ABSTRACT
Introduction: AHSCT is the treatment of choice for newly diagnosed patients with transplant-eligible multiple myeloma (MM). However, considerable variability in response to autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) results in only 50% of patients achieving complete response (CR) after AHSCT, which is directly associated with improved progression-free and overall survival (OS). In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential predictive role of selected serum miRNAs in MM patients who underwent AHSCT. Patients and methods: Serum expression level of 6 miRNAs: miR-221-3p, miR-15b-5p, miR-223-3p, miR-320c, miR-361-3p, and miR-150-5p was evaluated in 51 patients who underwent AHSCT. Blood samples were collected at two time points: before conditioning chemotherapy (T1) and fourteen days after transplant (+14) (T2). Results: All selected miRNAs significantly changed their expression level across the procedure- two were up-regulated after AHSCT: hsa-miR-320c (FC 1.42, p<0.0001) and hsa-miR-361-3p (FC 1.35, p=0.0168); four were down-regulated: hsa-miR-15b-5p (FC 0.53, p<0.0001), hsa-miR-221-3p (FC 0.78, p=0.0004), hsa-miR-223-3p (FC 0.74, p=0.0015) and hsa-miR-150-5p (FC 0.75, p=0.0080). Notably, before AHSCT, hsa-miR-223-3p was down-regulated in International Staging System (ISS) III patients (FC=0.76, p=0.0155), and hsa-miR-320c was up-regulated (FC=1.27, p=0.0470). These differences became non-significant after AHSCT. Eight (15.69%) patients achieved CR before AHSCT and 17 patients (33.33%) at +100 days after AHSCT. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, achievement of CR after induction and hsa-miR-223-3p at T1 were independent predictors of CR after AHSCT. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, hsa-miR-223-3p at T1 expression level was associated with prolonged OS (HR 0.06, 95%CI: 0.00 - 0.99, p=0.0488). Conclusion: Serum expression of has-miR-223-3p is a predictor of CR and prolonged OS in MM patients undergoing AHSCT.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The systemic inflammation index (SII) might serve as an indicator of the equilibrium between the inflammatory and immune responses. The aim of the study was to determine the clinical value and prognostic significance of SII in the cohort of multiple myeloma (MM) patients treated with a regimen of pomalidomide and dexamethasone (Pd). Material and methods: This retrospective, real-life study included patients who received a Pd regimen in our centre between November 2018 and July 2022. The systemic inflammation index was calculated from peripheral blood counts of platelets, neutrophils, and lymphocytes collected shortly before commencement of Pd treatment using the equation: SII = N × P/L, where N, P, and L are the respective counts per litre of peripheral blood for neutrophils, platelets, and lymphocytes. Results: The study group consisted of 54 patients. Most patients received Pd as the third (38.9%) or fourth (37.0%) line of treatment. The median number of completed treatment cycles was 5 (IQR: 1-12). The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 6.8 months and overall survival (OS) 14.8 months. High SII (> 374) was an independent prognostic factor for PFS (HR = 3.0, 95% CI: 1.4-6.3, p < 0.01) and OS (HR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.0-4.6, p = 0.04). In the low SII group, the respective median PFS and OS values were 9.6 and 21.7 months, compared to 2.6 (p = 0.018) and 5.5 months (p = 0.035) in the high SII group. Conclusions: The systemic inflammation index has prognostic significance in MM patients treated with Pd. A high SII predicts a poorer outcome in pretreated MM patients undergoing Pd treatment evaluation. As such, it may well be a key factor for guiding subsequent treatment decisions.
