A simple score to predict early severe infections in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

Infections remain a common complication in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and are associated with morbidity and mortality. A risk score to predict the probability of early severe infection could help to identify the patients that would benefit from preventive measures. We undertook a post hoc analysis of infections in four clinical trials from the Spanish Myeloma Group, involving a total of 1347 patients (847 transplant candidates). Regarding the GEM2010 > 65 trial, antibiotic prophylaxis was mandatory, so we excluded it from the final analysis. The incidence of severe infection episodes within the first 6 months was 13.8%, and majority of the patients experiencing the first episode before 4 months (11.1%). 1.2% of patients died because of infections within the first 6 months (1% before 4 months). Variables associated with increased risk of severe infection in the first 4 months included serum albumin ≤30 g/L, ECOG > 1, male sex, and non-IgA type MM. A simple risk score with these variables facilitated the identification of three risk groups with different probabilities of severe infection within the first 4 months: low-risk (score 0-2) 8.2%; intermediate-risk (score 3) 19.2%; and high-risk (score 4) 28.3%. Patients with intermediate/high risk could be candidates for prophylactic antibiotic therapies.

Unsupervised machine learning improves risk stratification in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: an analysis of the Spanish Myeloma Group.

The International Staging System (ISS) and the Revised International Staging System (R-ISS) are commonly used prognostic scores in multiple myeloma (MM). These methods have significant gaps, particularly among intermediate-risk groups. The aim of this study was to improve risk stratification in newly diagnosed MM patients using data from three different trials developed by the Spanish Myeloma Group. For this, we applied an unsupervised machine learning clusterization technique on a set of clinical, biochemical and cytogenetic variables, and we identified two novel clusters of patients with significantly different survival. The prognostic precision of this clusterization was superior to those of ISS and R-ISS scores, and appeared to be particularly useful to improve risk stratification among R-ISS 2 patients. Additionally, patients assigned to the low-risk cluster in the GEM05 over 65 years trial had a significant survival benefit when treated with VMP as compared with VTD. In conclusion, we describe a simple prognostic model for newly diagnosed MM whose predictions are independent of the ISS and R-ISS scores. Notably, the model is particularly useful in order to re-classify R-ISS score 2 patients in 2 different prognostic subgroups. The combination of ISS, R-ISS and unsupervised machine learning clusterization brings a promising approximation to improve MM risk stratification.

Do Patients and Physicians Agree When They Assess Quality of Life?

Patient and physician agreement on the most significant symptoms is associated with treatment outcomes and satisfaction with care. Thus, we sought to assess patient and physician agreement on patient-reported quality of life (QoL), and whether patient-related variables predict disagreement. In this cross-sectional, multisite study, patients and physicians completed the FACT-BMT at day 90. Agreement was analyzed with the intraclass coefficient correlation (ICC). Rates of underestimation and overestimation were calculated. Logistic regression models identified predictors of disagreement. We analyzed 96 pairs of questionnaires completed by 96 patients and 11 physicians. The patients' median age was 54 years, 52% were men, and 52% had undergone allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). The physicians' median age was 42, 64% were men, and they had worked in the HCT field for an average of 12 years. Agreement on QoL was moderate (ICC = .436). Exploratory analyses revealed poor agreement for emotional (ICC = .092) and social (ICC = .270) well-being and moderate agreement for physical (ICC = .457), functional (ICC = .451), and BMT concerns (ICC = .445). Patients' well-being was underestimated by physicians in 41% to 59% of the categories of well-being parameters, and overestimated in 10% to 24%. Patient's anxiety predicted less disagreement in all scales except in social well-being, for which nonsignificant associations were observed. Patient-related variables explained 12% to 19% of the variance in disagreement across well-being scales. Patient and physician agreement on QoL was suboptimal, particularly in emotional and social well-being. The implementation of patient-reported outcomes in the daily care of HCT recipients may contribute to improving patient-centered care.

Elotuzumab in combination with thalidomide and low-dose dexamethasone: a phase 2 single-arm safety study in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Elotuzumab is an immunostimulatory, humanized immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody that selectively targets and kills signalling lymphocytic activation molecule family member 7-expressing myeloma cells. We evaluated the safety and tolerability of elotuzumab 10 mg/kg combined with thalidomide 50-200 mg and dexamethasone 40 mg (with/without cyclophosphamide 50 mg) in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). The primary endpoint was the proportion of grade ≥3 non-haematological adverse events (AEs); other endpoints included the number of dose reductions/discontinuations and efficacy. Forty patients were treated, who had a median of three previous therapies, including bortezomib (98%) and lenalidomide (73%). Grade ≥3 non-haematological AEs were reported in 63% of patients, most commonly asthenia (35%) and peripheral oedema (25%). Six (15%) patients had an infusion reaction. Twenty-six (65%) patients had ≥1 dose reduction/discontinuation due to an AE, none related to elotuzumab. Overall response rate was 38%; median progression-free survival was 3·9 months. Median overall survival was 16·3 months and the 1-year survival rate was 63%. Minimal incremental toxicity was observed with addition of elotuzumab to thalidomide/dexamethasone with or without cyclophosphamide, and efficacy data suggest clinical benefit in a highly pre-treated population. Elotuzumab combined with thalidomide may provide an additional treatment option for patients with RRMM.

Patterns of relapse and outcome of elderly multiple myeloma patients treated as front-line therapy with novel agents combinations.

We report the characteristics of relapse, treatment response, and outcomes of 145 elderly patients with multiple myeloma in first relapse after front-line treatment with VMP or VTP. Reappearance of CRAB symptoms (113 patients) and more aggressive forms of disease (32 patients) were the most common patterns of relapse. After second-line therapy, 75 (51.7%) patients achieved at partial response and 16 (11%) complete response (CR). Overall survival was longer among patients receiving VMP as front-line induction (21.4 vs. 14.4 months, P=0.037), in patients achieving CR (28.3 vs. 14.8 months; P=0.04), and in patients without aggressive relapse (28.6 vs. 7.6 months; P=0.0007).

Degree of mucositis and duration of neutropenia are the major risk factors for early post-transplant febrile neutropenia and severe bacterial infections after reduced-intensity conditioning.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Whether the intensity of the conditioning regimen affects febrile neutropenia (FN) and severe bacterial infections (SBIs) is not well established. We analyzed the risk factors (RFs) for the development of FN and SBI in the first 100d post-transplant in 195 consecutive adult recipients of a reduced-intensity conditioning allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (RIC-allo). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The RIC regimens consisted of fludarabine plus melphalan (62%) or busulphan (38%) (FluMel or FluBu). SBIs include pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and bacteremia. RESULTS: FN occurred in 141 patients (72%), always in the first 30d post-allo-RIC. However, a SBI occurred in only 27 patients (14%) during this early post-transplant period (