ABSTRACT
Isatuximab, a novel anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, is approved in combination with carfilzomib and dexamethasone (Isa-Kd) in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) patients. Because of its recent introduction, real-world efficacy and safety are poorly reported. In this Italian multicenter real-life observational retrospective study, efficacy and safety of the Isa-Kd regimen were evaluated in a cohort of 103 RRMM patients. Overall response rate (ORR) was 85%, with stringent (sCR) or complete response (CR) in 18% of cases and very good partial response (VGPR) in 39%. Median PFS and OS were not reached within the study period, while 1-year PFS and OS were 72% and 77%, respectively. Hematological toxicities were observed in 42% of subjects, and cardiac toxicities occurred in 24% of cases. Moreover, we conducted a subanalysis on patients (N = 69) treated with Isa-Kd after one prior line of therapy, showing an ORR of 88%, with sCR + CR in 20% of subjects, VGPR in 46%, and PR in 22% of patients. In this group, median PFS and OS were not reached, while 1-year PFS and OS were 92% and 95%, respectively. In conclusions, our study confirmed Isa-Kd as an effective treatment option for RRMM with a manageable safety profile even in real-life settings.
ABSTRACT
Since neutrophil extracellular traps formation (NET-osis) can be assessed indirectly by treating healthy neutrophils with blood-derived fluids from patients and then measuring the NETs response, we designed a pilot study to convey high-dimensional cytometry of peripheral blood immune cells and cytokines, combined with clinical features, to understand if NET-osis assessment could be included in the immune risk profiling to early prediction of clinical patterns, disease severity, and viral clearance at 28 days in COVID-19 patients. Immune cells composition of peripheral blood, cytokines concentration and in-vitro NETosis were detected in peripheral blood of 41 consecutive COVID-19 inpatients, including 21 mild breakthrough infections compared to 20 healthy donors, matched for sex and age. Major immune dysregulation in peripheral blood in not-vaccinated COVID-19 patients compared to healthy subjects included: a significant reduction of percentage of unswitched memory B-cells and transitional B-cells; loss of naïve CD3+CD4+CD45RA+ and CD3+CD8+CD45RA+ cells, increase of IL-1ß, IL-17A and IFN-γ. Myeloid compartment was affected as well, due to the increase of classical (CD14++CD16-) and intermediate (CD14++CD16+) monocytes, overexpressing the activation marker CD64, negatively associated to the absolute counts of CD8+ CD45R0+ cells, IFN-γ and IL-6, and expansion of monocytic-like myeloid derived suppressor cells. In not-vaccinated patients who achieved viral clearance by 28 days we found at hospital admission lower absolute counts of effector cells, namely CD8+T cells, CD4+ T-cells and CD4+CD45RO+ T cells. Percentage of in-vitro NET-osis induced by patients' sera and NET-osis density were progressively higher in moderate and severe COVID-19 patients than in mild disease and controls. The percentage of in-vitro induced NET-osis was positively associated to circulating cytokines IL-1ß, IFN-γ and IL-6. In breakthrough COVID-19 infections, characterized by mild clinical course, we observed increased percentage of in-vitro NET-osis, higher CD4+ CD45RO+ and CD8+ CD45RO+ T cells healthy or mild-COVID-19 not-vaccinated patients, reduced by 24 h of treatment with ACE inhibitor ramipril. Taken together our data highlight the role of NETs in orchestrating the complex immune response to SARS-COV-2, that should be considered in a multi-target approach for COVID-19 treatment.