A Phase 2 Study of Pembrolizumab during Lymphodepletion after Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Multiple Myeloma

The programmed death-1 (PD-1) axis can suppress immune surveillance against multiple myeloma (MM). We tested the safety and efficacy of pembrolizumab, an anti-PD-1 antibody, in MM after autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT). We enrolled patients with MM who did not achieve a complete response (CR) to induction therapy. The study intervention involved a total of 9 doses of i.v. pembrolizumab, with 1 dose given every 21 days starting on day +14 post-AHCT. The primary endpoint was the rate of CR at end of treatment (EOT) in patients receiving ≥2 pembrolizumab doses. Thirty-two patients were enrolled, but 3 withdrew consent before receiving the first dose. The study was terminated early after failing to meet its interim analysis endpoint to detect a 20% difference in EOT CR rate conversion. The median patient age was 59 years. All but 1 patient received triplet induction for a median of 4 cycles (range, 2 to 7 cycles), with 69% partial response (PR) and 31% very good PR (VGPR). No grade 4/5 toxicities or graft failures occurred. Among 26 evaluable patients, 23 had an EOT evaluation, and 7 of these 23 (31%) achieved CR. Two patients had EOT serologic CR but no bone marrow confirmation (CRu), and 1 patient had no EOT evaluation. Bone marrow was minimal residual disease-negative by flow cytometry in 12 of 16 patients (75%) at day +180. With a median follow-up of 23.7 months (range, 15.1 to 33.5 months), no patient achieving EOT CR/CRu had relapsed, whereas 3 patients progressed before EOT and 1 patient progressed at 8 months after EOT VGPR. The estimated 2-year progression-free rate was 83% (95% confidence interval, 68% to 100%). Our data show that early post-AHCT pembrolizumab with lenalidomide maintenance is feasible; however, the efficacy is uncertain and requires further study. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02331368).     

Nocardia brasiliensis primary pulmonary nocardiosis with subcutaneous involvement in an immunocompetent patient

This is a report of an unusual case of Nocardia brasiliensis causing primary pulmonary nocardiosis with disseminated subcutaneous lesions in an immunocompetent patient. This case highlights the importance of considering nocardiosis as a differential diagnosis in patients with pulmonary and cutaneous lesions and the need for vigorous management for complete cure.     

关节镜下自体腘绳肌和异体胫前肌单束重建前交叉韧带的1年随访比较

背景:由于人工韧带存在慢性疲劳,越来越多的人采用异体肌腱重建前后交叉韧带损伤.目的:比较关节镜下自体腘绳肌和异体胫前肌单束重建前交叉韧带的疗效.方法:收集关节镜下用自体腘绳肌和异体胫前肌单束重建前交叉韧带随访满1年的病例.自体腘绳肌重建前交叉韧带组28例;异体胫前肌重建前交叉韧带组18例.采用股骨端Endobutten、胫骨端可吸收螺钉固定.采用支具固定并进行功能训练.结果与结论:前交叉韧带重建后6个月,异体肌腱组lysholm评分高于自体肌腱组(P < 0.05);重建后12个月两组lysholm评分差异无显著性意义.两组重建后6,12个月与重建前比较差异均有显著性意义(P < 0.05),重建后12个月与6个月比较差异有显著性意义(P < 0.05).结果表明,自体和异体肌腱重建前交叉韧带随访1年疗效相当.