and third transplantations after subsequent relapses (ARARA group). With a median follow-up after salvage third ASCT of 61 months in the AARA group and 48 months in the ARARA group, the day +100 nonrelapse mortality in the 2 groups was 4% and 7%, the incidence of second primary malignancy was 6% and 7%, the median progression-free survival was 13 and 8 months, and median overall survival (OS) was 33 and 15 months. In the AARA group, according to the relapse-free interval (RFI) from the second ASCT, the median OS after the third ASCT was 17 months if the RFI was <18 months, 37 months if the RFI was between 18 and 36 months, and 64 months if the RFI was ≥36 months (P?<?.001). In the ARARA group, the median OS after the third ASCT was 7 months if the RFI was <6 months, 13 months if the RFI was between 6 and 18 months, and 27 months if the RFI was ≥18 months (P?<?.001). In a multivariate analysis of the AARA group, the favorable prognostic factor was an RFI after second ASCT of ≥18 months. Progressive disease and a Karnofsky Performance Status score of <70 at third ASCT were unfavorable factors. A salvage third ASCT is of value for patients with relapsed myeloma, particularly for those with a long duration of response and chemosensitive disease at the time of transplantation.     

Lenalidomide and Vorinostat Maintenance after Autologous Transplantation in Multiple Myeloma: Long- Term Follow-Up

Post-autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) maintenance therapy with lenalidomide is standard of care for patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Effective and tolerable drug combinations may further enhance the clinical response post-ASCT. Vorinostat, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, induces antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects in patients with MM. We hypothesized that combination maintenance therapy would further prolong the clinical response achieved from transplantation. We previously reported that the combination of lenalidomide and vorinostat as maintenance post-ASCT was tolerable in 16 patients with MM. We now present the long-term follow up of these patients. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) outcomes were characterized using the Kaplan-Meier method. Five patients (31%) had high-risk disease, and the median number of lines of therapy before ASCT was 1 (range, 1 to 5). With a median follow-up of 89.8 months from ASCT, the median PFS was 64.3 months (range, 21.7 months to not reached [NR]), and OS was not reached (median, 53.0 months to NR). At the time of this report, 5 patients remained on the study. The combination of vorinostat and lenalidomide as maintenance post-ASCT is tolerable and induces a durable response. A phase III randomized study of lenalidomide versus a combination with vorinostat is warranted.     

Circulating Plasma Cells at the Time of Collection of Autologous PBSC for Transplant in Multiple Myeloma Patients is a Negative Prognostic Factor Even in the Age of Post-Transplant Maintenance Therapy

Circulating plasma cells (CPCs) have been detected in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) at various stages of disease and associated with worse outcomes. Little data exist regarding the impact of CPCs at the time of autologous peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) collection on outcomes, and the impact of maintenance therapy after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) on prognosis in patients with CPC-containing collections. All patients with MM who underwent first ASCT at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center from 2012 to 2015 and had evaluation for CPCs at the time of PBSC collection were included in our analysis. Seven-color flow cytometry was used to detect the presence of CPCs. Kaplan-Meier estimates were used to generate overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates from the time of ASCT. A multivariate analysis, including receipt of maintenance therapy post-ASCT, high-risk cytogenetics, and international staging system (ISS) stage, was included in a Cox proportional hazards regression model for associations with OS and PFS. We identified 227 patients with MM who underwent ASCT; of these, 144 (63.4%) patients had routine assessment of CPCs at the time of PBSC collection. One hundred seventeen (81.3%) patients did not have CPCs and 27 (18.8%) did have CPCs. The presence of CPCs was highly associated with poorer PFS (P?=?.031 by log-rank analysis), but did not affect OS. The median PFS for those patients without CPCs was 39.4 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 31.1 to not reached), while the median PFS for those patients with CPCs was 16.5 months (95% CI, 13.7 to not reached). A subgroup analysis of patients achieving very good partial response (VGPR) or better at time of collection, showed the median PFS for patients without CPCs was 38.3 months (95% CI, 29 to not reached), as compared with those patients with CPCs, where it was only 16.5 months (95% CI, 12 months to not reached; P?=?.02). There was no statistically significant difference in PFS or OS among those patients achieving partial response at the time of collection. In a Cox proportional hazards model, adjusting for post-ASCT maintenance therapy, high-risk cytogenetics, and ISS stage at time of initial diagnosis, there was a 43% higher risk of progression or death among the patients with CPCs (P?=?.04). The presence of CPCs at the time of autologous PBSC collection is a negative prognostic factor for risk of early relapse or death despite the advent of novel agents and maintenance strategies. The impact of CPCs was most significant among patients achieving a VGPR or better at time of collection. The presence of CPCs denotes a unique group of high-risk MM patients for whom alternative treatment strategies are needed to overcome resistance to current standard therapies.     

Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Patients with Early Progression of Follicular Lymphoma: A Follow-Up Study of 2 Randomized Trials from the German Low Grade Lymphoma Study Group

Patients with follicular lymphoma (FL) and progression of disease (POD) within 24 months after frontline treatment (POD24) have poor overall survival (OS). The optimal salvage treatment for these patients is unknown. We assessed the role of high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in transplant-eligible patients. We analyzed 162 patients with advanced-stage FL who had received frontline treatment within the GLSG1996 or GLSG2000 trials. All patients had POD at age ≤ 65 years and had not received a prior transplant. Second-line treatment was not specified by study protocols. Survival was calculated from time of second-line treatment. Eighteen patients (11%) progressed (n?=?16) or died (n?=?2) during cytoreductive second-line treatment (considered “cytoreduction failure”); none received ASCT, and their median second-line OS was <1 year. A total of 113 patients had POD24 (70%), whereas 49 had POD after 24 months (30%). Sixty-three patients without cytoreduction failure received ASCT (39%), and 81 received no transplant (50%). In patients with POD24, a significant survival benefit was associated with ASCT with a 5-year second-line progression-free survival for ASCT versus no transplant of 51% versus 19% (hazard ratio, .38; 95% confidence interval, .24 to .62; P?<?.0001) and a 5-year second-line OS of 77% versus 59% (hazard ratio, .54, 95% confidence interval, .30 to .95; P?=?.031). Thus, ASCT is an effective treatment option for transplant-eligible patients with high-risk FL as identified by POD24 and should be evaluated in prospective clinical trials.     

Comparable Outcomes in Nonsecretory and Secretory Multiple Myeloma after Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation

Nonsecretory myeloma (NSM) accounts for <5% of cases of multiple myeloma (MM). The outcome of these patients following autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) has not been evaluated in clinical trials. We compared the outcomes after ASCT for patients with NSM reported to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) between 1989 and 2003, to a matched group of 438 patients (4 controls for each patient) with secretory myeloma (SM). The patients were matched using propensity scores calculated using age, Durie-Salmon stage, sensitivity to pretransplant therapy, time from diagnosis to transplant, and year of transplant. Disease characteristics were similar in both groups at diagnosis and at transplant except higher risk of anemia, hypoalbuminemia, and marrow plasmacytosis (in SM) and plasmacytoma (more in NSM). Cumulative incidence of treatment-related mortality (TRM), relapse, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were similar between the groups. In multivariate analysis, based on a Cox model stratified on matched pairs and adjusted for covariates not considered in the propensity score, we found no difference in outcome between the NSM and SM groups. In this large cohort of patients undergoing ASCT, we found no difference in outcomes of patients with NSM compared to those with SM.     

Autologous Stem Cell Transplant for IgM-Associated Amyloid Light-Chain Amyloidosis

IgM-related amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare disease, with patients presenting with more renal and neurologic involvement and less cardiac involvement compared with those with non–IgM-related disease. We retrospectively reviewed 38 patients receiving autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) for IgM-related AL amyloidosis at the Mayo Clinic between May 1999 and June 2018. Median age was 61years, and 71% were men. The most common organs involved were renal (63%), neurologic (32%), and cardiac (26%). The median difference between involved and uninvolved free light chains was 6.2mg/dL, and most patients had early Mayo stage disease (87% Mayo stage I 2004 and 74% Mayo stage I 2012). The overall response rate was 92%, with 76% of patients achieving at least a very good partial response. Renal response was seen in 65% of patients (15/23; median time, 18 months post-ASCT; range 3 to 52) and cardiac response in 60% of patients (6/10; median time, 12 months post-ASCT; range 10 to 35). Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was 48 and 106 months, respectively. Organ response predicted better PFS and OS (median PFS, 93 months for organ response versus 16 months for no organ response [P?=?.0006]; and median OS, 123 months for organ response versus 41 months for no organ response [P?=?.02]). Two patients died within 100days of transplant, representing a 5% 100-day mortality. ASCT is an effective therapy that can be safely delivered to carefully selected patients with IgM-related AL amyloidosis.     

A 15-year analysis of early and late autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant in relapsed, aggressive, transformed, and nontransformed follicular lymphoma.

Autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) has been shown to be an effective treatment for follicular lymphoma (FL). We explored our experience in ASCT for FL among all patients treated over a 15-year period from diagnosis through their entire treatment history including relapse post ASCT. All patients who underwent an unpurged ASCT for relapsed, advanced FL between June 1990 and December 2000 were analyzed. After salvage therapy they received melphalan/etoposide/total body irradiation, BCNU, etoposide, cytarabine, melphalan (BEAM), or cyclophosphamide BCNU etoposide (CBV) as conditioning for the ASCT. One hundred thirty-eight patients with a median age of 48 years and a median follow-up of 7.6 years were analyzed. The majority were of the subtype grade 1, nontransformed (FL-NT), having had 1 prior chemotherapy. The progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of the FL-NT at 10 years were 46% and 57%, respectively, and at 5 years for the transformed (FL-T) were 25% and 56%, respectively, of which only the PFS was significantly different (P=.007). The median OS from diagnosis was 16 years for the FL-NT. ASCT positively altered the trend of shorter remissions with subsequent chemotherapies, and there was no difference in OS between those who had 1, 2, or >2 chemotherapies prior to ASCT. Salvage therapy for relapse post ASCT was effective (OS>1 year) in a third of patients. Unpurged ASCT is an effective tool in the treatment of relapsed, aggressive FL-NT and FL-T, is superior to retreatment with standard chemotherapy, is effective at various stages of treatment, is likely to have a beneficial influence on the natural history of this disease, and the disease is amenable to salvage therapy post-ASCT relapse.     

Complete Remission Status before Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation Is an Important Prognostic Factor in Patients with Multiple Myeloma Undergoing Upfront Single Autologous Transplantation

Upfront high-dose myeloablative chemotherapy followed by a single autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is the standard therapy for patients under the age of 65 years with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM). Because disease status after induction chemotherapy is variable, we evaluated the prognostic effect of disease status before ASCT, especially in patients who were initially chemosensitive. We retrospectively analyzed the initially chemosensitive MM patients (≥ partial remission [PR]) enrolled in the Korean Multiple Myeloma Working Party Web-based registration system (www.myeloma.or.kr). Between November 1996 and January 2007, 197 MM patients (median age 53 years) were treated with induction chemotherapy followed by a single ASCT. All patients received peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) support after conditioning with melphalan (Mel) alone. We considered those patients with no detectable M-protein regardless of the result of immunofixation to be in complete remission (CR) in this study. The median follow-up times were 29.2 months (range, 5.4 to 103.8 months) from the day of diagnosis and 22.4 months (range, 0.4 to 96.0 months) from the day of ASCT. Before ASCT, 63 patients (32%) were in CR and 134 (68%) were in partial remission (PR). The patients in CR had significantly longer overall survival (OS) from the day of ASCT compared with those in PR (P = .0015). Among the patients who received induction chemotherapy with vincristine, adriamycin, and dexamethasone (n = 162), the same difference in OS was seen between those in CR and those in PR before ASCT (P = .0016). CR after ASCT also predicted longer OS (P = .0135); however, patients with continued CR after ASCT had significantly higher OS after ASCT compared with patient with induced CR after ASCT who were in PR before ASCT (P = .0178). Multivariate analysis indicated that remission status pre-ASCT (CR vs PR) is a significant prognostic factor for predicting OS after ASCT (P = .012, Cox proportional hazard analysis; odds ratio = 2.83; 95% confidence interval = 1.25 to 6.37). We conclude that patients with MM who are in CR before ASCT have a better OS than those in PR before ASCT. Continued CR after ASCT may be an important prognostic factor as well. Our findings suggest that the development of more effective induction regimens, including novel antimyeloma agents to improve initial response, should be pursued to enhance clinical benefits post-ASCT.     

Long-Term Follow-Up of a Donor versus No-Donor Comparison in Patients with Multiple Myeloma in First Relapse after Failing Autologous Transplantation

We report the long-term clinical outcomes of a retrospective multicenter study that enrolled 169 patients with multiple myeloma (MM) in first relapse after failing autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT). After HLA typing at relapse, 79 patients with a suitable donor, 72 (91%) of whom eventually underwent salvage allogeneic SCT (allo-SCT), were compared with 90 patients without a donor who were treated with multiple lines of salvage treatment with bortezomib and/or immunomodulatory agents. At a median follow-up of 30 months (range, 2-180 months) for all patients and 110 months (range, 38-180 months) for surviving patients, 7-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 18% in the donor group and 0% in the no-donor group (hazard ratio [HR], 2.495; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.770-3.517; P?<?.0001). Seven-year overall survival (OS) was 31% in the donor group and 9% in the no-donor group (HR, 1.835; 95% CI, 1.306-2.577; P?<?.0001). By multivariate analysis, chemosensitivity to salvage treatments and presence of a suitable donor were significantly associated with better PFS and OS. The long-term follow-up of this study confirms the significant PFS benefit and provides new evidence of an OS advantage for patients with MM who have a suitable donor and undergo allo-SCT. Allo-SCT should be considered as a treatment option in young relapsed patients with high-risk disease features after first-line treatment.     

Higher Infused Lymphocyte Dose Predicts Higher Lymphocyte Recovery,Which in Turn,Predicts Superior Overall Survival following Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Multiple Myeloma

Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is the standard of care for patients with multiple myeloma (MM) younger than 70 years. However, despite this aggressive therapy most patients will still die of progressive disease. Recent reports have suggested that lymphocyte recovery is an important predictor of relapse or progressive disease in a number of hematologic malignancies including MM. We have conducted retrospective analysis of factors that could predict overall (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) in patients with MM who had ASCT. One hundred nineteen patients with multiple myeloma underwent ASCT. The median OS and PFS were 64 and 32 months, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazards regression model showed that absolute lymphocyte count on day 30 following ASCT (ALC-30), international staging system (ISS) stage at diagnosis, and age at diagnosis significantly influenced OS and PFS following ASCT. OS (96 versus 48 months, P = .04) and PFS (43 versus 29 months, P = .03) following ASCT were higher in patients with ALC-30 ≥1.0 × 10⁹/L compared to patients ALC-30 <1.0 × 10⁹/L. Higher ALC-60, ALC-100, ALC-180, and ALC-365 did not predict superior OS and PFS. Patients with early-stage disease had significantly higher OS (ISS stages I, II, and III: 96, 53, and 29 months, respectively; P = .0023) and PFS (ISS stages I, II, and III: 55.5, 31, and 12 months, respectively; P = .027) compared to patients with advanced-stage disease at diagnosis. On univariate analysis, the type of initial chemotherapy (melphalan, VAD, PCAB), lymphocyte count on day of leukapheresis, and the lymphocyte dose infused (LY-DO) significantly influenced lymphocyte recovery following ASCT. Patients who received higher lymphocyte dose (LY-DO) ≥0.2 × 10⁹/kg had higher median ALC-15 (0.25 versus 0.19 × 10⁹/L; P = .3), ALC-30 (1.20 versus 0.99 × 10⁹/L; P = .08), ALC-60 (1.90 versus 1.01 × 10⁹/L; P = .013), ALC-100 (1.58 versus 1.03 × 10⁹/L; P = .016), and ALC-180 (1.33 versus 1.01 × 10⁹/L; P = .1), compared to patients who received LY-DO <0.2 × 10⁹/kg. In summary, our data suggest that infusing large numbers of lymphocytes improves lymphocyte recovery post-ASCT, and that higher ALC-30 is associated with better PFS and OS. These data suggest that a threshold number of CD34⁺ cells should not be the only parameter considered for an adequate PBSC collection—perhaps a certain number of lymphocytes should be aimed for as well.     

Arsenic Trioxide with Ascorbic Acid and High-Dose Melphalan: Results of a Phase II Randomized Trial

Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is synergistic with ascorbic acid (AA) and melphalan against myeloma both in vitro and in vivo. The aim of this randomized phase II trial was to determine the safety and efficacy of a combination of ATO, melphalan, and AA as preparative regimen in 48 patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for multiple myeloma (MM). Forty-eight patients received melphalan 200 mg/m² i.v. over 2 days and AA 1000 mg i.v. over 7 days in 3 treatment arms: no ATO (arm 1), ATO 0.15 mg/kg i.v. × 7 days (arm 2), and ATO 0.25 mg/kg i.v. × 7 days (arm 3). No dose-limiting toxicity, engraftment failure, or nonrelapse mortality (NRM) was seen in the first 100 days post-ASCT. Complete responses (CR) were seen in 12 of 48 patients (25%), with an overall response rate (ORR = CR + PR) of 85%. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 25 months; median overall survival (OS) has not yet been reached. There was no significant difference in CR, PFS, or OS among the 3 treatment arms, and no adverse effect of ATO on melphalan pharmacokinetics. Addition of ATO + AA to high-dose melphalan is safe and well tolerated as a preparative regimen for MM.     

Results of a retrospective single institution analysis of targeted skeletal radiotherapy with (166)Holmium-DOTMP as conditioning regimen for autologous stem cell transplant for patients with multiple myeloma. Impact on transplant outcomes.

(166)Holmium-DOTMP is a beta-emitting radiophosphonate that localizes specifically to the bone surfaces and can deliver high-dose radiation to the bone marrow. Phase I/II trials showed feasibility and tolerability when combined with high-dose melphalan with or without total-body irradiation (TBI) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). The purpose of this study was to define the potential impact of (166)Holmium-DOTMP on outcomes in patients with MM undergoing ASCT. Retrospective review of transplant outcomes among patients with MM who received an ASCT between January 1998 to December 2001 with either melphalan 200 mg/m(2) or a (166)Holmium-DOTMP containing regimen as part of their initial therapy. Univariate analysis was performed for response, overall survival (OS), and event free survival (EFS). One hundred four patients were identified, of which 41 received a (166)Holmium-DOTMP containing regimen and 63 received melphalan alone. The (166)Holmium-DOTMP patients were divided into 2 groups according to the dose received (<2400 mCi versus > or = 2400 mCi). The (166)Holmium-DOTMP group had a trend towards a higher complete remission (CR) rate compared to patients receiving melphalan alone (51% versus 32%). The median EFS for the low-dose (166)Holmium-DOTMP, the high-dose (166)Holmium-DOTMP, and melphalan alone was 30, 23, and 19 months, respectively; the OS rate at 5 years for the 3 groups was 61%, 40%, and 43%, respectively. (166)Holmium-DOTMP, in combination with high-dose melphalan, can result in higher CR rates when given in optimal doses (<2400 mCi) when compared to melphalan alone, and should be further tested in phase III trials in patients with MM undergoing ASCT.     

Impact of HIV Infection on Transplant Outcomes after Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation: A Retrospective Study of Japanese Registry Data

Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is a treatment option for HIV-positive patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and multiple myeloma (MM). However, the prognosis after ASCT in HIV-positive Japanese patients remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of HIV infection on transplant outcomes after ASCT in Japan. Using the national database of the Japan Society for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, we retrospectively evaluated patients with NHL (n?=?3862) and MM (n?=?2670) who underwent their first ASCT between 2001 and 2014. The presence of HIV antibody was used to diagnose HIV infection. Fifty-six patients with NHL (1.4%) and 23 with MM (.8%) were positive for HIV antibody. Among patients with NHL overall survival (OS) was lower in HIV-positive patients than in HIV-negative patients (5-year OS: HIV-positive patients, 44% versus HIV-negative patients, 65%; P?<?.001). In a multivariate analysis HIV infection was significantly associated with an increased risk of overall mortality (hazard ratio, 2.30; P?<?.001). The incidence of relapse was higher in HIV-positive patients (P?=?.036), whereas there was a similar incidence of nonrelapse mortality (P?=?.879). OS in patients with MM was similar between those with/without HIV infection (5-year OS: HIV-positive patients, 61% versus HIV-negative patients, 63%; P?=?.988). HIV infection was associated with a higher risk of overall mortality and relapse after ASCT for NHL in a Japanese population.     

Prognostic Factors for Postrelapse Survival after ex Vivo CD34+-Selected (T Cell-Depleted) Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Multiple Myeloma

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) for multiple myeloma (MM), with its underlying graft-versus-tumor capacity, is a potentially curative approach for high-risk patients. Relapse is the main cause of treatment failure, but predictors for postrelapse survival are not well characterized. We conducted a retrospective analysis to evaluate predictors for postrelapse overall survival (OS) in 60 MM patients who progressed after myeloablative T cell-depleted alloHCT. The median patient age was 56 years, and 82% had high-risk cytogenetics. Patients received a median of 4 lines of therapy pre-HCT, and 88% achieved at least a partial response (PR) before alloHCT. Of the 38% who received preemptive post-HCT therapy, 13 received donor lymphocyte infusions (DLIs) and 10 received other interventions. Relapse was defined as very early (<6 months; 28%), early (6 to 24 months; 50%), or late (>24 months; 22%). At relapse, 27% presented with extramedullary disease (EMD). The median postrelapse overall survival (OS) by time to relapse was 4 months for the very early relapse group, 17 months for the early relapse group, and 72 months for the late relapse group (P = .002). Older age, relapse with EMD, <PR before alloHCT, <PR by day +100, and no maintenance were prognostic for inferior postrelapse OS on univariate analysis. On multivariate analysis adjusted for age and sex, very early relapse (hazard ratio [HR], 4.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.42 to 13.5), relapse with EMD (HR, 5.20; 95% CI, 2.10 to 12.9), and DLI for relapse prevention (HR, .11; 95% CI, 2.10 to 12.9) were significant predictors for postrelapse survival. Despite their shared inherent high-risk status, patients with MM have significantly disparate post-HCT relapse courses, with some demonstrating long-term survival despite relapse.     

Deletion of the short arm of chromosome 1 (del 1p) is a strong predictor of poor outcome in myeloma patients undergoing an autotransplant.

Several chromosomal abnormalities detected by conventional cytogenetic analysis have an adverse impact on the outcome in myeloma patients. A wide spectrum of abnormalities involving chromosomes 1, 13, 14, and 17 has been described. We analyzed the outcome of 83 patients with clonal cytogenetic abnormalities, who underwent high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma at our institution. Clonal abnormalities were detected at diagnosis by conventional cytogenetic analysis in 83 patients. Patients underwent a single autologous transplant between April 2000 and May 2005. Preparative regimen was high-dose melphalan alone (73), or a combination of topotecan, melphalan, and cyclophosphamide (TMC=10). The most commonly observed chromosomal abnormalities were deletion of chromosome 13 (32%), hyperdiploidy (21%), deletion of chromosome 1p (18%), and t (11; 14) in 7% patients. Median follow-up among surviving patients was 25.5 months. Median interval from diagnosis to autotransplant was 7.7 months (range: 2.5-52). Median progression-free survival (PFS) for the entire group was 19 months and the median overall survival (OS) was 52 months. On univariate analysis, both PFS and OS were significantly shorter in patients with deletion 1p (P=.001 and <.0001, respectively). Thirty-two patients whose cytogenetic abnormalities returned to normal prior to autotransplant had longer PFS and OS than patients with persistent abnormalities (P=.02 and .08, respectively). Deletion 1p is associated with a significantly shorter remission and survival in patients undergoing high-dose therapy and a single autologous transplant for myeloma.     

Long-Term Results of Prophylactic Donor Lymphocyte Infusions for Patients with Multiple Myeloma after Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

The major reason for treatment failure after allografting in multiple myeloma (MM) is relapse. Donor lymphocyte infusions (DLIs) are considered a valuable post-transplant strategy mainly for relapsed patients but using them to prevent relapse in MM has been reported rarely. In the present study, we examined the efficacy of prophylactic DLIs after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in myeloma patients with a long-term follow-up of more than 5 years. A total of 61 patients with MM who did not relapse or develop disease progression after allo-HSCT were treated with prophylactic DLI in an escalating fashion (overall 132 DLI procedures) to deepen remission status and prevent relapse. Overall response rate to DLI was 77%. Thirty-three patients (54%) upgraded their remission status, 41 patients (67%) achieved or maintained complete remission, and 26% achieved a molecular remission. Incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) grade II to IV was 33% and no DLI-related mortality was noted. After a median follow-up of 68.7 months from first DLI the estimated 8-year progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) in a landmark analysis was 43% (95% confidence interval [CI], 28% to 57%) and 67% (95% CI, 53% to 82%), respectively, with best outcome for patients who acquired molecular remission (8-year PFS was 62% and 8-year OS was 83%). Prophylactic escalating DLI in a selected cohort of MM patients to prevent relapse after allograft resulted in a low incidence of severe GVHD and encouraging long-term results, especially if molecular remission is achieved.     

Revised International Staging System Is Predictive and Prognostic for Early Relapse (<24 months) after Autologous Transplantation for Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma

The revised International Staging System (R-ISS) combines ISS with genetic markers and lactate dehydrogenase and can prognosticate newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM). Early relapse (<24 months) after upfront autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT) strongly predicts inferior overall survival (OS). We examined the ability of R-ISS in predicting early relapse and its independent prognostic effect on postrelapse survival after an early relapse. Using the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research database we identified MM patients receiving first AHCT within 18 months after diagnosis with available R-ISS stage at diagnosis (n?=?628). Relative risks of relapse/progression, progression-free survival (PFS), and OS were calculated with the R-ISS group as a predictor in multivariate analysis. Among early relapsers, postrelapse survival was tested to identify factors affecting postrelapse OS. The cumulative incidence of early relapse was 23%, 39%, and 50% for R-ISS I, R-ISS II, and R-ISS III, respectively (P < .001). Shorter PFS and OS were seen with higher stage R-ISS. R-ISS was independently predictive for inferior postrelapse OS among early relapsers, as was the presence of ≥3 comorbidities and the use of ≥2 induction chemotherapy lines. R-ISS stage at diagnosis predicts early post-AHCT relapse and independently affects postrelapse survival among early relapsers.     

A Pilot Study of Lenalidomide Maintenance Therapy after Autologous Transplantation in Relapsed or Refractory Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma

For patients with relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), salvage chemotherapy followed by consolidation with autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) remains the standard of care. Even with this aggressive treatment strategy, 5-year progression-free survival is ≤50%, and there remains interest in maintenance strategies to improve long-term disease-free survival. Lenalidomide is an immunomodulatory agent with demonstrated activity in multiple subtypes of lymphoma including cHL, and has also been shown to improve both progression-free and overall survival as maintenance therapy after ASCT in multiple myeloma. This multicenter study evaluated maintenance lenalidomide after ASCT for patients with cHL. Patients were enrolled 60 to 90 days post-transplant and received oral lenalidomide on days 1 to 28 of 28-day cycles for a maximum of 18 cycles. Lenalidomide was started at 15 mg daily and increased to maximum of 25 mg daily if tolerated. The primary objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of this regimen, with a goal <30% rate of discontinuation at or before cycle 12 for drug-related reasons. Twenty-seven patients were enrolled and 26 received at least 1 dose of lenalidomide. With a median follow-up of 51.3 months (range, 12.2 to 76.2 months), 23 of 26 patients were alive. Median event-free survival was 9.4 months and median progression-free survival had not been reached, with 17 of 26 patients (65.4%) remaining in remission at last follow-up. Excluding 4 patients who discontinued therapy for progression and 2 who discontinued due to noncompliance, the discontinuation rate at or before cycle 12 was 52%. Treatment was complicated by a high frequency of hematologic adverse events, with 15 patients (58%) experiencing grade 3 to 4 hematologic toxicity and 5 (19%) experiencing grade 4 hematologic toxicity. We conclude that the regimen of maintenance lenalidomide explored in this study is not feasible for patients with cHL immediately following ASCT. An alternative lenalidomide dose or schedule may be better tolerated following ASCT for patients with relapsed or refractory cHL.     

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for multiple myeloma: A retrospective analysis of the Polish Myeloma Group

PurposeIn this multicenter retrospective analysis of the Polish Myeloma Group we assessed the real-life application of allogeneic transplantations (alloHCT) in multiple myeloma (MM) outside clinical trials in Poland.MethodsAnonymized clinical data of patients who underwent alloHCT were retrospectively collected from eight transplant centers and analyzed to identify factors affecting the outcome.ResultsSixty patients (34 males, 26 females) at median age of 45 (22–59) years who received alloHCT between 1993 and 2016 were included. In this group, 16 (27%) patients underwent myeloablative conditioning and 44 (73%) reduced-intensity conditioning alloHCT. Acute graft versus host disease (GvHD) occurred in 27 (45%) patients, while chronic GvHD was diagnosed in 13 (22%) patients. With the median observation time after alloHCT of 10 months, the relapse rate was 38%. Median progression-free survival (PFS) reached 9 months (0–183) while median overall survival (OS) was 23 months (0–183). Main causes of death included disease progression in 16 (43%), infections in 10 (27%), and GvHD in 7 patients (19%). Presence of chronic GvHD was the only factor associated with prolonged PFS (28 vs. 6 months; p = 0.05), however its impact on OS was not statistically significant (73 vs. 8 months; p = 0.09).ConclusionsIn this relatively small and heterogeneous study we observed that alloHCT was associated with high risk of severe complications, but resulted in long-term survival in a proportion of patients. Decisions on optimal indications and timing of the alloHCT in MM need to be taken in the broader context of reported outcomes including data from large studies.