ALBERT

Description: Light chain deposition disease (LCDD) is a rare disorder characterized by glomerular and peritubular amorphous deposits of a monoclonal immunoglobulin (Ig) light chain (LC), leading to nodular glomerulosclerosis and nephrotic syndrome. We developed a transgenic model using site-directed insertion of the variable domain of a pathogenic human LC gene into the mouse Ig kappa locus, ensuring its production by all plasma cells (PCs). High free LC levels were achieved after backcrossing with mice presenting increased PC differentiation and no Ig heavy chain (HC) production. Our mouse model recapitulates the characteristic features of LCDD, including progressive glomerulosclerosis, nephrotic-range proteinuria and finally, kidney failure. The variable domain of the LC bears alone the structural properties involved in its pathogenicity. RNA sequencing conducted on PCs demonstrated that LCDD LC induces endoplasmic reticulum stress, likely accounting for the high efficiency of proteasome inhibitor-based therapy. Accordingly, reduction of circulating pathogenic LC was efficiently achieved and not only preserved renal function, but partially reversed kidney lesions. Finally, transcriptome analysis of pre-sclerotic glomeruli revealed that proliferation and extracellular matrix remodelling represented the first steps of glomerulosclerosis, paving the way for future therapeutic strategies in LCDD and other kidney diseases featuring diffuse glomerulosclerosis, particularly diabetic nephropathy.

Description: Polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy, and skin changes (POEMS) syndrome is a rare multisystem disease resulting from an underlying plasma cell (PC) dyscrasia. The pathophysiology of the disease remains unclear, but the role of the monoclonal immunoglobulin (Ig) light chain (LC) is strongly suspected because of the highly restrictive usage of 2 λ variable (V) domains (IGLV1-40 and IGLV1-44) and the general improvement of clinical manifestations after PC clone-targeted treatment. However, the diagnostic value of Ig LC sequencing, especially in the case of incomplete forms of the disease, remains to be determined. Using a sensitive high-throughput Ig repertoire sequencing on RNA (rapid amplification of cDNA ends-based repertoire sequencing [RACE-RepSeq]), we detected a λ LC monoclonal expansion in the bone marrow (BM) of 83% of patients with POEMS syndrome, including some in whom BM tests routinely performed to diagnose plasma cell dyscrasia failed to detect λ+ monoclonal PCs. Twenty-four (83%) of the 29 LC clonal sequences found were derived from the IGLV1-40 and IGLV1-44 germline genes, as well as 2 from the closely related IGLV1-36 gene, and all were associated with an IGLJ3*02 junction (J) gene, confirming the high restriction of VJ region usage in POEMS syndrome. RACE-RepSeq VJ full-length sequencing additionally revealed original mutational patterns, the strong specificity of which might crucially help establish or eliminate the diagnosis of POEMS syndrome in uncertain cases. Thus, RACE-RepSeq appears as a sensitive, rapid, and specific tool to detect low-abundance PC clones in BM and assign them to POEMS syndrome, with all the consequences for therapeutic options.

Description: Although no therapies are approved for light chain (AL) amyloidosis, cyclophosphamide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (CyBorD) is considered standard of care. Based on outcomes of daratumumab in multiple myeloma (MM), the phase 3 ANDROMEDA study (NCT03201965) is evaluating daratumumab-CyBorD vs CyBorD in newly diagnosed AL amyloidosis. We report results of the 28-patient safety run-in. Patients received subcutaneous daratumumab (DARA SC) weekly in cycles 1 to 2, every 2 weeks in cycles 3 to 6, and every 4 weeks thereafter for up to 2 years. CyBorD was given weekly for 6 cycles. Patients had a median of 2 involved organs (kidney, 68%; cardiac, 61%). Patients received a median of 16 (range, 1-23) treatment cycles. Treatment-emergent adverse events were consistent with DARA SC in MM and CyBorD. Infusion-related reactions occurred in 1 patient (grade 1). No grade 5 treatment-emergent adverse events occurred; 5 patients died, including 3 after transplant. Overall hematologic response rate was 96%, with a complete hematologic response in 15 (54%) patients; at least partial response occurred in 20, 22, and 17 patients at 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively. Renal response occurred in 6 of 16, 7 of 15, and 10 of 15 patients, and cardiac response occurred in 6 of 16, 6 of 13, and 8 of 13 patients at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. Hepatic response occurred in 2 of 3 patients at 12 months. Daratumumab-CyBorD was well tolerated, with no new safety concerns versus the intravenous formulation, and demonstrated robust hematologic and organ responses. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT03201965.

Description: Daratumumab is a human monoclonal antibody targeting CD38, an antigen uniformly expressed by plasma cells in multiple myeloma and light-chain amyloidosis (AL). We report the results of a prospective multicenter phase 2 study of daratumumab monotherapy in AL (NCT02816476). Forty previously treated AL patients with a difference between involved and uninvolved free light chains (dFLC) 〉50 mg/L were included in 15 centers between September of 2016 and April of 2018. Patients received 6 28-day cycles of IV daratumumab, every week for cycles 1 and 2 and every 2 weeks for cycles 3 through 6. Median age was 69 years (range, 45-83). Twenty-six patients had ≥2 organs involved, with heart in 24 and kidney in 26. Median time from diagnosis to enrollment was 23 months (interquartile range, 4-122), with a median of 3 prior therapies (range, 1-5). At data cutoff (September of 2019), all patients discontinued therapy; 33 received the planned 6 cycles. Overall, 22 patients had hematological response, and 19 patients (47.5%) achieved very good partial response (dFLC

Description: Despite tremendous improvements in the outcome of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) in the past decade, high-risk patients have not benefited from the approval of novel drugs. The most important prognostic factor is the loss of parts of the short arm of chromosome 17, known as deletion 17p (del(17p)). A recent publication (on a small number of patients) suggested that these patients are at very high-risk only if del(17p) is associated with TP53 mutations, the so-called "double-hit" population. To validate this finding, we designed a much larger study on 121 patients presenting del(17p) in 〉55% of their plasma cells, and homogeneously treated by an intensive approach. For these 121 patients, we performed deep next generation sequencing targeted on TP53. The outcome was then compared to a large control population (2505 patients lacking del(17p)). Our results confirmed that the "double hit" situation is the worst (median survival = 36 months), but that del(17p) alone also confers a poor outcome compared with the control cohort (median survival = 52.8 months vs 152.2 months, respectively). In conclusion, our study clearly confirms the extremely poor outcome of patients displaying "double hit", but also that del(17p) alone is still a very high-risk feature, confirming its value as a prognostic indicator for poor outcome.

Description: Background: The extent of cardiac involvement has a major impact on clinical outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed light chain (AL) amyloidosis. Here, we present the hematologic responses, major organ deterioration progression-free survival (MOD-PFS) and event-free survival (MOD-EFS), and organ responses by cardiac stage in patients with newly diagnosed AL amyloidosis treated with cyclophosphamide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (VCd) with or without daratumumab subcutaneous (DARA SC) in the ANDROMEDA trial (NCT03201965). Methods: Key eligibility criteria included newly diagnosed AL amyloidosis with measurable hematologic disease, ≥1 involved organ, cardiac stage I-IIIA (based on the European Modification of the Mayo staging system), eGFR ≥20 mL/min, and absence of symptomatic multiple myeloma. Patients were randomized (1:1) to receive DARA-VCd or VCd alone. All patients received bortezomib (1.3 mg/m2 SC weekly), cyclophosphamide (300 mg/m2 oral [PO] or intravenous [IV] weekly [500 mg maximum]), and dexamethasone (20-40 mg PO or IV weekly) for six 28-day cycles. DARA SC (1800 mg, co-formulated with recombinant human hyaluronidase PH20 in 15 mL) was administered by injection weekly in Cycles 1-2, every 2 weeks in Cycles 3-6, and every 4 weeks thereafter for up to 24 cycles. Disease evaluations occurred every 4 weeks (Cycles 1-6) and every 8 weeks (after Cycle 7) until major organ deterioration, hematologic progression, death, end of study, or withdrawal. The primary endpoint was overall (ie, at any time) hematologic complete response (CR) rate. Secondary endpoints included MOD-PFS, MOD-EFS, organ response rate, time to hematologic response, survival, and safety. Analyses of hematologic CR and MOD-PFS were performed on the intent-to-treat analysis set; cardiac response analyses were based on patients who were evaluable for cardiac response, defined as patients with baseline NT-ProNBP value ≥650 ng/L or baseline NYHA class 3 or 4 and received at least 1 administration of study treatment. Patients without a baseline assessment or post-baseline assessment were censored at randomization for the MOD-PFS analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize overall CR rate and organ response rate. Hazard ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were estimated based on Cox proportional hazard model. Results: A total of 388 patients were randomized to receive DARA-VCd (n=195) or VCd alone (n=193). Baseline characteristics were well balanced between treatment groups. The median age was 64 years and the proportions of patients with cardiac stage I, II, and III were 23%, 40%, and 37%, respectively. The median duration of treatment was 9.6 months for DARA-VCd and 5.3 months for VCd. Median follow-up was 11.4 months (range, 0.03-21.3+). Baseline characteristics were generally balanced across cardiac stages, except increasing cardiac stage was associated with older age (≥65 years), worse Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, more advanced renal failure (CrCl ≤30), and functionally worse heart failure (NYHA IIIA). Hematologic CR rates were higher in the DARA-VCd group than in the VCd group in patients with cardiac stages I, II, and III at baseline (Table). Cardiac and renal response rates at 6 months were also higher in the DARA-VCd group regardless of cardiac stage at baseline (Table). The hazard ratios (HRs) for MOD-PFS were 0.33, 0.55 and 0.66 for cardiac stages I, II and III, respectively, favoring DARA-VCd. Corresponding HRs for MOD-EFS were 0.24, 0.39, and 0.48, respectively. Rates of any grade adverse events (AEs) were similar in patients with and without cardiac involvement at baseline. Across both treatment arms, rates of serious treatment-emergent AEs were higher in patients with cardiac involvement at baseline than in those without. Conclusions: The benefit of DARA-VCd was retained over VCd alone across cardiac stages for hematologic CR, MOD-PFS, MOD-EFS, and organ responses. Disclosures Minnema: Kite, a Gilead Company: Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Other: travel support, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy; Servier: Consultancy. Dispenzieri:Alnylam: Research Funding; Intellia: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. Comenzo:Unum: Consultancy; Prothena: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy; Caleum: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding. Kastritis:Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Genesis Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Wechalekar:Takeda: Honoraria, Other: Travel; Celgene: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Advisory; Caelum: Other: Advisory. Witteles:Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Maurer:Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Alnylam: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Ionis: Research Funding; Eidos: Research Funding; Akcea: Research Funding. Tran:Janssen: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Qin:Janssen: Current Employment. Vasey:Janssen Research & Development: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Tromp:Janssen: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Weiss:Janssen: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Vermeulen:Janssen: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Jaccard:Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: A.J. has served in a consulting or advisory role for Janssen and has received honoraria from, received research funding from, and had travel, accommodations, or other expenses paid for or reimbursed by Janssen., Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: A.J. has served in a consulting or advisory role for Janssen and has received honoraria from, received research funding from, and had travel, accommodations, or other expenses paid for or reimbursed by Celgene., Research Funding.

Description: Background: As immunoglobulin light chains present in AL amyloidosis are considered to be toxic to involved organs, especially the heart, rapid and deep hematologic remission with reduction of these light chains with frontline therapy may be crucial to improving long-term clinical outcomes. ANDROMEDA (NCT03201965) is the first phase 3 study in this patient population to evaluate major organ deterioration progression-free survival (MOD-PFS), a composite endpoint of time to end-stage cardiac disease (requiring cardiac transplant, left ventricular assist device, or intra-aortic balloon pump); end-stage renal disease (requiring hemodialysis or renal transplant); hematologic progression per consensus guidelines1; and death. Here, we report the impact of early and deep hematologic responses on MOD-PFS. Methods: ANDROMEDA is a randomized, open-label, active-controlled phase 3 study of patients with newly diagnosed AL amyloidosis who received cyclophosphamide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (VCd) ± daratumumab subcutaneous (DARA SC; DARA 1800 mg coformulated with recombinant human hyaluronidase PH20 in 15 mL). Key eligibility criteria were newly diagnosed AL amyloidosis with measurable hematologic disease, ≥1 involved organ, cardiac stage I-IIIA, eGFR ≥20 mL/min, and absence of symptomatic multiple myeloma. Disease evaluations occurred every 4 weeks during Cycles 1-6. Hematologic responses were adjudicated by an Independent Review Committee. Landmark analyses for response were performed at 1 and 3 months (± 7 days). Analyses of hematologic responses and MOD-PFS were performed on the intent-to-treat analysis set. Patients without a baseline or post-baseline assessment were censored at randomization for the MOD-PFS analysis. Hazard ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were estimated based on Cox proportional hazard model. Results: A total of 388 patients were randomized to DARA-VCd (n=195) or VCd alone (n=193). Baseline characteristics were well balanced between groups. The proportions of patients with heart and kidney involvement were 71% and 59%, respectively. Median follow-up was 11.4 months (range, 0.03-21.3+). For the 1- and 3-month landmark analysis, hematologic response was available for 356 and 289 patients, respectively. Hematologic response rates by treatment group at 1 and 3 months are shown in the Table. MOD-PFS was longer in patients with complete response (CR)/very good partial response (VGPR) at 1 and 3 months vs patients with lower levels of response (Figure). CR/VGPR at 1 and 3 months was associated with reduced risk of death or major organ deterioration in a multivariate analysis adjusting for baseline difference between involved and uninvolved free light chains and cardiac stage, (HR: 0.399, P=0.0006 and HR: 0.262, P=0.0003, respectively). At 1 and 3 months, cardiac and renal response rates were higher in those who achieved early and deep hematologic responses (CR and VGPR). Conclusions: CR/VGPR at 1 and 3 months was associated with a reduced risk of major organ deterioration and death in patients with newly diagnosed AL amyloidosis. These data confirm that initial therapy that achieves rapid and deep hematological responses is essential to improving long-term outcomes in AL amyloidosis. Reference 1. Comenzo RL, et al. Leukemia. 2012;26(11):2317-25 Disclosures Wechalekar: Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Advisory; Caelum: Other: Advisory; Celgene: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria, Other: Travel. Palladini:Celgene: Other: Travel support; Jannsen Cilag: Honoraria, Other. Comenzo:Caleum: Consultancy; Unum: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Prothena: Consultancy, Research Funding. Jaccard:Celgene: Honoraria, Other: A.J. has served in a consulting or advisory role for Janssen and has received honoraria from, received research funding from, and had travel, accommodations, or other expenses paid for or reimbursed by Celgene., Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: A.J. has served in a consulting or advisory role for Janssen and has received honoraria from, received research funding from, and had travel, accommodations, or other expenses paid for or reimbursed by Janssen., Research Funding. Tran:Janssen: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Pei:Janssen: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Vasey:Janssen Research & Development: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Tromp:Janssen: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Weiss:Janssen: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Vermeulen:Janssen: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Kastritis:Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Genesis Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding.

Description: Standard first-line therapy for younger patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma consists of six courses of CHOP or CHOEP consolidated by high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (AutoSCT). We hypothesized that consolidative allogeneic transplantation (AlloSCT) could improve outcome. 104 patients with nodal peripheral T-cell lymphoma except ALK+ ALCL, 18 to 60 years of age, all stages and IPI scores except stage 1 and aaIPI 0, were randomized to receive 4 x CHOEP and 1 x DHAP followed by high-dose therapy and AutoSCT or myeloablative conditioning and AlloSCT. The primary endpoint was event-free survival (EFS) at three years. After a median follow-up of 42 months, 3-year EFS of patients undergoing AlloSCT was 43% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 29%; 57%) as compared to 38% (95% CI: 25%; 52%) after AutoSCT. Overall survival at 3 years was 57% (95% CI: 43%; 71%) versus 70% (95% CI: 57%; 82%) after AlloSCT or AutoSCT, without significant differences between treatment arms. None of 21 responding patients proceeding to AlloSCT as opposed to 13 of 36 patients (36%) proceeding to AutoSCT relapsed. Eight of 26 patients (31%) and none of 41 patients died due to transplant-related toxicity after allogeneic and autologous transplantation, respectively. In younger patients with T-cell lymphoma standard chemotherapy consolidated by autologous or allogeneic transplantation results in comparable survival. The strong graft-versus-lymphoma effect after AlloSCT was counterbalanced by transplant-related mortality. CHO(E)P followed by AutoSCT remains the preferred treatment option for transplant-eligible patients. AlloSCT is the treatment of choice for relapsing patients also after AutoSCT.