International Myeloma Working Group Frailty Research Articles

Caring for older adults with multiple myeloma during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Perspective from the International Forum for Optimizing Care of Older Adults with Myeloma

The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) was first identified in the province of Wuhan, China in December 2019 [1], following the emergence of new cases of pneumonia of unknown etiology. Since then, the manifestations of COVID-19 infections have ranged from asymptomatic to severe respiratory infections, with increased morbidity in older adults including those with co-morbidities and cancer [2,3]. Presently, global mortality is reported at 4.7%, but this varies widely by location, from 0.7% in Germany to 10.8% in Italy [4]. As of April 13, 2020, the number of infections continues to rise well beyond the 1.9 million cases, and approximately 120,000 COVID-19-related deaths that have already occurred globally [5]. Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant plasma cell dyscrasia which predominantly affects older and often frail adults. Although tremendous gains have been made for older adults with MM, infections, including respiratory infections, significantly impact the rate of early mortality in these patients [6,7]. Furthermore, older adults with MM have age-associated vulnerabilities leading to heterogeneity in outcomes [8]. The complexity of caring for older patients have increased substantially during this pandemic, due to concern about their risk of severe morbidity of COVID19 infection. Optimal strategies for these patients will involve staging the malignancy/aging, while simultaneously considering the local prevalence of COVID-19 infection. Herein, we discuss strategies for the risk reduction of COVID-19 transmission, treatment stratification of anti-myeloma therapy and discussion regarding goals of care for older adults with MM during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Integrating Touchscreen-Based Geriatric Assessment and Frailty Screening for Adults With Multiple Myeloma to Drive Personalized Treatment Decisions.

Geriatric assessment (GA) results predict toxicity/survival in older adults, yet GA is not routinely used in care for patients with multiple myeloma (MM). We tested a tablet-based modified GA (mGA) providing real-time results to clinicians. One hundred sixty-five patients with MM aged ≥ 65 years facing a treatment decision from 4 sites completed a tablet-based mGA with Katz Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Lawton Instrumental ADL, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and variables from the Cancer and Aging Research Group's Chemotherapy Toxicity Calculator. Providers reviewed the assessment results at the treatment visit. Patients were white (72%; n = 86), mean age was 72 years (range, 65-85 years), and averaged 7.71 minutes (range, 2-17 minutes) for survey completion. Providers averaged 3.2 minutes (range, 1-10 minutes) to review mGA results. Using International Myeloma Working Group frailty score, patients were fit (39%; n = 64), intermediate fit (33%; n = 55), or frail (28%; n = 46). Providers selected more aggressive treatments in 16.3% of patients and decreased treatment intensity in 34% of patients; treatment intensification was more common for fit patients and milder treatments for frail patients (χ2 = 20.02; P < .0001). Transplant eligibility significantly correlated with fit status and transplant ineligibility with frail status (P = .004). Outcomes on 144 patients 3 months post study visit showed 19.4% (n = 28) had grade ≥ 3 hematologic toxicities, 38.9% (n = 56) had dose modifications, and 18% (n = 26) had early therapy cessation. Limited patient time required for survey completion and provider time for results review show mGA can be easily incorporated into clinical workflow. Real-time mGA results indicating fit/frailty status influenced treatment decisions.

Integrating Touchscreen-Based Geriatric Assessment and Frailty Screening for Adults with Multiple Myeloma to Drive Personalized Treatment Decisions

Background: Older adults with multiple myeloma (MM) may be at increased risk for toxicity of therapy. The International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) frailty model, which includes age, functional status, and comorbidities, accounts for the presence of toxicity. The Cancer and Aging Research Group (CARG) Toxicity Tool (Hurria et al, JCO, 2011) includes more aging-associated domains and has been well validated in older adults with solid tumors, though not in hematologic malignancies. The association between the CARG toxicity tool and toxicity of therapy in older adults with MM is unknown. The parent study tested feasibility of an electronic modified geriatric assessment (mGA) tool providing real-time results to physicians. Methods: A retrospective chart abstraction was conducted on patients from the parent study to identify all treatments prior to the GA, time on treatment after enrollment, clinical data, treatment sequencing, incidence of Grade 3-5 toxicities, dose modifications, and treatment discontinuation or new line of therapy initiated. Patients were categorized as fit, intermediate fit or frail based on the IMWG score. The CARG score, adapted to apply to MM by removal of solid tumor type and use of the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation to calculate creatinine clearance, as recommended by the International Myeloma Working Group was calculated for each patient. Results: Data was available on 100 patients from the parent study. Average age was 71.3 ± 5.4 years, 58% Male, and 75% White. 71 individual regimens were identified with 575 incidences of use. Most patients were on their 4th line of therapy (mean=3.8 ± 2.9) and 22 were not receiving treatment at the time of the GA. Patients averaged 4.5 ± 3.7 lines of therapy and 46 patients underwent autologous stem cell transplants. Mean time on treatment for 78 patients after mGA was 27.2 weeks ± 28.4 weeks. CARG scores ranged from 0 to 17 with a mean of 5.9 + 7.8. mGA results were 35.7% (n=35) fit, 39.8% (n=39) intermediate fit, and 24.5% (n=24) frail using the IMWG frailty score. There was significant correlation between mean CARG scores and fit/frailty status (p&amp;lt;.000), with higher scores in frail patients. Hematological events after GA were common with 97% (n=97) reporting 1 or more &amp;gt; grade 3 events. Non hematologic events were less common with 38% (n=38) reporting 1 or more &amp;gt; grade 3 events. Incidences of hematologic and non-hematologic toxicities were not associated with CARG or IMWG frailty status. 44.9% (44 of 98) had dose modifications and 50% (49 of 98) had early therapy cessation. Conclusion: Older adults with MM are likely to require multiple lines of therapy over the course of their disease. Individualizing treatment and mitigating risk requires consistent application of geriatric assessment and toxicity tools. Our study did not find a significant association between the CARG toxicity tool, adapted for myeloma, or the IMWG frailty status. Future study will be needed to understand which patients were treated with initial dose reductions and how this impacted the risk of adverse events. Disclosures Wildes: Janssen: Research Funding; Carevive: Consultancy.

Efficacy and Tolerability of Ixazomib, Daratumumab and Low Dose Dexamethasone (Ixa Dara dex) in Unfit and Frail Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma (NDMM) Patients; Results of the Interim Efficacy Analysis of the Phase II HOVON 143 Study

Efficacy and Tolerability of Ixazomib, Daratumumab and Low Dose Dexamethasone (Ixa Dara dex) in Unfit and Frail Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma (NDMM) Patients; Results of the Interim Efficacy Analysis of the Phase II HOVON 143 Study

Frailty-Adjusted Therapy in Transplant Non-Eligible Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma (FiTNEss): A UK Myeloma Research Alliance Study, Myeloma XIV

Background Transplant non-eligible (TNE) myeloma patients are a very heterogeneous group that is not well-defined on the basis of age alone, but rather by the interplay of age, physical function, cognitive function and comorbidity better defined as 'frailty'. The International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) has published a scoring system for myeloma patient frailty that predicts survival, adverse events and treatment tolerability using age, the Katz Activity of Daily Living (ADL), the Lawton Instrumental Activity of Daily Living (IADL), and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). It has been proposed to be useful in determining the feasibility of treatment regimens and appropriate dose reductions but has not been validated prospectively. We hypothesize that by defining subgroups of patients based on the IMWG frailty score, and guiding up-front dose adjustments we can personalize therapy to improve treatment tolerability and therefore short-term outcomes, along with quality of life. In addition we plan to compare the use of single agent immunomodulatory (IMiD) based maintenance therapy with an IMiD and proteasome inhibitor maintenance doublet to try and improve long-term outcomes for patients. Study Design and Methods Myeloma XIV (NCT03720041) is a phase III, multi-center, randomized controlled trial to compare standard (reactive) and frailty-adjusted (adaptive) induction therapy delivery with the novel triplet ixazomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (IRd), and to compare maintenance lenalidomide (R) to lenalidomide plus ixazomib (IR) in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma not suitable for a stem cell transplant. The trial outline is shown in Figure 1. All participants receive induction treatment with ixazomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone and are randomized (R1) on a 1:1 basis at trial entry to the use of frailty score-adjusted up-front dose reductions vs. standard up-front dosing followed by toxicity dependent reactive dose modifications during therapy. Following 12 cycles of induction treatment participants alive and progression-free undergo a second randomization (R2) on a 1:1 basis to maintenance treatment with lenalidomide plus placebo versus lenalidomide plus ixazomib. Participants and their treating physicians are blinded to maintenance allocation. The primary objectives of the study are to determine: Early treatment cessation (within 60 days of randomization) for standard versus frailty-adjusted up-front dosingProgression-free survival (PFS, from maintenance randomization) for lenalidomide + placebo (R) versus lenalidomide + ixazomib (IR) The secondary objectives of the study include determining: progression-free survival (PFS) for standard versus frailty-adjusted up-front dosing reductions, overall survival (OS), overall response rate (ORR), treatment compliance and total amount of therapy delivered, toxicity &amp; safety including the incidence of Second Primary Malignancies (SPMs), Quality of Life (QoL), cost-effectiveness of standard versus frailty-adjusted up-front dosing of IRd and cost-effectiveness of IR versus R. Exploratory analyses include the association of molecular subgroups with response, PFS and OS. Seven hundred and forty participants will be enrolled into the trial at R1 to give 80% power to demonstrate a difference in early cessation and ensure that at least 478 participants remain and are randomized at R2 (based on attrition rates in our previous study Myeloma XI). At R2 478 patients will give us 80% power to detect an eight month difference in PFS between R and IR. Disclosures Cairns: Celgene, Amgen, Merck, Takeda: Other: Research Funding to Institution. Pawlyn:Amgen, Janssen, Celgene, Takeda: Other: Travel expenses; Amgen, Celgene, Takeda: Consultancy; Amgen, Celgene, Janssen, Oncopeptides: Honoraria. Royle:Celgene, Amgen, Merck, Takeda: Other: Research Funding to Institution. Best:Celgene, Amgen, Merck, Takeda: Other: Research Funding to Institution. Bowcock:Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding. Boyd:Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria. Drayson:Abingdon Health: Consultancy, Equity Ownership. Henderson:Celgene, Amgen, Merck, Takeda: Other: Research Funding to Institution. Jenner:Abbvie, Amgen, Celgene, Novartis, Janssen, Sanofi Genzyme, Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Jones:Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding. Kaiser:Takeda, Janssen, Celgene, Amgen: Honoraria, Other: Travel Expenses; Celgene, Janssen: Research Funding; Abbvie, Celgene, Takeda, Janssen, Amgen, Abbvie, Karyopharm: Consultancy. Kishore:Celgene, Takeda, Janssen: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Celgene, Jazz, Takeda: Other: Travel expenses. Mottram:Celgene, Amgen, Merck, Takeda: Other: Research Funding to Institution. Owen:Janssen: Other: Travel expenses; Celgene, Janssen: Consultancy; Celgene, Janssen: Honoraria; Celgene: Research Funding. Jackson:Celgene, Amgen, Roche, Janssen, Sanofi: Honoraria. Cook:Celgene, Janssen-Cilag, Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squib, GlycoMimetics, Seattle Genetics, Sanofi: Honoraria; Janssen, Takeda, Sanofi, Karyopharm, Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. OffLabel Disclosure: Frailty adjusted dosing. Ixazomib and lenalidomide combination as maintenance.

Lenalidomide-based induction and maintenance in elderly newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients: updated results of the EMN01 randomized trial.

n the EMN01 trial, the addition of an alkylator (melphalan or cyclophosphamide) to lenalidomide-steroid induction therapy was prospectively evaluated in transplant-ineligible patients with multiple myeloma. After induction, patients were randomly assigned to maintenance treatment with lenalidomide alone or with prednisone continuously. The analysis presented here (median follow-up of 71 months) is focused on maintenance treatment and on subgroup analyses defined according to the International Myeloma Working Group Frailty Score. Of the 654 evaluable patients, 217 were in the lenalidomide-dexamethasone arm, 217 in the melphalan-prednisone-lenalidomide arm and 220 in the cyclophosphamide-prednisone-lenalidomide arm. With regards to the Frailty Score, 284 (43%) patients were fit, 205 (31%) were intermediate-fit and 165 (25%) were frail. After induction, 402 patients were eligible for maintenance therapy (lenalidomide arm, n=204; lenalidomide-prednisone arm, n=198). After a median duration of maintenance of 22.0 months, progression-free survival from the start of maintenance was 22.2 months with lenalidomide-prednisone vs. 18.6 months with lenalidomide (hazard ratio 0.85, P=0.14), with no differences across frailty subgroups. The most frequent grade ≥3 toxicity was neutropenia (10% of lenalidomide-prednisone and 21% of lenalidomide patients; P=0.001). Grade ≥3 non-hematologic adverse events were rare (<15%). In fit patients, melphalan-prednisone-lenalidomide significantly prolonged progression-free survival compared to cyclophosphamide-prednisone-lenalidomide (hazard ratio 0.72, P=0.05) and lenalidomide-dexamethasone (hazard ratio 0.72, P=0.04). Likewise, a trend towards a better overall survival was noted for patients treated with melphalan-prednisone-lenalidomide or cyclophosphamide-prednisone-lenalidomide, as compared to lenalidomide-dexamethasone. No differences were observed in intermediate-fit and frail patients. This analysis showed positive outcomes of maintenance with lenalidomide-based regimens, with a good safety profile. For the first time, we showed that fit patients benefit from a full-dose triplet regimen, while intermediate-fit and frail patients benefit from gentler regimens. ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT01093196.

Efficacy and Tolerability of Ixazomib, Daratumumab and Low Dose Dexamethasone (IDd) in Unfit and Frail Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma (NDMM) Patients; First Interim Safety Analysis of the Phase II HOVON 143 Study

Efficacy and Tolerability of Ixazomib, Daratumumab and Low Dose Dexamethasone (IDd) in Unfit and Frail Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma (NDMM) Patients; First Interim Safety Analysis of the Phase II HOVON 143 Study

The IMWG Frailty Score and Age Can be More Effective Than Clinical Judgement in the Selection of Elderly Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Who Can Benefit from an Intensive Treatment Approach with High Dose Melphalan and Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation

The IMWG Frailty Score and Age Can be More Effective Than Clinical Judgement in the Selection of Elderly Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Who Can Benefit from an Intensive Treatment Approach with High Dose Melphalan and Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation

A concise revised Myeloma Comorbidity Index as a valid prognostic instrument in a large cohort of 801 multiple myeloma patients.

With growing numbers of elderly multiple myeloma patients, reliable tools to assess their vulnerability are required. The objective of the analysis herein was to develop and validate an easy to use myeloma risk score (revised Myeloma Comorbidity Index) that allows for risk prediction of overall survival and progression-free survival differences in a large patient cohort. We conducted a comprehensive comorbidity, frailty and disability evaluation in 801 consecutive myeloma patients, including comorbidity risks obtained at diagnosis. The cohort was examined within a training and validation set. Multivariate analysis determined renal, lung and Karnofsky Performance Status impairment, frailty and age as significant risks for overall survival. These were combined in a weighted revised Myeloma Comorbidity Index, allowing for the identification of fit (revised Myeloma Comorbidity Index ≤3 [n=247, 30.8%]), intermediate-fit (revised Myeloma Comorbidity Index 4–6 [n=446, 55.7%]) and frail patients (revised Myeloma Comorbidity Index >6 [n=108, 13.5%]): these subgroups, confirmed via validation analysis, showed median overall survival rates of 10.1, 4.4 and 1.2 years, respectively. The revised Myeloma Comorbidity Index was compared to other commonly used comorbidity indices (Charlson Comorbidity Index, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation-Specific Comorbidity Index, Kaplan-Feinstein Index): if each were divided in risk groups based on 25% and 75% quartiles, highest hazard ratios, best prediction and Brier scores were achieved with the revised Myeloma Comorbidity Index. The advantages of the revised Myeloma Comorbidity Index include its accurate assessment of patients’ physical conditions and simple clinical applicability. We propose the revised Myeloma Comorbidity Index to be tested with the “reference” International Myeloma Working Group frailty score in multicenter analyses and future clinical trials. The study was registered at the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS-00003868).

Feasibility and Efficacy of Dose Adjusted Melphalan - Prednisone - Bortezomib (MPV) in Elderly Patients ≥ 75 Years of Age with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma; the Non-Randomised Phase II HOVON 123 Study

BACKGROUNDThere is a high rate of toxicity-related discontinuation in elderly patients with NDMM, which in general is higher in patients ≥75 years. Therefore, we investigated the feasibility of a dose-adapted MPV scheme in patients ≥75 years and whether the International Myeloma Working Group frailty score (fit, unfit, and frail) predicts feasibility. Moreover, geriatric assessments, including functional assessments, were performed in order to design a model for more precise prediction of feasibility of treatment.METHODSPatients were treated with 9 cycles of MPV: Mel 6 mg/m2, day 1-4; Pred 30 mg/m2, day 1-4; and Bort 1.3 mg/m2 day 1,8,15 and 22 of a 35-day cycle. This first planned analysis on discontinuation rate was restricted to the first 100 eligible consecutive patients out of 240 planned patients. A preliminary analysis of grip strength and walking speed was performed, comparing tertiles.RESULTSOf the 96/100 evaluable patients, none were fit (because of age ≥75 years), 23/96 (24%) were unfit and 64/96 (67%) were frail (9/96 (9%) unknown). 28/64 (44%) frail patients were aged 75-80, and 8/64 (13%) patients were defined frail based on age >80 years only. Frail patients were found to have significantly less grip strength and lower walking speed as compared to unfit patients (see table 1), both for men and women. However, 19% (male) and 15% (female) of the patients with low grip strength were not frail, but unfit. For slow walking speed these percentages were 13% and 7% respectively, indicating these tools might be complementary to the IMWG frailty score in predicting outcome.The median follow up was 16 months. The discontinuation rate of MPV in the total population was 49%; 30% in unfit and 55% (including 7% discontinuation of bortezomib only) in frail patients (p=0.055). In patients >80 years (by definition frail) discontinuation rate was higher (69% (including 11% bortezomib only)) than in patients aged 75-80 years (37%; p=0.003). Reasons for early discontinuation in unfit versus frail were: progressive disease 1/7 vs 4/31, toxicity 3/7 vs 10/31, death 0/7 vs 4/31, non-compliance 1/7 vs 8/31, other 2/7 vs 5/31. In 72% 6 cycles of MPV were found to be feasible, both in unfit (78%) and frail (73%) patients.Response on protocol was ≥PR 69%, ≥VGPR 29% and ≥CR 7%, not significantly different in unfit versus frail patients. Median progression free survival (PFS) was 17 months: 22 for unfit and 17 months for frail patients (p=0.38). Overall survival (OS) at 18 months was 76%: 88% for unfit and 71% for frail (p=0.26) patients.ConclusionsTreatment of elderly NDMM patients ≥75 years with 9 cycles of dose-adjusted MPV results in a high discontinuation rate of 49%: 30% in unfit versus 55% in frail patients, indicating the need for further treatment adjustment and more precise selection of patients. Concerning the first; 6 cycles were found to be feasible in the majority of both unfit and frail patients. Concerning the latter; a preliminary analysis of functional geriatric assessments showed significantly lower performance in frail compared to unfit patients. Moreover, the results of functional geriatric assessments were found to add to the IMWG frailty score, hopefully leading to a better prediction of the feasibility of treatment in elderly NDMM patients.Functional assessments in unfit versus frail patients 1 p=0.18 2 p=0.012 3 p=0.0374 p=0.014Additional cognitive and nutritional geriatric assessments and biomarkers (sarcopenia and senescence markers) were performed in all patients.FISH analysis of isolated plasma cells will be available in the majority of patients.This trial was registered at www.trialregister.nl (NTR 4244), EudraCT 2013-000320-33, and supported by the Dutch Cancer Society (project number VU 2013-6411 ) and by an unrestricted grant from Janssen-Cilag. [Display omitted] DisclosuresZweegman:Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding. Ypma:Advisory Board Sanofi (Plerixafor): Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Minnema:Celgene: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Jansen Cilag: Consultancy. van de Donk:BMS: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding. Sonneveld:Karyopharm: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding.