Upfront Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Research Articles

Older Age As a Prognostic Factor for Overall Survival for Multiple Myeloma Patients Undergoing Upfront Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

BackgroundHigh-dose chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HCT) is considered the standard of care for newly diagnosed, transplant-eligible multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Due to improvements in induction, stem cell mobilization, and dose adjustment of the conditioning regimen, auto-HCT is increasingly used in older MM patients, with several retrospective analyses showing similar clinical outcomes compared to younger patients.MethodsTo further confirm these results, we performed a single-center retrospective analysis of MM patients undergoing auto-HCT between January 2006 and December 2016. Patients were divided into two groups: older (> 70 years) and younger (≤ 70 years).Results1128 patients (182 older, 946 younger) were included in this analysis. Patient characteristics are summarized in the attached Table. More patients (59% vs. 45%, p = 0.01) in the older cohort had ISS stage II or III disease. Older cohort was more likely to receive reduced-dose melphalan (140 mg/m²) as conditioning regimen (32% vs 3%, p = <0.0001). There was no significant difference in high-risk cytogenetics, induction regimens, and response to induction, or post-transplant maintenance between the older and younger cohorts. The overall median follow-up among survivors was 49 months in the older and 52 months in the younger group. One-hundred-day non-relapse mortality (NRM) was 2/182 (1.1%) and 6/946 (0.6%) (p = 0.5) in the older and younger groups, respectively. However, 1-year NRM was significantly higher in the older vs. younger cohort (7 /182 (4%; unknown 3, pneumonia or respiratory failure 4) vs. 9/946 (1%; unknown 2, pneumonia or respiratory failure 4, cardiac failure 3), HR 4.1, p = 0.005). Post-transplant, 75 (41%) and 431 (45%) achieved complete remission (CR) in the older and younger groups, respectively (p = 0.29). There was no significant difference in the rate of disease progression post-transplant between older (31%) and younger (30%) groups (p = 0.3). The 5-year progression free survival (PFS) was 24% and 37% in the older and younger groups, respectively (HR 1.3, p = 0.02). Similarly, 5-year overall survival (OS) was 56% and 73% in the older and younger groups (HR 1.8, p = <0.001). In univariate analyses, age > 70 years, high-risk cytogenetics, serum creatinine level > 2 mg/dl and ISS stage III were associated with worse PFS and OS. In contrast, melphalan 200 mg/m² for conditioning and achievement of CR after induction therapy were associated with better PFS and OS. These 6 factors were studied in multivariate analyses using a classification and regression tree (CART) method. In CART analysis for PFS, ISS stage II or III, and high-risk cytogenetics were associated with shorter PFS. Similarly, in CART analysis for OS, older age (> 69 years), ISS stage II or III, and high-risk cytogenetics were associated with a shorter OS.ConclusionIn this large single-center analysis, there was no difference in 100-day NRM, CR rates and the risk of progression after auto-HCT between the older and the younger patients. However, older age was associated with a shorter PFS and OS due to increased NRM. On multivariate CART analysis, ISS stage II or III and high-risk cytogenetics were associated with a worse PFS and OS, while age > 69 years was associated with a worse OS only. The impact of comorbidities on NRM is being evaluated in ongoing analyses. [Display omitted] DisclosuresLee:Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Chugai Biopharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Takeda Oncology: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Kite Pharma: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Patel:Abbvie: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Poseida Therapeutics, Inc.: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. Thomas:Bristol Myers Squibb Inc.: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Acerta Pharma: Research Funding; Amgen Inc: Research Funding; Array Pharma: Research Funding. Orlowski:BioTheryX, Inc: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Poseida: Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy; Millenium Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Champlin:Otsuka: Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding.

Melphalan-Based Autologous Transplantation in the Octogenarian Multiple Myeloma Patient Population

Abstract:Background:Upfront autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HCT) combined with novel anti-myeloma drugs is considered the standard of care for transplant-eligible patients with multiple myeloma (MM). However, this treatment is generally avoided in older patients due to concerns about toxicity. MM is primarily a disease of the elderly, with >35% patients being older than 70 years of age at diagnosis. We have previously reported on the role of auto-HCT in MM patients >70 years1. In this study, we evaluate the safety and feasibility of auto-HCT in patients ≥80 years who received auto-HCT at our institution.Methods:We retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of MM patients with age ≥80 years who underwent auto-HCT between January, 2007, and June, 2018. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated from the date of auto-HCT to the last follow up or the censored date. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate PFS and OS.Results:Between January, 2013, and December, 2017, out of a total of 1465 MM patients referred for evaluation for auto-HCT at our institution, only 10(0.68%) were of age ≥80 years. Also, between January, 2016, and June, 2018, a total of 210 MM patients with age ≥80 years were treated at our institution, and only 3(0.14%) underwent auto-HCT. Overall among 1740 patients with MM who received an auto-HCT at our institution between the beginning of 2007 to June, 2018, 9(0.5%) patients were ≥ 80 years of age (range 80-83). Table 1 summarizes the patient characteristics of these nine patients. All patients had an ECOG performance status of either 0 or 1. The median hematopoietic stem cell transplant - comorbidity index for the cohort was 3 (range, 0-5). Eight (89%) patients were in first remission, and 1 (11%) patient had relapsed disease at auto-HCT. All patients received melphalan at a reduced dose of 140 mg/m2 as the conditioning regimen. Eight patients (89%) received maintenance therapy with lenalidomide. The median follow-up from auto-HCT was 18 months (range 0.5 - 50 months). No (0%) patient died within 100 days of auto-HCT. Out of 8 evaluable patients, 4 (50%) achieved a complete response, 2 (25%) very-good partial, and 2 (25%) achieved a partial response with an overall response rate of 100%. Eight (89%) patients were alive until the last follow-up. Median PFS was 31.5 months, while the median OS has not been reached (Fig1). 2-yr PFS and OS were 62.5% and 75% respectively. One patient died 22 months post-transplant due to non-transplant related cause.Conclusions:In selected MM patients ≥80 years old, auto-HCT was feasible, with 0% TRM, 100% response rate, and 2-year OS of 75%. Almost 90% of these patients went on to receive maintenance therapy.

Time to plateau as a predictor of survival in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

Response rates in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma have improved dramatically with the introduction of highly effective novel therapies. However, survival in patients achieving optimal responses to initial treatment can vary significantly, and new prognostic indicators are required to improve risk stratification. We investigated the relationship between time to plateau (TPlat ) and survival in 1099 newly diagnosed patients treated with novel agents at our institution from 2005 to 2015. TPlat was defined as time from initiation of first-line therapy to best response to first-line therapy. The median TPlat was 4.9 months (0.7-58.6) and plateau duration was 1.8 years (0.2-11.0). Patients who required > 120 days to achieve a plateau had longer modified overall survival (mOS) and progression free survival (mPFS) calculated from a landmark of best response (P < .001 for both comparisons). Statistically significant improvement in mOS was retained in subgroup analysis based on age and whether patients received upfront autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) (P < .001 for all comparisons). Our results suggest that patients who respond more gradually to initial therapy (TPlat > 120 days) experience longer survival compared to more rapid responders. Patients with a prolonged TPlat could represent an "ongoing responder" phenotype that portends a survival advantage independent of treatment with upfront ASCT, depth of response, and biologic markers such as ISS stage and cytogenetic risk.

Pretreatment Whole Blood Epstein-Barr Viremia Is a Prognostic Factor in Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma

AbstractPeripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is the highly aggressive lymphoid malignancies, treatment outcome is very poor. There are increasing evidence about the role of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in PTCL. Because of its rarity, there was few studies about the prognostic factors incorporating EBV in PTCL.The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of EBV as prognostic factors in PTCL. We retrospectively reviewed the 174 PTCL patients (peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified; n=123, anaplastic large cell lymphoma; n=19, angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma; n=26, enteropathy related T-cell lymphoma, n=5, hepatosplenic gammadelta T-cell lymphoma; n=1).Median age of the patients was 63 (20~94) years with 107 (61.5%) male patients. One-year OS and PFS was 55.5%, 37.5%, respectively. Stage 3 or 4 patients were 150 (86.2%). Bone marrow involvement were detected 73 (42.0%) patients among 163 available patients. For IPI scores, 29 (16.7%) patients were classified as low risk, 42 (24.1%) as low-intermediate risk, 57 (32.8%) as high-intermediate risk, and 46 (26.4%) as high risk. For PIT scores, 18 (11.1%) patients were classified in group 1, 41 (25.2%) in group 2, 58 (35.6%) in group 3, and 46 (28.2%) in group 4.Upfront autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (n=17) improved OS and PFS (P=0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). In univariate analysis, poor performance status (ECOG ¡Ã2) (P <0.001 and P <0.001, respectively), low absolute lymphocyte counts (<1000/mm3) (P=0.022 and P=0.038, respectively), high ferritin (¡Ã1,000/mm3) (P =0.002 and P =0.002, respectively), EBV viremia in the whole blood (positive) (P=0.016 and P <0.001, respectively), low protein level (<6.3 g/dL) (P <0.001 and P <0.001, respectively) and low albumin level (<3.5 g/dL) (P =0.001 and P =0.001, respectively) were related with inferior OS and PFS. High international prognostic index (IPI) and prognostic index for PTCLu (PIT) were related with inferior OS and PFS (P<0.001, P=0.029 and P=0.019, P=0.278, respectively) (Figure 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B). In multivariate analysis, poor performance status, extranodal involvement more than one site and EBV viremia were related with OS and PFS in multivariate analysis. (P <0.001, P =0.024, P =0.001 and P =0.001, P=0.002, P=0.031, respectively).We made a new prognostic score model using statistically significant 3 variables in multivariate analysis: low, no adverse factors; intermediate, one factor; high, two or three factors. This model could identify three groups of patients for OS and PFS (Figure 3A,3B.)This study suggests that prognostic models including EBV for PTCL showed good risk classification. There will be need to investigate the mechanism of EBV and specific treatment strategy for EBV-related patients. These patients will be need to consider more effective therapeutic strategy to improve the poor survival in PTCL. [Display omitted] [Display omitted] [Display omitted] DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

The Role of MYC and BCL-2 Double Expression the in DLBCL Patients with Advanced Stage and Elevated LDH Who Received Upfront ASCT after R-CHOP

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with MYC and BCL2 protein concurrent expression, double- expressor lymphoma (DEL), by immunohistochemistry (IHC) was related with poor prognosis. To investigate the role of upfront autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in double-expresser lymphoma, we retrospectively evaluated 44 DLBCL patients with advanced stage and elevated LDH who received upfront ASCT. We used the cut off value of BCL2 was 50% and c-MYC was 40%. All patients were treated with frontline rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (R-CHOP) chemotherapy.Median age of 44 patients was 52.0 years (range, 23 ~ 64 years). Two-year overall survival (OS) was 83.3% and progression free survival (PFS) was 76.6%. Double-expressor lymphoma (DEL) were detected 14 patients (31.8%). Two-year OS of the patients with DEL was 77.4%, non-DEL was 86.6%. Two-year PFS of the patients with DEL was 77.9% and non-DEL was 80.9%. Eleven (25.0%) patients were germinal center B-cell (GCB) subtype and 33 (75.0%) patients were non-GCB subtype. There was no survival difference between GCB and non-GCB subtype (Figure 1A, 1B). In the patients with GCB subtype, 2 (18.2%) patients were classified to DEL. OS and PFS were not different according to DEL. Among non-GCB subtype, the patients with DEL (n=12) showed the comparable OS and PFS compared to the patient with non-DEL (n=21). Two-year OS of DEL patients was 73.3%, non-DEL was 90.9%. Two-year PFS of DEL patients was 74.1 %, non-DEL was 82.6 (Figure 2A. 2B).In conclusion, MYC and BCL2 concurrent expression did not show the poor outcome among the high risk DLBCL patients treated with upfront ASCT regardless of molecular classification. It will be need to investigate the role of ASCT in these group of patients. [Display omitted] [Display omitted] DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Predictors of inferior clinical outcome in patients with standard-risk multiple myeloma.

Outcome of patients with standard-risk (SR) multiple myeloma (MM) has improved; however, subsets of patients do worse than expected. We sought to identify the factors associated with inferior outcome. We evaluated 51 patients with SR MM that received upfront autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HCT) after induction and had a progression-free survival (PFS) of ≤18 months. The median age of patients was 61 yr. Forty-one (80%) patients received induction with immunomodulatory drugs, proteosome inhibitors, or combination of both. The overall response rate (ORR) after auto-HCT was 96% (stringent complete response 23%, complete response 10%, very good partial response 22%, and partial response 39%). The median PFS was 7.8, and median overall survival (OS) was 56.3 months. On univariate analysis, concurrent light-chain amyloidosis (AL) was associated with inferior PFS [hematological response (HR); 2.51, 95% CI; 0.64-10.58, P = 0.03] and occurrence of soft tissue plasmacytoma was associated with a significantly shorter OS (HR: 3.05, 95% CI: 0.57-16.29, P = 0.02). Our analysis suggests that concurrent AL and soft tissue plasmacytoma were associated with shorter PFS and OS, respectively. Heterogeneity in clinical outcome of SR MM merits better tools for prognostication, such as gene expression profiling and minimal residual disease assessment to identify high-risk patients.

The different roles of molecular classification according to upfront autologous stem cell transplantation in advanced-stage diffuse large B cell lymphoma patients with elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase.

The non-germinal center B cell (non-GCB) subtype of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is more related to poor prognosis than the GCB subtype. To investigate the role of molecular classification according to upfront autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT), we retrospectively evaluated 219 newly diagnosed high-risk DLBCL patients. Eighty-one patients were in the ASCT group, and 138 patients were in the non-ASCT group. The ASCT group yielded significantly better overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) than the non-ASCT group (p=0.038 and p=0.007), and patients with the non-GCB subtype were more related to inferior PFS than those with the GCB subtype (p=0.020). After performing age-matching by using propensity scores, upfront ASCT continued to show better OS and PFS than non-ASCT (p=0.046 and p=0.026). In the non-ASCT group, the non-GCB subtype showed worse OS and PFS than the GCB subtype (p=0.039 and p=0.007). Patients who achieved complete response showed differences in OS and PFS according to molecular subtype (p=0.007 and p=0.002). In the ASCT group, there were no significant differences in OS and PFS according to molecular classification (p=0.277 and p=0.892). In conclusion, non-GCB subtype DLBCL patients showed poor OS and PFS in the non-ASCT group while they did not show clinical significance in the ASCT group. This suggests the possibility that upfront ASCT may improve the poor prognosis of non-GCB subtype in high-risk DLBCL.

Biweekly Gemcitabine-Oxaliplatin and Dexamethasone for Relapsed/Refractory Malignant Lymphoma

Abstract 4952Gemcitabine (GEM) and oxaliplatin (OX) are commonly used as weekly or biweekly therapy. In this regard, dose dense biweekly schedule seems of reasonable investigational value in GEM and OX combination for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). We conducted phase II study to evaluate the efficacy of the combination chemotherapy consisting of GEM, OX and dexamethasone (GemDOx) as a biweekly regimen in patients with relapsed or refractory NHL. Primary end point was objective response rate and secondary end points were toxicities, progression-free survival, overall survival, ASCC efficacy, rate for proceeding to ASCT. The inclusion criteria were relapsed or refractory malignant aggressive NHL of any histological subtypes: Patients who have refractory to first-line CHOP-like regimen; Patients who have first relapsed after first-line CHOP-like regimen or upfront autologous or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation Chemotherapy was repeated every 4 weeks. Gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 in NS 500 mL was administered IV as a fixed dose rate infusion (FDRI, 10 mg/m2/min) on days 1 and 15. OX 85 mg/m2/d in 5DW 500 mL was administered IV over 6 hour on day 1 and 15. Dexamethasone 40 mg was admistered orally on day 1 through 4. All 29 patients were enrolled in this phase II study. Patients were male in 18 (62.1%), DLBCL in 16 (55.2%), stage III/IV in 25 (79.3%) and relapsed NHL in 23 (79.3) patients. Five (17.2%) patients had relapsed after upfront autologous/allogeneic stem cell transplantation. The most common prior chemotherapy was R-CHOP (n=16, 55.2%) and 17 (58.6%) were exposed to rituximab as prior chemotherapy. The median age and median prior chemotherapy were 53 (range 26–74) years old and 1 (range 1–4) cycle, respectively. IPI at relapse were 3/4 in 11 (37.9%). Only 17 (58.6%) and 9 (31.0%) patients could finish 2 or more and 4 or more cycles, respectively, and median received cycle was 2 (range 0.5–8). Four patients completed planned all 6 or more cycles, and 4 patients stopped GemDOx after 4 cycles for ASCT, and 1 patient lost initial response and progressed after 4 cycles. The reasons of drop-out were progressed disease in 15 (51.7%), lost to follow-up in 4 (13.8%), discrete of attending physician in 1 (3.4%) and withdraw of consent in 1 (3.4%). Maximal response rate was 27.9% (CR in 13.8%; PR in 13.8%) in intent-to-treat basis and 47.0% (CR in 23.5% and PR in 23.5%) among patients who had received at least 2 cycles of GemDOx. Stable disease was observed in 6 (20.7%) in intent-to-treat basis and 5 (29.4%) among patients who had received at least 2 cycles of GemDOx. Among patients who received 2 or more cycles, ORR was 53.4% (CR in 26.7% and PR in 26.7%) in relapsed NHL and 0% (SD in 50% and PD in 50%) in refractory NHL. Median survival and median progression-free survival were 20.526 (95% CI, 8.945–32.108) and 3.947 (95% CI, 0–10.358), respectively in all patients (Figure 1). Among patients who had completed 2 or more cycles, median survival and median progression-free survival were not reached and 10.625 (95% CI, 0–21.575), respectively. In conclusion, dose-dense biweekly GemDOx showed activity against highly unfavorable relapsed NHL, but failed to show superior overall response rate especially against refractory NHL. The main cause of failure was progressive disease although considering high drop-out rate. [Display omitted] Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.