Real World Efficacy and Safety Results of Ixazomib Lenalidomide and Dexamethasone Combination in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma: Data Collected from the Hungarian Ixazomib Named Patient Program.

Ixazomib-Revlimid-Dexamethasone is an all-oral treatment protocol for multiple myeloma with a manageable tolerability profile which was available through a named patient program for Hungarian patients from December 2015 to April 2017. We analyzed the clinical characteristics and survival of 77 patients treated at 7 centers within this program. The majority of patients responded, we found complete response in 9, very good partial response in 8, partial response in 32, minor response or stable disease in 13 and progressive disease in 11 patients. Progression free survival was 11.4 months. There was a trend of longer progression free survival in those with 1 vs. >1 prior treatment, with equally good effectivity in standard risk and high risk cytogenetic groups. The adverse events were usually mild, none leading to permanent drug interruptions. There were 5 fatalities: 3 infections and 2 pulmonary embolisms. Our real word data support the use of Ixazomib-Revlimid-Dexamethasone as a highly effective and well tolerated oral treatment protocol for relapsed myeloma.

Peripheral blood stem cell mobilization and engraftment after autologous stem cell transplantation with biosimilar rhG-CSF.

INTRODUCTION: Biosimilar versions of filgrastim [recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF)] are now widely available. To date, biosimilar rhG-CSF has demonstrated a comparable quality, safety and efficacy profile to the originator product (filgrastim [Neupogen(®)], Amgen Inc., CA, USA) in the prevention and management of neutropenia. Biosimilar rhG-CSFs have also been used to induce peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) mobilization in patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation (AHSCT). The authors have examined the effectiveness of a biosimilar rhG-CSF (Zarzio(®), Sandoz Biopharmaceuticals, Holzkirchen, Germany) in two retrospective studies across two medical centers in Hungary. METHODS: In Study 1, 70 patients with hematological malignancies scheduled to undergo AHSCT received chemotherapy followed by biosimilar rhG-CSF (2 × 5 µg) for facilitating neutrophil, leukocyte, and platelet engraftment. In study 2, 40 additional patients with lymphoid malignancies and planned AHSCT received chemotherapy followed by biosimilar rhG-CSF for PBSC mobilization. The effectiveness of treatment was assessed by the average yield of cluster of differentiation (CD) 34+ cells and the number of leukaphereses required. RESULTS: In Study 1 (patients undergoing AHSCT), the median age was 56 years and most patients were male (60%). The conditioning regimens were mainly high-dose melphalan (n = 41) and carmustine (BiCNU(®), Bristol-Myers Squibb, NJ, USA), etoposide, cytarabine and melphalan BEAM (n = 21). Median times to absolute neutrophil and leukocyte engraftment were 9 (range 8-11 days) and 10 (8-12) days, respectively. Median time to platelet engraftment was 10.5 days (7-19 days). In Study 2, the patients' median age was 54 years and the majority (57.5%) were female. The median time interval between day 1 of mobilizing chemotherapy and first leukapheresis was 12 (9-27) days. In the autologous PBSC grafts, the median number of CD34+ cells harvested was 5.2 × 10(6)/kg (2.22-57.07 × 10(6)/kg). The median yield of CD34+ cells per leukapheresis product was 2.47 × 10(6)/kg. In total, 58 leukaphereses were performed in 40 successfully harvested patients. CONCLUSIONS: In line with previous studies with originator rhG-CSF, the findings of this study indicate that biosimilar rhG-CSF following AHSCT is effective and generally well tolerated in the engraftment setting. In addition, biosimilar rhG-CSF is comparable to the originator rhG-CSF in terms of kinetics of PBSC mobilization and yield of CD34+ cells. In conclusion, the authors have demonstrated that the use of biosimilar rhG-CSF is effective and safe in autologous PBSC mobilization and engraftment after AHSCT.

Detection of four lymphotropic herpesviruses in Hungarian patients with multiple myeloma and lymphoma.

It has been suggested that human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), also known as KSHV (Kaposi's sarcoma-associated human herpesvirus), might possess a promoting effect in the development and progression of monoclonal gammopathies. In this study, the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human cytomegalovirus (CMV), human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) were tested in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) using both serologic and nucleic acid amplification techniques. The transient reactivation or continuous presence of EBV, CMV, HHV-6 and HHV-8 could be detected in, respectively, 36, eight, 13 and 29 of 69 MM patients; nine, one, four and six of 16 monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance patients; and seven, four, zero and five of 10 Waldenström's macroglobulinemia patients. The total number of MM patients was 95. HHV-8 PCR-positivity was significantly more frequent in the MM group than in the control group of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). However, serologic testing did not reveal significant differences between the two patient groups. The number of MM patients with concomitant herpesvirus infections as detected by PCR was as follows: 15 double, seven triple and two quadruple virus nucleic acid positive. In 13/95 MM patients, the simultaneous presence of acute EBV infection and HHV-8 PCR-positivity was detected compared with none of the control group (P=0.009). These results indicate that in addition to HHV-8, the transitional reactivation of EBV may also play a role in the pathogenesis of MM.

[Soluble syndecan-1 levels in different plasma cell dyscrasias]. / Szolúbilis syndecan-1-(CD 138)-koncentráció plazmasejt-dyscrasiákban.

INTRODUCTION: Syndecans are a family of cell surface proteoglycans. In the bone marrow of multiple myeloma patients syndecan-1 is expressed only on the surface of malignant plasma cells. The aim of the study was to determine the soluble syndecan-1 levels in different plasma cell dyscrasias. METHODS: The serum concentration of soluble syndecan-1 was measured using human syndecan-1 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. RESULTS: Patients with multiple myeloma showed a significantly higher median serum syndecan-1 level than patients with plasmocytoma or monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. Statistically significant differences were also observed among Salmon-Durie subgroups of 50 patients suffering from multiple myeloma. In addition to these findings a statistical correlation with other independent prognostic factors such as serum beta2-microglobulin level, monoclonal immunoglobulin concentration, and bone marrow plasma cell count could also be noted. A significant decrease in median serum syndecan level was observed in patients who responded to chemotherapy, whereas no change in the median syndecan-1 level could be observed in nonresponders. CONCLUSION: These findings confirm the observation that high serum soluble syndecan-1 level is associated with a more advanced disease stage and is a strong independent indicator of poor prognosis. A diminished serum syndecan-1 reading as a result of chemotherapy may be a good indicator of favorable response to antitumor treatment.