ALBERT

Description: We have analysed the influence of age on survival after a tandem hematopoietic stem cell transplantation prospective protocol (GEM-2000) in patients diagnosed of multiple myeloma (MM). From 870 patients with symptomatic MM aged 〈 70 years and prospectively included in the GEM-2000 protocol, we have analysed the outcome of a group of 637 patients [351 males, median age of 59 (range, 32 – 70) years] and treated with at least one autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Sixteen patients (2.5%) were between 31 and 40 years of age (group A), 96 patients (15%) between 41 and 50 years (group B), 244 patients (38%) between 51 and 60 years (group C) and the remaining 281 patients (44.5%), between 61 and 70 years (group D). In 325 patients the M component at diagnosis was an IgG (51%). Fifty three patients (8%) had stage I at diagnosis, 232 patients (37%) stage II and 352 patients (55%), stage III. One hundred and one patients (16%) presented with renal insufficiency at diagnosis. Significantly lower levels of serum albumin at diagnosis were observed in the older group of patients (3.88 g/L vs 4.46 g/L, p = 0.05). Most of the patients (612, 96%) were initially treated with the alternating protocol VBCMP/VBAD. The response rate to the first line therapy was of 84% (n = 533), without differences between group D and the rest of the groups. The BUMEL protocol (busulfan 10 mg/kg po plus melphalan 140 mg/m2 iv) and MEL200 (melphalan 200 mg/m2 iv) were the two conditioning regimens used for the first intensive procedure. Although the proportion of older patients (group D) who received MEL200 was higher than in the younger groups of patients (groups A – C) (35% vs 44%), these differences did not reach a statistical significance. At three months after the first ASCT, 30% of the patients had reached a complete remission with negative immunofixation (CR IF-); this percentage was significantly superior in the younger group of patients (groups A – C) with respect to group D (32% vs 27%, p = 0.02). Transplant related mortality (TRM) was also significantly superior in group D (8% vs 3%, p = 0.01). At the time of follow-up, 124 patients (19%) have received a second transplantation; a second intensive procedure was more frequently performed in the younger group with respect to group D (25% vs 12%, p = 0.0001). This second transplant was an ASCT in 73% of the patients (65% in groups A – C vs 94% in group D, p = 0.04). With a median follow-up of 24 months, 508 patients are alive. Actuarial 2-year overall survival (OS) and event free survival (EFS) for the whole population of patients are 75%±2% and 57%±2%, respectively, with statistically significant differences between groups A - C and group D (77%±3% vs 72%±3%, p = 0.05 and 62%±3% vs 52%±4%, p = 0.02, respectively). The overall benefit of the intensification procedure seems to be less in the older group of MM patients (61 – 70 years) included in the GEM-2000 protocol. These results could be related to the achievement of a significant lower rate of CR IF- after the first ASCT and a higher TRM in this older population of patients.

Description: For more than 25 years, melphalan and prednisone has remained as the gold standard treatment for elderly multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Bortezomib has shown significant activity with manageable toxicity in refractory/relapse MM patients. Moreover, in vitro synergy has been reported when bortezomib is combined with cytotoxic agents such as melphalan. Aim: To define the appropriate dose of bortezomib in combination with MP and to analyse the efficacy of V-MP in untreated MM patients ≥ 65 years old. Methods: This is a dose escalation study with two sequential dose levels (Ph 1) and expansion of the cohort at the MTD by 60 patients to further refine estimates of efficacy (Ph 2). In the first cohort, bortezomib (1mg/m2) was administered as a iv bolus to 6 consecutive patients on days 1,4,8,11,22,25,29 and 32 followed by a 10 day rest period in combination with oral melphalan, 9 mg/m2, and prednisone, 60mg/m2, once daily on days 1 to 4. In the 2nd cohort, bortezomib was administered at 1.3mg/m2. MTD was defined as that dose level below which 2/6 patients had a DLT. Patients: 12 patients have been enrolled to date - 6 in cohort 1 and 6 in cohort 2. Results: Toxicity has been manageable. The first cohort at 1 mg/m2 has completed at least two 6-week treatment cycles. There was no DLT in the first cycle. The 2nd cohort has enrolled 6-patients at a dose of 1.3 mg/m2 but none has completed the first cycle yet. In the first cohort, there was one patient with grade 3 neutropenia (ANC = 0,668) observed at Cycle 1 Day 25. During the second cycle, there were no patients with grade 4 therapy-related toxicity and only one grade 3 adverse event (neutropenia) was observed. The most common grade1 or 2 toxicities were nausea, vomiting, rash, constipation, diarrhea, fever, herpes zoster infection, anorexia, neutropenia, anemia and thrombocytopenia. Ocular neuropathic pain (grade 2) developed de novo in 1 patient during the first cycle; one dose of bortezomib was held and the adverse event resolved with analgesic treatment in 4 days. Treatment was continued at a dose of 0,5 mg/m2 at D11 and D22. After this date, bortezomib at 1.0 mg/m2 was restarted. The second cohort is in the first 6-week cycle at present, so observations are limited. One serious adverse event (pulmonary embolism and probably septic shock with death) was observed in this cohort in a patient at day +11. He had normal WBC. Two grade 3 adverse events (leucopenia and neutropenia) were observed in one patient. Other grade 1 or 2 toxicities are similar to those observed in the first cohort. Regarding response, after two cycles of treatment, in the first cohort, 3 out of the 6 patients have experienced 〉50% reduction in M-protein (two with 〉 75% reduction) and the others three have experienced either a minor response (1) or stable disease (2). In the second cohort, response data are not available at this time. Conclusion:The combination of V-MP is well tolerated at standard doses of MP with bortezomib 1 mg/m2 with no DLTs in 6-patients. Bortezomib (1.3 mg/m2) is being explored in the second 6-patient cohort in order to define the MTD. So far, no patient has developed DLT. Rapid M-protein responses have been seen. Results will be updated and presented for the 2nd cohort.