Letter
Medicine, General & Internal
Elif Hindie
Summary: The study found that treatment with teclistamab resulted in a high overall response rate of 63.0% and a median progression-free survival of 11.3 months in patients with relapsed or refractory myeloma. Additionally, the change in serum levels of soluble BCMA correlated with treatment response.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Philippe Moreau, Alfred L. Garfall, Niels W. C. J. van de Donk, Hareth Nahi, Jesus F. San-Miguel, Albert Oriol, Ajay K. Nooka, Thomas Martin, Laura Rosinol, Ajai Chari, Lionel Karlin, Lotfi Benboubker, Maria-Victoria Mateos, Nizar Bahlis, Rakesh Popat, Britta Besemer, Joaquin Martinez-Lopez, Surbhi Sidana, Michel Delforge, Lixia Pei, Danielle Trancucci, Raluca Verona, Suzette Girgis, Shun X. W. Lin, Yunsi Olyslager, Mindy Jaffe, Clarissa Uhlar, Tara Stephenson, Rian Van Rampelbergh, Arnob Banerjee, Jenna D. Goldberg, Rachel Kobos, Amrita Krishnan, Saad Z. Usmani
Summary: Teclistamab demonstrated promising efficacy in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, leading to high rates of deep and durable response. Common adverse events included cytokine release syndrome, cytopenias, and infections, with toxic effects mostly grade 1 or 2.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Jose-angel Hernandez-Rivas, Rafael Rios-Tamayo, Cristina Encinas, Rafael Alonso, Juan-Jose Lahuerta
Summary: The increase in therapeutic alternatives for multiple myeloma patients has made the clinical scenario more complex. The choice of previously unused drugs and previous therapeutic regimens have a greater impact on treatment efficacy than the characteristics of the disease itself. New generation drugs have been developed to fight relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.
BIOMARKER RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Paula Rodriguez-Otero, Sikander Ailawadhi, Bertrand Arnulf, Krina Patel, Michele Cavo, Ajay K. Nooka, Salomon Manier, Natalie Callander, Luciano J. Costa, Ravi Vij, Nizar J. Bahlis, Philippe Moreau, Scott R. Solomon, Michel Delforge, Jesus Berdeja, Anna Truppel-Hartmann, Zhihong Yang, Linda Favre-Kontula, Fan Wu, Julia Piasecki, Mark Cook, Sergio Giralt
Summary: In this international phase 3 trial, idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel), a B-cell maturation antigen-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, was found to significantly prolong progression-free survival and improve response compared to standard regimens in patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. The toxicity of ide-cel was consistent with previous reports.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Poornima Sharma, Bindu Kanapuru, Bindu George, Xue Lin, Zhenzhen Xu, Wilson W. Bryan, Richard Pazdur, Marc R. Theoret
Summary: In March 2021, the FDA approved a new treatment for adult patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. The treatment showed a high overall response rate and complete response rate, with a prolonged duration of response. However, there were also serious adverse reactions and potential risks associated with the treatment.
CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Nikhil C. Munshi, Larry D. Anderson, Nina Shah, Deepu Madduri, Jesus Berdeja, Sagar Lonial, Noopur Raje, Yi Lin, David Siegel, Albert Oriol, Philippe Moreau, Ibrahim Yakoub-Agha, Michel Delforge, Michele Cavo, Hermann Einsele, Hartmut Goldschmidt, Katja Weisel, Alessandro Rambaldi, Donna Reece, Fabio Petrocca, Monica Massaro, Jamie N. Connarn, Shari Kaiser, Payal Patel, Liping Huang, Timothy B. Campbell, Kristen Hege, Jesus San-Miguel
Summary: The phase 2 study confirmed the efficacy and safety of ide-cel in patients with relapsed and refractory myeloma, with a majority of patients achieving responses and 26% achieving MRD-negative status. Despite the high response rate, almost all patients experienced grade 3 or 4 toxic effects, including hematologic toxic effects and cytokine release syndrome.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Hematology
Benjamin Tanenbaum, Timothy Miett, Shyam A. Patel
Summary: This focused review discusses the advancements in treatment for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM) and the challenges in therapy selection and sequencing. The article highlights the recently approved medications, particularly CAR-T cell products, and ongoing clinical trials. Based on the available evidence, recommendations for treatment in 2023 are provided.
ANNALS OF HEMATOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Philippe Moreau, Shaji K. Kumar, Jesus San Miguel, Faith Davies, Elena Zamagni, Nizar Bahlis, Heinz Ludwig, Joseph Mikhael, Evangelos Terpos, Fredrik Schjesvold, Thomas Martin, Kwee Yong, Brian G. M. Durie, Thierry Facon, Artur Jurczyszyn, Surbhi Sidana, Noopur Raje, Niels van de Donk, Sagar Lonial, Michele Cavo, Sigurdur Y. Kristinsson, Suzanne Lentzsch, Roman Hajek, Kenneth C. Anderson, Cristina Joao, Hermann Einsele, Pieter Sonneveld, Monika Engelhardt, Rafael Fonseca, Annette Vangsted, Katja Weisel, Rachid Baz, Vania Hungria, Jesus G. Berdeja, Fernando Leal da Costa, Angelo Maiolino, Anders Waage, David H. Vesole, Enrique M. Ocio, Hang Quach, Christoph Driessen, Joan Blade, Xavier Leleu, Eloisa Riva, Peter Leif Bergsagel, Jian Hou, Wee Joo Chng, Ulf-Henrik Mellqvist, Dominik Dytfeld, Jean-Luc Harousseau, Hartmut Goldschmidt, Jacob Laubach, Nikhil C. Munshi, Francesca Gay, Meral Beksac, Luciano J. Costa, Martin Kaiser, Parameswaran Hari, Mario Boccadoro, Saad Z. Usmani, Sonja Zweegman, Sarah Holstein, Orhan Sezer, Simon Harrison, Hareth Nahi, Gordon Cook, Maria-Victoria Mateos, S. Vincent Rajkumar, Meletios A. Dimopoulos, Paul G. Richardson
Summary: This policy review presents clinical practice recommendations for the treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, integrating drug access issues for patients in different income settings to improve patient outcomes in real-world practice.
Article
Oncology
Andrea C. Baines, Rachel Ershler, Bindu Kanapuru, Qing Xu, Guoxiang Shen, Liang Li, Lian Ma, Olanrewaju O. Okusanya, Natalie E. Simpson, Wanda Nguyen, Marc R. Theoret, Richard Pazdur, Nicole J. Gormley
Summary: This article reports the accelerated approval of belantamab mafodotin by the FDA for the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The drug has shown effectiveness in a phase II multicenter trial, with ocular toxicity being the most common adverse event.
CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
P. G. Richardson, S. Trudel, R. Popat, M- Mateos, A. J. Vangsted, K. Ramasamy, J. Martinez-Lopez, H. Quach, R. Z. Orlowski, M. Arnao, S. Lonial, C. Karanes, C. Pawlyn, K. Kim, A. Oriol, J. G. Berdeja, P. Rodriguez Otero, I Casas-Aviles, A. Spirli, J. Poon, S. Li, J. Gong, L. Wong, M. Lamba, D. W. Pierce, M. Amatangelo, T. Peluso, P. Maciag, J. Katz, Michael Pourdehnad, Nizar J. Bahlis
Summary: In this study, patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma received oral mezigdomide in combination with dexamethasone. The combination therapy showed promising efficacy in heavily pretreated patients with multiple myeloma, with treatment-related adverse events consisting mainly of myelotoxic effects.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Hematology
James R. R. Berenson, Daisy Martinez, Tahmineh Safaie, Ralph Boccia, Honghao Yang, Mehdi Moezi, Stephen Lim, Gary Schwartz, Shahrooz Eshaghian, Regina Swift, Benjamin M. M. Eades, Sean Bujarski, Bernard Regidor, Clara Kim, Susanna Kim, Robert Vescio
Summary: This study evaluated the efficacy of combination therapy with ruxolitinib and methylprednisolone for multiple myeloma patients. The results showed that this treatment regimen demonstrated significant clinical activity among heavily-treated patients and achieved responses in patients with high-risk cytogenetics.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alexander H. Lesokhin, Michael Tomasson, Bertrand J. Arnulf, Nizar Bahlis, H. Miles Prince, Ruben Niesvizky, Paula Rodriguez-Otero, Joaquin Martinez-Lopez, Guenther Koehne, Cyrille Touzeau, Yogesh Jethava, Hang Quach, Julien Depaus, Hisayuki Yokoyama, Afshin Eli A. Gabayan, Don K. Stevens, Ajay Nooka, Salomon Manier, Noopur Raje, Shinsuke Iida, Marc-Steffen Raab, Emma Searle, Eric T. Leip, Sharon Sullivan, Umberto Conte, Mohamed Elmeliegy, Akos Czibere, Andrea Viqueira, Mohamad Mohty
Summary: Elranatamab, a humanized BCMA-CD3 bispecific antibody, showed promising efficacy in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The primary endpoint of confirmed objective response rate was met with an ORR of 61.0%. With a median follow-up of 14.7 months, the duration of response, progression-free survival, and overall survival have not been reached. Adverse events were manageable, and switching to biweekly dosing improved safety without compromising efficacy.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nizar J. Bahlis, Caitlin L. Costello, Noopur S. Raje, Moshe Y. Levy, Bhagirathbhai Dholaria, Melhem Solh, Michael H. Tomasson, Michael A. Damore, Sibo Jiang, Cynthia Basu, Athanasia Skoura, Edward M. Chan, Suzanne Trudel, Andrzej Jakubowiak, Cristina Gasparetto, Michael P. Chu, Andrew Dalovisio, Michael Sebag, Alexander M. Lesokhin
Summary: In the first-in-human trial of elranatamab, patients with refractory or relapsed multiple myeloma who received the bispecific antibody against BCMA and CD3 experienced no dose-limiting toxicities during dose escalation, and the agent showed promising clinical efficacy.
Article
Oncology
Aina Oliver-Caldes, Raquel Jimenez, Marta Espanol-Rego, Maria Teresa Cibeira, Valentin Ortiz-Maldonado, Luis F. Quintana, Paola Castillo, Francesca Guijarro, Natalia Tovar, Mercedes Montoro, Daniel Benitez-Ribas, Alex Bataller, E. Azucena Gonzalez-Navarro, Joan Cid, Miquel Lozano, Lorena Perez-Amill, Beatriz Martin-Antonio, Mari-Pau Mena, David F. Moreno, Luis Gerardo Rodriguez-Lobato, Josep Maria Campistol, Gonzalo Calvo, Joan Blade, Laura Rosinol, Manel Juan, Mariona Pascal, Alvaro Urbano-Ispizua, Carlos Fernandez de Larrea
Summary: Despite being incurable, multiple myeloma may benefit from CART therapy in patients with concomitant AL amyloidosis, even when the predominant symptoms are caused by the amyloidosis itself.
JOURNAL FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY OF CANCER
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Shansa Pranami E. Jayaweera, Sacheela Prasadi Wanigasinghe Kanakanamge, Dharshika Rajalingam, Gayathri N. Silva
Summary: The proteasome plays a crucial role in regulating key regulatory proteins in cells, especially in tumor cells. Proteasome inhibitors have been proven effective in treating multiple myeloma, with carfilzomib being a second-generation inhibitor that overcomes toxicities and resistance associated with previous drugs.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Hematology
Paul G. Richardson, Fredrik Schjesvold, Katja Weisel, Philippe Moreau, Larry D. Anderson, Darrell White, Paula Rodriguez-Otero, Pieter Sonneveld, Monika Engelhardt, Matthew Jenner, Alessandro Corso, Jan Duerig, Michel Pavic, Morten Salomo, Meral Beksac, Albert Oriol, Jindriska Lindsay, Anna Marina Liberati, Monica Galli, Pawel Robak, Alessandra Larocca, Munci Yagci, Filiz Vural, Abraham S. Kanate, Ruiyun Jiang, Lara Grote, Teresa Peluso, Meletios Dimopoulos
Summary: This study showed that PVd significantly prolonged PFS in lenalidomide-pretreated patients with multiple myeloma at first relapse, across different age groups, renal function status, and cytogenetic abnormalities. PVd also improved overall response rate in all subgroups, with a safety profile consistent with previous reports.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Hematology
Evangelos Terpos, Meletios A. Dimopoulos, Mario Boccadoro, Sosana Delimpasi, Meral Beksac, Eirini Katodritou, Philippe Moreau, Alessandra Pompa, Argiris Symeonidis, Jelena Bila, Albert Oriol, Maria-Victoria Mateos, Hermann Einsele, Ioannis Orfanidis, Katharine S. Gries, John Fastenau, Kevin Liu, Jianming He, Tobias Kampfenkel, Yanping Qiu, Himal Amin, Robin Carson, Pieter Sonneveld
Summary: In the APOLLO trial, daratumumab in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone showed significant clinical improvements in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) revealed that the addition of daratumumab to the treatment regimen did not negatively impact the health-related quality of life and even showed improvements in pain and fatigue.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY
(2022)
Letter
Hematology
Sosana Delimpasi, Maria Victoria Mateos, Holger W. Auner, Maria Gavriatopoulou, Meletios A. Dimopoulos, Hang Quach, Halyna Pylypenko, Roman Hajek, Xavier Leleu, Tuphan Kanti Dolai, Dinesh Kumar Sinha, Christopher P. Venner, Reuben Benjamin, Mamta Krishnan Garg, Vadim Doronin, Yair Levy, Philippe Moreau, Yi Chai, Melina Arazy, Jatin Shah, Sharon Shacham, Michael G. Kauffman, Paul G. Richardson, Sebastian Grosicki
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Stefanos I. Papadhimitriou, Evangelos Terpos, Konstantinos Liapis, Dimitrios Pavlidis, Theodoros Marinakis, Efstathios Kastritis, Meletios-Athanasios Dimopoulos, Ourania E. Tsitsilonis, Ioannis V. Kostopoulos
Summary: Plasma cell leukemia (PCL) is a rare and aggressive plasma cell dyscrasia. It can be categorized into primary and secondary types, with secondary PCL showing more abnormalities and association with del(17p13). The cytogenetic background has a significant impact on prognosis, and the level of circulating plasma cells is strongly correlated with high-risk cytogenetics, providing potential for improved prognostic stratification.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Evangelos Terpos, Vangelis Karalis, Ioannis Ntanasis-Stathopoulos, Zoi Evangelakou, Maria Gavriatopoulou, Maria S. Manola, Panagiotis Malandrakis, Despoina D. Gianniou, Efstathios Kastritis, Ioannis P. Trougakos, Meletios A. Dimopoulos
Summary: This study compared the neutralizing antibody levels after vaccination with BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine and ChAdOx1 (AZD1222) viral vector vaccine at different time points. The results showed that BNT162b2 induced stronger neutralizing antibody responses compared to AZD1222, and both vaccines showed a gradual decline in antibody titers over time. Additionally, the rate of antibody elimination was higher in those vaccinated with AZD1222 compared to BNT162b2. Age, gender, body mass index, or comorbidities did not significantly impact antibody levels over time.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michalis Liontos, Oraianthi Fiste, Flora Zagouri, Meletios-Athanasios Dimopoulos
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Despina Fotiou, Meletios Athanasios Dimopoulos, Efstathios Kastritis
Summary: Patients with multiple myeloma have a significant risk of thrombotic complications, which require risk assessment tools and pharmacological prophylaxis. The use of newer oral anticoagulants is increasing, but data from controlled clinical trials are lacking.
Review
Oncology
Vasiliki Gkalea, Despina Fotiou, Meletios Athanasios Dimopoulos, Efstathios Kastritis
Summary: It is increasingly recognized that patients with monoclonal gammopathy (MG) who do not meet criteria for malignant disease and treatment initiation may have other manifestations that are clinically significant and could provide a rationale for treatment. These patients are at higher risk for thrombosis, including venous, arterial, and micro-thrombotic events. The challenge is to identify high-risk MG patients for thrombotic events and apply appropriate preventive measures.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ioannis Ntanasis-Stathopoulos, Panagiotis Malandrakis, Despina Fotiou, Magdalini Migkou, Foteini Theodorakakou, Maria Roussou, Evangelos Eleutherakis-Papaiakovou, Vassiliki Spiliopoulou, Efstathios Kastritis, Evangelos Terpos, Meletios-Athanasios Dimopoulos, Maria Gavriatopoulou
Summary: This study assessed the effectiveness and tolerability of belantamab mafodotin in triple-class refractory patients with multiple myeloma. It showed promising results in some patients and had manageable toxicity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Angeliki Andrikopoulou, Charalampos Theofanakis, Christos Markellos, Maria Kaparelou, Konstantinos Koutsoukos, Kleoniki Apostolidou, Nikolaos Thomakos, Dimitrios Haidopoulos, Alexandros Rodolakis, Meletios-Athanasios Dimopoulos, Flora Zagouri, Michalis Liontos
Summary: The optimal time interval between neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and interval debulking surgery (IDS) in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSC) is unclear. A retrospective study was conducted on HGSC patients who underwent NACT followed by IDS in a 15-year period. The study found that performing IDS within four weeks after NACT was associated with better survival outcomes. Multivariate analysis showed that a short time interval (<4 weeks) from NACT to IDS was an independent factor of both PFS and OS.
Article
Oncology
Lisa B. Leypoldt, Maria Gavriatopoulou, Britta Besemer, Hans Salwender, Marc S. Raab, Axel Nogai, Cyrus Khandanpour, Volker Runde, Anna Jauch, Manola Zago, Peter Martus, Hartmut Goldschmidt, Carsten Bokemeyer, Meletios A. Dimopoulos, Katja C. Weisel
Summary: This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of daratumumab, bortezomib, and dexamethasone in multiple myeloma patients with severe renal function impairment. The treatment showed an overall response rate of 67% and improved renal function in patients. This study suggests that this treatment regimen could be considered in the clinical practice for multiple myeloma patients with severe renal function impairment.
Review
Oncology
Ioanna E. Stergiou, Stavros P. Papadakos, Anna Karyda, Ourania E. Tsitsilonis, Meletios-Athanasios Dimopoulos, Stamatios Theocharis
Summary: The EPH/ephrin signaling axis plays a crucial role in both embryonic development and adult life, and recent studies have shown its involvement in the pathogenesis of various types of solid tumors. In normal hematopoiesis, different patterns of EPH/ephrin expression are associated with the maintenance, differentiation, and function of hematopoietic stem cells and their mature offspring. Abnormalities in the EPH/ephrin pathway have been found to contribute to the development of hematologic malignancies, with both tumor-promoting and tumor-suppressive effects. Understanding the complexity of this signaling pathway in normal and malignant hematopoiesis is essential for the development of potential therapeutic targets.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Efstathia Liatsou, Ioanna Tatouli, Andreas Mpozikas, Maria-Markella Pavlou, Hariklia Gakiopoulou, Ioannis Ntanasis-Stathopoulos, Maria Gavriatopoulou, Sofoklis Kontogiannis, Meletios Athanasios Dimopoulos
Summary: Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is a drug used to treat patients with HIV and HBV infections, but it may cause acute renal failure and Fanconi syndrome in a few cases. The risk of renal toxicity in HBV patients appears to be low, but kidney function should still be monitored.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ioanna Barla, Panagiotis Efentakis, Sofia Lamprou, Maria Gavriatopoulou, Meletios-Athanasios Dimopoulos, Evangelos Terpos, Ioanna Andreadou, Nikolaos Thomaidis, Evangelos Gikas
Summary: The antineoplastic agent carfilzomib (Cfz) is used to treat multiple myeloma; however, it can cause cardiotoxicity and nephrotoxicity as common adverse effects. While the mechanisms of these side effects are well-established, there is limited research on the drug's metabolic alterations and their impacts.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Ioannis Ntanasis-Stathopoulos, Charalampos Filippatos, Maria Gavriatopoulou, Panagiotis Malandrakis, Evangelos Eleutherakis-Papaiakovou, Vassiliki Spiliopoulou, Rodanthi-Eleni Syrigou, Foteini Theodorakakou, Despina Fotiou, Magdalini Migkou, Maria Roussou, Efstathios Kastritis, Meletios Athanasios Dimopoulos, Evangelos Terpos
Summary: Tixagevimab/cilgavimab (Evusheld) appears to be beneficial for high-risk immunocompromised patients with multiple myeloma in preventing COVID-19. Administration of the drug resulted in increased neutralizing-antibody levels and a low incidence of COVID-19, with no new safety concerns emerging.
