Cinobufagin Combined with Thalidomide/Dexamethasone Regimen in the Treatment of Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma of Phlegm and Stasis Obstruction： A Retrospective Study / 中医杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy and safety of cinobufagin tablets combined with thalidomide/dexamethasone （TD） regimen in the treatment of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma （NDMM） with phlegm and stasis obstruction. MethodsThe clinical data of 50 patients with NDMM of phlegm and stasis obstruction who were hospitalized at the Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine from June 1st， 2015 to July 31th， 2019 were retrospectively analyzed， and they were divided into a control group （bortezomib/dexamethasone-containing regimen， 27 cases） and an observation group （cinobufagin tablets combined with TD regimen， 23 cases）. The clinical efficacy and safety were compared between the two groups after two or three courses of treatment. The primary outcomes were clinical remission rate including overall response rate and deep remission rate， one-year and two-year overall survival rate， and adverse effects. The secondary outcomes were the proportion of plasma cells in bone marrow， hemoglobin， β2-microglobulin， lactate dehydrogenase， serum creatinine， blood urea nitrogen， bone pain score， and KPS functional status score （KPS score） before and after treatment. ResultsIn terms of clinical efficacy， there was no statistically significant difference （P＞0.05） in the overall response rate ［the observation group 69.57%（16/23） vs the control group 70.37% （19/27）］ and deep remission rate ［the observation group 56.52% （13/23） vs the control group 55.56% （15/27）］ between groups after the treatment. The one-year overall survival rates of the observation group and the control group were 90.9% and 92.4%， and the two-year overall survival rates were 81.8% and 80.9% respectively， with no statistically significant differences between groups （P＞0.05）. During the treatment， no renal function injury occurred in both groups. The incidence of peripheral nerve injury in the observation group was 8.70%， which was lower than 48.15% in the control group （P＜0.01）. After the treatment， the proportion of myeloma plasma cells， β2-microglobulin， serum creatinine level， and bone pain score decreased， while the hemoglobin level and KPS score increased in both groups （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared between groups after treatment， the bone pain score of the observation group was lower than that of the control group， while the KPS score was higher than that of the control group （P＜0.05）. ConclusionThe clinical efficacy of cinobufagin tablets combined with TD in the treatment of NDMM is equivalent to bortezomib/dexamethasone-containing regimen， but the former is more helpful in relieving the pain and improving the quality of life， and has better safety.

Clinical characterization and outcomes of a cohort of colombian patients with AL Amyloidosis

Background: Amyloid light chain (AL) amyloidosis is characterized by amyloid fibril deposition derived from monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains, resulting in multiorgan dysfunction. Limited data exist on the clinical features of AL amyloidosis. Objective: This study aims to describe the clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes in Colombian patients with AL amyloidosis. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted at three high-complexity centers in Medellín, Colombia. Adults with AL amyloidosis diagnosed between 2012 and 2022 were included. Clinical, laboratory, histological, treatment, and survival data were analyzed. Results: The study included 63 patients. Renal involvement was most prevalent (66%), followed by cardiac involvement (61%). Multiorgan involvement occurred in 61% of patients. Amyloid deposition was most commonly detected in renal biopsy (40%). Bortezomib-based therapy was used in 68%, and 23.8% received high-dose chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HDCT-ASCT). Hematological response was observed in 95% of patients with available data. Cardiac and renal organ responses were 15% and 14%, respectively. Median overall survival was 45.1 months (95% CI: 22.2-63.8). In multivariate analysis, cardiac involvement was significantly associated with inferior overall survival (HR 3.27; 95% CI: 1.23-8.73; p=0.018), HDCT-ASCT had a non-significant trend towards improved overall survival (HR 0.25; 95% CI: 0.06-1.09; p=0.065). Conclusions: In this study of Colombian patients with AL amyloidosis, renal involvement was more frequent than cardiac involvement. Overall survival and multiorgan involvement were consistent with data from other regions of the world. Multivariate analysis identified cardiac involvement and HDCT-AHCT as possible prognostic factors.

Antecedentes: La amiloidosis por amiloide de cadenas ligeras (AL) se caracteriza por el depósito de fibrillas amiloides derivadas de cadenas ligeras de inmunoglobulinas monoclonales, lo que resulta en disfunción multiorgánica. Existen datos limitados sobre las características clínicas de la amiloidosis AL. Objetivo: Este estudio tiene como objetivo describir las características clínicas, tratamientos y desenlaces en pacientes colombianos con amiloidosis AL. Métodos: Se llevó a cabo un estudio descriptivo retrospectivo en tres centros de alta complejidad en Medellín, Colombia. Se incluyeron adultos con diagnóstico de amiloidosis AL entre 2012 y 2022. Se analizaron datos clínicos, de laboratorio, histológicos, de tratamiento y de supervivencia. Resultados: El estudio incluyó 63 pacientes. La afectación renal fue más prevalente (66%), seguida de la afectación cardíaca (61%). El 61% de los pacientes presentaron afectación multiorgánica. El depósito amiloide se detectó con mayor frecuencia en la biopsia renal (40%). El tratamiento basado en bortezomib se utilizó en el 68%, y el 23.8% recibió altas dosis de quimioterapia con trasplante autólogo de progenitores hematopoyéticos (ADQT-TAPH). Se observó respuesta hematológica en el 95% de los pacientes con datos disponibles. La respuesta de órgano cardíaca y renal fue del 15% y 14%, respectivamente. La mediana de la supervivencia global fue de 45.1 meses (IC del 95%: 22.2-63.8). En el análisis multivariado, la afectación cardíaca se asoció significativamente con una supervivencia global inferior (HR 3.27; IC del 95%: 1.23-8.73; p=0.018), ADQT-TAPH mostró una tendencia no significativa hacia una mejora en la supervivencia global (HR 0.25; IC 95%: 0.06-1.09; p=0.065). Conclusiones: En este estudio de pacientes colombianos con amiloidosis AL, la afectación renal fue más frecuente que la afectación cardíaca. La supervivencia global y la afectación multiorgánica fueron consistentes con datos de otras regiones del mundo. El análisis multivariado identificó la afectación cardíaca y ADQT-TAPH como posibles factores pronósticos.

Efficacy observation of bortezomib combined with chemotherapy in treatment of relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia / 白血病·淋巴瘤

Objective:To investigate the effectiveness and safety of bortezomib combined with conventional chemotherapy regimens for treatment of relapsed/refractory acute B lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL).Methods:Twenty patients with relapsed/refractory B-ALL treated with bortezomib combined with chemotherapy in Jiaozuo People's Hospital Affiliated to Xinxiang Medical College, Jiaozuo Coal Industry Group Central Hospital and the Second People's Hospital of Jiaozuo from September 2021 to June 2022 were collected, and their treatment response and prognosis were retrospectively analyzed.Results:The median age of the 20 patients was 49.5 years old (25.0-58.5 years old); 12 were male and 8 were female; 12 were relapsed and 8 were refractory. All patients completed 1 course of bortezomib (1.6 mg/m 2, subcutaneous injection on days 2 and 16) combined with chemotherapy. Before bortezomib treatment, there were 0 case of complete remission (CR), 7 cases of partial remission (PR) and 13 cases of non-remission (NR) in 20 patients, the objective remission rate (ORR) was 35% (7/20), and all were positive for minimal residual disease (MRD). After bortezomib treatment, there were 13 cases of CR, 3 cases of PR and 4 cases of NR, and the ORR was 80% (16/20); the MRD of all patients decreased, among which 13 cases (65%) turned to negative; the differences were statistically significant when comparing CR rate, ORR and MRD negative conversion rate before and after bortezomib treatment ( χ2 values were 65.41, 8.83 and 19.30, all P < 0.05). Four of the 20 patients developed central nervous system infiltration despite bone marrow remission, and one died from post-chemotherapy infection. Myelosuppression occurred in all patients, the incidence of infection was 90% (18/20), and the incidence of digestive system adverse effects was 75% (15/20). Conclusions:Bortezomib combined with conventional chemotherapy regimens is effective and well tolerated in the treatment of relapsed/refractory ALL, and has the potential to enable patients with multi-drug resistant relapse to overcome resistance and to achieve deep remission.

Risk factors of bortezomib-related peripheral neuropathy and the clinical features and electrophysiological characteristics of patients during treatment of multiple myeloma / 白血病·淋巴瘤

Objective:To explore the risk factors of bortezomib-related peripheral neuropathy (BIPN) and the clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of patients in treatment of multiple myeloma (MM).Methods:The clinical data of 71 newly diagnosed MM patients treated with BD (bortezomib + dexamethasone) regimen in Yancheng First People's Hospital from March 2016 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The bone marrow morphology, immunology, cytogenetics, molecular biology (MICM), routine electrophysiological examination before and after treatment were performed. All patients were divided into the peripheral neuropathy (PN) group and the non-PN group according to the presence or not of BIPN, and the clinicopathological differences of both groups were also compared; a binary logistic regression model was used to analyze the factors affecting the occurrence of PN. The electrophysiological characteristics were summarized and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to detect karyotype of BIPN patients.Results:Among 71 MM patients, there were 40 cases (56.3%) of PN and 31 cases (43.7%) of non-PN. The proportion of patients at international staging system (ISS) staging Ⅲ, and the levels of IgA, IgG, IgM, serum creatinine, β 2-microglobulin (β 2-MG) in the PN group were higher than those in the non-PN group, and hemoglobin (Hb) level in the PN group was lower than that in the non-PN group, and the differences were statistically significant (both P < 0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that increased IgA ( OR = 1.151, 95% CI 1.012-1.309, P = 0.033), increased IgG ( OR = 1.055, 95% CI 1.000~1.112, P = 0.049), increased IgM ( OR = 1.010, 95% CI 1.001-1.018, P = 0.022), increased serum creatinine ( OR = 1.037, 95% CI 1.011~1.065, P = 0.005), increased β 2-MG ( OR = 1.564, 95% CI 1.039-2.354, P = 0.032) were risk factors for BIPN. Among 40 patients with BIPN, 33 cases (82.5%) of sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV) were abnormal, 23 cases (57.5%) of motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV) were abnormal; 31 cases (77.5%) showed demyelination damage, 9 cases (22.5%) had axonal damage. Among 40 patients with BIPN, 24 cases underwent FISH detection, including 19 cases (79.2%) with chromosomal mutations, of which 12 cases (50.0%) were mixed subtype abnormal. Conclusions:MM patients with high levels of β 2-MG, IgA, IgG, IgM and serum creatinine are more prone to PN when treated with bortezomib. The electrophysiology of patients with BIPN is mainly characterized by demyelination of sensory nerves.

CUDC-101 as a dual-target inhibitor of EGFR and HDAC enhances the anti-myeloma effects of bortezomib by regulating G2/M cell cycle arrest / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

CUDC-101, an effective and multi-target inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), histone deacetylase (HDAC), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), has been reported to inhibit many kinds of cancers, such as acute promyelocytic leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. However, no studies have yet investigated whether CUDC-101 is effective against myeloma. Herein, we proved that CUDC-101 effectively inhibits the proliferation of multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines and induces cell apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Moreover, CUDC-101 markedly blocked the signaling pathway of EGFR/phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) and HDAC, and regulated the cell cycle G2/M arrest. Moreover, we revealed through in vivo experiment that CUDC-101 is a potent anti-myeloma drug. Bortezomib is one of the important drugs in MM treatment, and we investigated whether CUDC-101 has a synergistic or additive effect with bortezomib. The results showed that this drug combination had a synergistic anti-myeloma effect by inducing G2/M phase blockade. Collectively, our findings revealed that CUDC-101 could act on its own or in conjunction with bortezomib, which provides insights into exploring new strategies for MM treatment.

Expression of NAMPT in Patients with Multiple Myeloma and Its Correlation with Clinical Manifestation / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To analyze the expression level of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT ) in bone marrow of multiple myeloma (MM) patients and its correlation with clinicopathological features, clinical efficacy and prognosis.@*METHODS@#RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of NAMPT mRNA and protein in bone marrow mononuclear cells from 85 newly diagnosed MM patients (including 17 relapsed MM patients) and 15 healthy donors, and explore the correlation of the expression of NAMPT gene with clinicopathological features and efficacy. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the effects of NAMPT on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), and univariate and multivariate survival analysis were performed.@*RESULTS@#The median expression level of NAMPT mRNA in bone marrow of newly diagnosed and relapsed MM patients was significantly higher than that of healthy donors (P <0.001). The expression of NAMPT mRNA in relapsed MM patients was significantly higher than that in newly diagnosed MM patients (P <0.001), which was consistent with the expression of NAMPT protein. ISS staging, lactate dehydrogenase and C-reactive protein levels, p53 deletion and the proportion of myeloma cells were increased in high NAMPT expression group compared with low NAMPT expression group (P <0.001). Compared with complete remission group, NAMPT mRNA expression was significantly up-regulated in partial remission group, progression group and relapsed group (P <0.001). The median OS and PFS of patients in high NAMPT expression group was 27.3 and 14.9 months, respectively, which was significantly shorter than 39.1 and 27 months in low NAMPT expression group (P =0.048, P <0.001). Both univariate and multivariate analysis showed that NAMPT expression was correlated with PFS and OS.@*CONCLUSION@#The expression level of NAMPT in newly diagnosed and relapsed MM patients is significantly higher than that in normal controls, and its up-regulation is related to the adverse clinical characteristics, efficacy and prognosis of MM patients. NAMPT is an independent prognostic risk factor of MM.

Clinical Characteristics and Survival Analysis of Patients with Plasma Cell Leukemia / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the clinical characteristics, therapeutic response and prognosis of patients with plasma cell leukemia (PCL) and improve the understanding of this disease.@*METHODS@#The clinical manifestations, laboratory tests and treatment response of 27 patients with plasma cell leukemia treated in The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from December 2010 to August 2019 were analyzed retrospectively, and their clinical characteristics were summarized. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis.@*RESULTS@#There were 18 cases of primary plasma cell leukemia (pPCL) and 9 cases of secondary plasma cell leukemia (sPCL). The male to female ratio was 1.7∶1. The median age was 62 years old. The first manifestations were bone pain, fatigue, fever, splenomegaly and bleeding, and a large number of plasma cell infiltration was observed in the morphological examination of peripheral blood and bone marrow cells. 13 cases were detected by immunotyping and all of them expressed CD38/CD138. 8 cases underwent karyotype analysis, and 3 cases were normal, clonal abnormalities occurred in 5 cases. FISH detection was performed in 12 cases, of which 8 cases were abnormal. In 17 cases of bortezomib based chemotherapy, the ovevall response rate was 52.9%, which was higher than that in the non-bortezomib group, but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P =0.242). The overall median survival time of 27 patients was 6.4 months, the median progression-free survival time was 3.5 months, and the median survival time of patients with pPCL and sPCL was 8.2 months and 2.4 months, respectively, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P =0.031).@*CONCLUSION@#PCL is highly invasive and has diverse clinical manifestations, and is not sensitive to traditional chemotherapy. The median survival time of patients with pPCL is relatively longer than that of patients with sPCL. The chemotherapy regimen based on bortezomib improves the treatment effectiveness and prolongs the survival time of PCL patients.

A combined regimen based on bortezomib and glucocorticoids for 6 patients with recurrent/refractory immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura / 中华血液学杂志

Objective: To observe the efficacy and adverse reactions of a combination therapy regimen based on bortezomib and glucocorticoids in recurrent/refractory immune thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) . Methods: Six patients with recurrent/refractory TTP were included and treated with a glucocorticoid and two courses of bortezomib-based regimen. The clinical remission status of patients, changes in ADAMTS13 activity/ADAMTS13 inhibitor, and the occurrence of treatment-related adverse reactions were observed. Results: Of the 6 patients, 2 were males and 4 were females, with a median age of 21.5 (18-68) years. Refractory TTP was found in 1 case and recurrent TTP in 5 cases. Glucocorticoids were administered with reference to prednisone at 1 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1), and gradually reduced in dosage after achieving clinical remission. Bortezomib is subcutaneously administered at 1.3 mg/m(2) on days 1, 4, 8, and 11 with a 28-day treatment course consisting of 2 courses. Six patients achieved clinical remission after receiving bortezomib as the main treatment. ADMATS13 activity returned to normal in all patients with TTP after treatment, and the ADAMTS13 inhibitor turned negative. Thrombocytopenia is the most common adverse reaction after treatment, with other adverse reactions, including peripheral neuritis and abdominal pain, but ultimately all patients returned to normal. In a median follow-up of 26 (9-41) months, 5 patients maintained sustained remission, and 1 patient relapsed after 16 months of bortezomib treatment. Conclusion: Combination therapy of bortezomib and glucocorticoids has a satisfactory therapeutic effect and controllable adverse reactions for recurrent/refractory iTTP.

Effects of in-class transition of proteasome inhibitors on curative efficacy and prognosis of newly-treated patients with multiple myeloma / 白血病·淋巴瘤

Objective:To explore the efficacy and safety of in-class transition from proteasome inhibitor bortezomib to ixazomib in the treatment of newly-treated patients with multiple myeloma (MM).Methods:The clinical data of 63 newly-treated MM patients in Shenzhen Second People's Hospital from January 2018 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into transition group (23 cases) and bortezomib group (40 cases). Both groups were treated with bortezomib-containing regimen as the first-line treatment regimen. In case of intolerable adverse reactions, patients in the transition group were treated with ixazomib instead of bortezomib, while the patients in the bortezomib group did not undergo drug transition. The curative effect and progression-free survival (PFS) were compared between the two groups.Results:In the transition group, the overall response rate (ORR) before in-class transition was 95.7% (22/23), the rate of ≥ very good partial remission (VGPR) was 52.2% (12/23); the ORR after transition was 95.7% (22/23), and the rate of ≥ VGPR was 82.6% (19/23). In the bortezomib group, ORR was 90.0% (36/40), and the rate of ≥ VGPR was 72.5% (29/40). There was no significant difference in ORR and the rate of ≥VGPR between the two groups ( χ2 = 0.64, P=0.424; χ2 = 0.82, P = 0.364). The median number of cycles of PI therapy in the transition group was 9, and the median PFS time was not reached. The median number of cycles of PI therapy in the bortezomib group was 7.5, and the median PFS time was 30.0 months (95% CI 19.1-40.9 months), there was no significant difference in PFS between the two groups ( P = 0.275). In the bortezomib group, 12 patients discontinued bortezomib due to adverse reactions, the median PFS time was 20.0 months (95% CI 12.6-27.4 months), and the PFS of patients who discontinued PI in the transition group and the bortezomib group was compared, the difference was statistically significant ( P = 0.043). In the transition group, 21 patients (21/23, 91.3%) developed peripheral neuropathy, and the incidence of ≥grade 3 adverse reactions was 13.0% (3/23); in the bortezomib group, 22 patients (22/40, 55.0%) developed peripheral neuropathy, and the incidence of ≥grade 3 adverse reactions was 12.5% (5/40). Conclusions:For newly-treated MM patients, the transition from bortezomib to ixazomib can improve the depth of remission and reduce the recurrence caused by the discontinuation of PI.

A single-center retrospective analysis of 100 consecutive cases treated with lenalidomide/bortezomib/dexamethasone in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma / 中华内科杂志

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of lenalidomide combined with bortezomib and dexamethasone (RVD) in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM).Methods:A total of 100 consecutive NDMM patients treated with RVD from August 2016 to September 2020 at Peking University People′s Hospital were retrospectively analyzed, including response, drug toxicity, follow-up and survival, and subgroup analysis.Results:The median follow-up time was 19.5 (2.0-57.0) months. For patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) after RVD regimen, the objective response rate (ORR)/complete response+stringent complete response (CR+sCR)/≥very good partial response (VGPR) rates were 100%, 73.3% (33/45), 95.6% (43/45) respectively. For 54 patients not receiving transplantation, the ORR/CR+sCR/≥VGPR rates were 79.6% (43/54), 18.5% (10/54), 51.9% (28/54) respectively. As to the survival analysis, 2-year progression free survival (PFS) rates were 84.5% and 70.9% in transplant and non-transplant patients respectively ( P=0.102). Two-year overall survival (OS) rates were 100% and 80.8% in transplant and non-transplant patients respectively ( P=0.003). The common hematologic adverse events (AEs) were thrombocytopenia (33%) and neutropenia (25%). Abnormal liver function (43%) and peripheral neuropathy (24%) were recognized more as non-hematologic AEs. Conclusion:RVD as front-line regimen has high efficient response rate and acceptable safety in Chinese NDMM patients.

Cost-utility analysis of dexamethasone combined with bortezomib and lenalidomide in the treatment of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To eval uate the cost-util ity of regimen containing bortezomib in the treatment of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma in China. METHODS From the perspective of China ’s health system ，Markov model was constructed based on SWOG S 0777 clinical trial. The simulation time limit was 10 years，and the cycle was set with reference to the treatment cycle. Taking quality adjusted life years （QALYs）as the utility index ，the utility and cost were discounted at a discount rate of 5％；the willingness to pay （WTP）threshold was set to be 3 times of China ’s per capita gross domestic product （GDP）in 2021（242 928 yuan/QALY）. The incremental cost-utility ratio （ICER）of dexamethasone combined with bortezomib and lenalidomide （VRD） versus dexamethasone combined with lenalidomide （RD）were compared with cost-utility analysis. The sensitivity analysis was performed for the uncertainty of the model. RESULTS Results of baseline analysis showed that VRD regimen could obtain 0.65 more QALYs than RD scheme ，but its treatment cost was 135 782.77 yuan more than RD regimen ，ICER was 206 623.35 yuan/ QALY，which was lower than the WTP threshold set in this study ，VRD regimen was cost-effective. Single factor sensitivity analysis showed that the health utility value in progressive free survival had the greatest impact on the results ，the decrease of utility value would make the ICER higher than the WTP threshold ，and VRD regimen would no longer have advantages. Under the WTP threshold of 3 times of China ’s per capita GDP in 2021，the probability of VRD regimen being cost-effective was 86.5％； with the increase of WTP threshold ，the possibility of VRD regimen becoming more cost-effective than RD regimen would increase. CONCLUSIONS Under the WTP threshold of 3 times of China ’s per capita GDP in 2021，compared with RD regimen，VRD regimen is cost-effective in the treatment of newly diagnosed multiple myelo ma in China.

The Relationship between Hematopoietic Scoring System Composed of HB，PLT and MCV and Prognosis and Curative Effect of Multiple Myeloma Patients / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the prognostic value of hemopoietic scoring system composed of hemoglobin (HB), platelet count (PLT) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) in MM patients and its correlation with curative effect.@*METHODS@#The clinical data of 172 newly diagnosed MM patients treated by bortezomib as the first-line regimen in our hospital from May 2014 to December 2019 were collected, three variables (HB≤100 g/L, PLT≤150×109/L, MCV≥96 fl) were introduced, each variable was distributed 1 score, the patients were divided into four groups (0, 1, 2 and 3 points in group 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively), and the clinical characteristics and prognosis of the patients in the four groups were analyzed. The initial efficacy evaluation after 3-4 courses of treatment was carried out, and the curative effect of the patients in the different hematopoiesis score groups were compared.@*RESULTS@#The median OS time of the patients in group 1, 2, 3 and 4 was 27.0, 22.5, 20.7 and 18.1 months, while the median PFS time were 23.0, 19.0, 18.0 and 14.0 months, respectively. The OS and PFS of the patients in low score group were significantly better than those in high score group (P=0.045, P=0.048). There was no significant difference in the curative effect of the patients treated by bortezomib after 3-4 courses (P>0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Hematopoiesis score can preliminarily predict the overall survival of newly diagnosed MM patients, but there is no significant difference between different scoring groups in the initial curative effect.

Effect of Celastrol Based on IRAK4/ERK/p38 Signaling Pathway on Proliferation and Apoptosis of Multiple Myeloma Cells / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effect of celastrol on the proliferation and apoptosis of human multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines, reveal the relationship between IRAK4/ERK/p38 signaling pathway and celastrol regulating the proliferation and apoptosis of H929 and ARP-1 cells, and explore whether celastrol combined with bortezomib has synergistic effect. @*METHODS@#CCK-8 method was used to detect the viability of MM cell lines H929 and ARP-1 treated by different concentrations of celastrol, bortezomib, and their combination, and the synergistic effect was determined by Kim's formula. The apoptosis rate of H929 cells and necrosis rate of ARP-1 were detected by Annexin V/PI method. The expression of key proteins and apoptosis proteins in IRAK4/ERK/p38 signaling pathway were detected by Western blot. @*RESULTS@#Celastrol could significantly inhibit the proliferation of H929 and ARP-1 cells (r=0.9018, r=0.9244) and induce apoptosis in a time-dependent manner. Compared with the control group, celastrol could significantly up-regulate the expression of PARP and cleaved caspase-3 while down-regulate the expression of p-IRAK4, p-ERK, and p-p38 in H929 and ARP-1 cells. Celastrol and bortezomib alone inhibited the proliferation of H929 and ARP-1 cells. Compared with celastrol and bortezomib alone, their combination had lower cell survival rate and higher apoptosis rate (P<0.05). @*CONCLUSION@#Celastrol can inhibit the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of H929 and ARP-1 cells, which may be related to inhibiting the phosphorylation of IRAK4 and blocking the activation of IRAK4/ERK/p38 signaling pathway. Celastrol combined with bortezomib has synergistic effect, which can more effectively inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of H929 and ARP-1 cells.

Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of Chemotherapy in Elderly Patients with Multiple Myeloma under Different Frailty Scores / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the efficacy and safety of different chemotherapy regimens in elderly multiple myeloma (MM) patients with different Frailty scores.@*METHODS@#The clinical data of elderly patients with MM were retrospectively analyzed, including age, treatment regimen, efficacy, adverse reactions, and the Frailty score included in the activity of daily living score, the instrumental activity of daily living scale and the Charlson comorbidity index. The patients were divided into fit group, mediate fit group and frail group according to the scoring standard. The treatment efficiency and adverse reaction rates of elderly MM with different physical conditions treated by different chemotherapy regimens were analyzed.@*RESULTS@#Among the 70 patients, the effective rates of the patients in fit group, the mediate fit group, and the frail group were 79.5%, 81%, and 40%, and the effective rates of the fit patients in double and triple groups were 54.5% and 89.3%, 70% and 90.9% for mediate fit patients, 42.9% and 33.3% for frail patients, the triple regimen in fit patients showed obvious advantages, and the difference showed statistically significant (P<0.05), while the efficacy for mediate patients and frail patients showed no significant difference. During the induction of bortezomib, the incidence of adverse reactions for the patients in the triple group (78.6%) was higher than 67.9% in the double group, and the difference showed no statistically significant (P>0.05).There was no significant difference in the 1-year overall survival rate of the patients and with molecular genetic abnormalities among each groups.@*CONCLUSION@#The therapeutic effect is related to the patient's physical condition. For patients with healthy physique, the triple regimen should be used first. For patients with weak physical constitution, the chemotherapy regimen with low drug toxicity should be selected for safety.

Mieloma múltiple. Experiencia de 9 años en el Hospital Naval Almirante Nef / Multiple myeloma. Nine years' experience at the Hospital Naval Almirante Nef

Introducción: el mieloma múltiple (MM) continúa siendo una enfermedad incurable sin embargo, el trasplante autólogo de médula ósea (TAH), y las drogas antineoplásicas han permitido mejorar la sobrevida global (SG) de los pacientes. Materiales y métodos: estudio de cohorte retrospectivo de 50 pacientes con diagnóstico de MM en el hospital Naval Almirante Nef, desde 2005 a 2013. Los pacientes se dividieron en dos cohortes, según la eligibilidad a trasplante, y analizados acordes a la primera línea de tratamiento y la sobrevida global (SG) hasta abril de 2019. Resultados: mediana de edad 73 años (47-88 años), SG 49 meses, y 50% en etapa-II del Sistema de Etapificación Internacional. La SG de los 39 no candidatos a TAH fue 46 meses; con un mayor número de respuestas completas y sobrevida, con el esquema melfalán-prednisona-talidomida. La SG de los 11 candidatos a TAH fue 66 meses, siendo el esquema bortezomib-ciclofosfamida-dexame-tasona el que concentró un mayor número de respuestas completas libres de progresión. Se trasplantó el 45% de los candidatos, con una mediana de sobrevida de 79 meses versus a los 51 meses de aquellos no trasplantados. Tres casos de neuropatía asociada a talidomida y uno a bortezomib. La SG a los seis meses y a los cinco años de todos los pacientes fue 86% y 44%, respectivamente. Conclusión: la incorpo-ración de nuevos fármacos permitió obtener mejores resultados de sobrevida lo que se condice con estudios nacionales e internacionales.

Introduction: Multiple myeloma (MM) is still an incurable disease however, autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), and antineo-plastic drugs have allowed improving the overall survival (OS) of patients. Materials and methods: A retrospective cohort study of 50 patients diagnosed with MM at the Hospital Naval Almirante Nef, from 2005 to 2013. The patients were divided into two cohorts according to transplantation eligibility and analyzed about first-line treatment and overall survival (OS) up to April 2019. Results: Median age 73 years (47-88 years), OS 49 months, and 50% in stage-II International Staging System. OS of the 39 non-candidates for ASCT was 46 months: with a higher number of complete responses and survival, with the melphalan-prednisone-thalidomide scheme. The OS of the 11 candidates for ASCT was 66 months, with the bortezomib-cyclophosphamide-dexamethasone scheme being the one with the highest number of progression-free complete responses. Forty-five percent of the candidates were transplanted, with a median survival of 79 months versus 51 months for those not transplanted. Three cases of neuropathy were associated with thalidomide and one with bortezomib. OS at six months and five years for all patients was 86% and 44%, respectively. Conclusion: The incorporation of new drugs allowed to obtain better survival results, which is by national and international studies.

Evaluation of potential hepatotoxicity induced by Bortezomib

Bortezomib, an inhibitor of 26S proteasome, is an anti-cancer therapeutic agent used in different cancer types. It leads to the arrest of the cancerous cell cycle by inhibiting angiogenesis and inducing apoptosis. Liver is the vital organ for detoxification and excretion of toxic products. The treatment with chemotherapy is a challenge, drugs are used to destroy cancer cells, but healthy cells can be affected during cancer treatment as well. The main objective of this study was to analyze the histopathological and biochemical effects of bortezomib on liver. Twenty-four female C57BL/6 mice were distributed into 4 groups, bortezomib injected treatment groups (Btz1, Btz2) and saline injected control groups (C1, C2). Bortezomib and saline were treated twice per week for 6 weeks and sacrificed at the end of one day (Btz1, C1) and 4 weeks (Btz2, C2) after the last injection. Liver samples were examined for histopathological analysis and the serum samples processed for biochemical analysis. Tissue samples were fixed, routinely processed, sectioned, and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E). Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS), Sudan Black staining and Masson's trichrome histochemical staining methods were performed to characterize the lesions. Histopathological analysis of the Btz1 and Btz2 groups revealed acute hepatic morphological changes such as hepatocellular swelling (cloudy swelling), necro-inflammatory reaction, and increased mononuclear polyploidy. Based on the negative staining with PAS and Sudan Black staining, hepatocellular swelling was diagnosed as hydropic degeneration. Necro-inflammatory reaction observed in the form of acute hepatitis was composed of mainly mononuclear cell infiltration accompanied by multifocal necrotic foci. Kupffer cell proliferation was observed in parallel with degenerative and necrotic changes. An Increase in hepatocellular mononuclear polyploidy visualized as hepatocytes with a single enlarged nucleus was detected in all liver sections of Btz1 and Btz2 groups. Individual cases of cholestasis (n = 1) and mild hepatic fibrosis (n = 1) were also reported. Significant elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) were detected in bortezomib treated groups. Few clinical cases reported liver injury related to bortezomib used for cancer treatment. However, the liver was not considered as a target for bortezomib treatment. Our data suggesting that bortezomib caused liver damage and induces elevations in serum levels. The reported hepatic lesions including hepatocellular swelling, acute hepatitis and mononuclear polyploidy were mainly mild and moderate in severity. The increase of polyploidy in liver tissue of mice treated with bortezomib in this study was explained as a reaction of the liver facing the drug-induced hepatic damage. The mechanism leading to the hepatotoxicity of bortezomib treatment is not known but the production of a toxic metabolite through its metabolism in the liver can be suggested. Moreover, no recovery was also observed in histopathological and biochemical analyses suggesting that the bortezomib effect is non-reversible four weeks after the drug was withdrawn. Patients should be informed about the possibility of acute drug-induced hepatitis and hepatotoxicity of this chemotherapeutic agent after the treatment.(AU)

Effect Evaluation of Strychnos nux-vomica L. with Integrative Methods for Bortezomib-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Multiple Myeloma Patients: A Self-Controlled Clinical Trial / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the clinical effect and adverse reactions of Strychnos nux-vomica in bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy (BIPN) of patients with multiple myeloma (MM).@*METHODS@#A total of 19 MM patients with BIPN were enrolled and Nux Vomica Capsule (NVC, 0.4 g, thrice daily) were orally administrated for 30 days. Comparative analysis on parameters between pre- and post-therapy, including peripheral neuropathy (PN) grade, neurotoxicity score, Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome score, total neuropathy score (TNS), coagulation function, and serum nerve growth factor (NGF) levels were conducted. The adverse events were monitored.@*RESULTS@#In BIPN of MM patients who received NVC, PN grade was lowered, neurotoxicity score was obviously decreased (P⩽0.01), and both CM syndrome score and TNS were remarkably decreased (P0.05). No evident adverse reactions were observed during the course of treatment.@*CONCLUSION@#Strychnos nux-vomica L. has significantly effect with a good safety in treatment of BIPN in MM patients.

Research progress on desensitization therapy for highly sensitized kidney transplant recipients / 器官移植

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) sensitization has been previously considered as a contraindication for kidney transplantation. In the past 30 years, with the development of desensitization therapy strategies and immunosuppressants, more and more highly sensitized patients have been eligible for kidney transplantation. However, highly sensitized patients still face a high incidence of hyperacute rejection and antibody-mediated rejection following kidney transplantation, which restricts the success of kidney transplantation and long-term graft survival. At present, exploring effective desensitization regimen is a hot spot in the research of organ transplantation. In this article, the current desensitization therapy strategies, new preparations for desensitization therapy, and the benefits and risks of desensitization therapy were reviewed, and the current status and future direction of desensitization therapies were investigated, aiming to provide reference for resolving the immune barrier, improving the success rate of kidney transplantation and enhancing the quality of life of highly sensitized recipients.

Superiority of the triple combination of bortezomib, cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone versus cyclophosphamide, thalidomide and dexamethasone in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, eligible for transplantation

ABSTRACT Background: The treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) has evolved significantly in the past decade, and new drug combinations have improved the response rates and prolonged survival. Studies comparing different induction chemotherapy regimens have shown that triple combinations have better results than double combinations. However, comparisons among different triple combinations are rare in the literature. Methods: We retrospectively compared two triple combinations comprising bortezomib, cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone (VCD) versus thalidomide, cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone (CTD), and aimed at identifying which of the two combinations would yield better response rates following four induction cycles prior to hematopoietic cell transplantation in patients with untreated multiple myeloma. Results: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 311 patients from 24 different centers.The VCD regimen was used as induction therapy by 117 (37.6%) patients, whereas 194 (62.4%) patients received the CTD regimen. After four cycles of induction on an intention-to-treat basis, 54% of the patients in the VCD group achieved at least very good partial response versus 42.8% in the CTD group (p = 0.05). We observed no difference in neuropathy or thrombotic events rates among the two regimens. Conclusion: Our results corroborate the superiority of the triple combination regimes containing bortezomib over the triple combination with thalidomide as pre ASCT induction therapy in MM.

Comparative study of the therapeutic effect between BTD and BCD for new multiple myeloma / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of bortezomib-based chemotherapy regimen [BTD chemotherapy regimen (bortezomib and thalidomide combined with dexamethasone) and BCD chemotherapy regimen (bortezomib and cyclophosphamide combined with dexamethasone)] in the treatment of new multiple myeloma (MM). Methods From May 2015 to May 2019, 80 newly diagnosed MM patients hospitalized in the Department of Hematology of Sanya Central Hospital were divided into BTD group (n=40) and BCD group (n=40). Patients in BTD group were given BTD chemotherapy regimen, and BCD group patients were given BCD chemotherapy regimen. Clinical efficacy, changes in myeloma markers [serum M protein, serum free light chain (κ-λ), immunofixation electrophoresis, β2 microglobulin, bone marrow plasma cells] and adverse reactions were evaluated in the two groups after 4 courses of treatment. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in the two groups were evaluated at follow-up period. Results The overall response rate (ORR) of the BTD group was significantly higher than that of the BCD group [95.0%(38/40) vs. 75.0%(30/40)], the difference was statistically significant (P0.05). Conclusion In the bortezomib-based chemotherapy regimen, the efficacy of BTD group is significantly better than that of BCD group, which could effectively reduce the indexes of myeloma, and the adverse reactions are lower, but there would be no significant difference in OS and PFS between the two groups.