ALBERT

Description: Abstract 3045 Background: Lenalidomide is an oral IMiD® immunomodulatory compound with a dual mechanism of action, namely tumoricidal and immunomodulatory activity, and established clinical efficacy and safety in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Lenalidomide plus dexamethasone (Len + Dex) was well tolerated and demonstrated significant improvements in response and favorable overall survival (OS) compared with Placebo + Dex in 2 pivotal phase 3 registration trials in patients with relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM; Weber et al, NEJM 2007; Dimopoulos et al, NEJM 2007). Previously, in a phase 3, multicenter, single-arm, open-label, expanded-access study (MM-018), Len + Dex demonstrated a predictable safety profile that can preserve patient quality of life (QoL) (Yong et al Haematologica 2010 [abstract #0944]). Here we report efficacy, safety, and QoL data for patients enrolled in the Spanish cohort of MM-018. Methods: Patients with progressive disease after 〉 2 cycles of antimyeloma treatment, or after relapse from treatment, with ECOG performance status ≤ 2 received 28-day cycles of Len (25 mg/day, D 1–21) plus Dex (40 mg/day, D 1–4, 9–12, and 17–20 for cycles 1–4; D 1–4 in subsequent cycles). Endpoints included overall response (≥ partial response [PR] by European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation criteria) and QoL assessments measured by EORTC QLQ C-30 and EORTC QLQ MY-20 questionnaires at baseline and week 24. All prophylaxis was administered at the investigator's discretion. Results: Sixty-three patients receiving ≥ 1 dose of Len + Dex were evaluated for efficacy, safety, and QoL. Median age was 62 years (21 [33.3%] were 〉 65 years). Prior therapies included thalidomide (n = 15, 24%) and bortezomib (n = 37, 59%). Additionally, 5 (8%) patients had a history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and 23 (37%) had a history of peripheral neuropathy. A PR or better was observed in 49 (78%) patients, including complete response (CR) in 13 (21%), very good partial response (VGPR) in 13 (21%), and PR in 23 (37%) patients. Median time to first response and best response was 2.7 and 4.5 months, respectively. Median duration of response was 18.4 months. Response depth improved after long-term treatment with Len + Dex, and 32/63 (51%) patients received 〉12 cycles of therapy. Beyond 12 cycles of therapy, 8 patients achieved VGPR and 12 patients achieved CR; compared with 5 patients and 1 patient, respectively, prior to 12 cycles. Median time to progression and progression-free survival were both 13.3 months; median OS has not yet been reached. Forty-two (67%) patients remained on study at 6 months. Compliance to QoL assessment questionnaires was ≥ 80%. Patient-reported improvements in QoL and disease symptoms measured by both questionnaires were observed in nearly all scales. EORTC QLQ C-30 scores revealed clinically meaningful improvement (〉 5 points) for global QoL (n = 15, 40%), fatigue (n = 16, 42%), emotional function (n = 15, 40%), physical function (n = 12, 32%), role function (n = 11, 29%), social function (n = 11, 29%), cognitive function (n = 10, 26%), and pain (n = 9, 24%) at 6 cycles compared with baseline. Preservation of QoL in role function, emotional function, social function, and pain scores was observed at 6 cycles when compared with baseline in responders (≥ PR). EORTC QLQ MY-20 results revealed no relevant median change (〉 5 points) from baseline in all scales for all patients completing questionnaires at baseline and 6 cycles, except for a meaningful improvement in future perspective scores (median 11.1-point change). Adverse events observed in this study were consistent with those previously reported with Len + Dex. Grade 3/4 hematologic events were experienced by 40 (64%) patients, and included neutropenia (n = 32, 51%), thrombocytopenia (n = 11, 17%), anemia (n = 10, 18%), and febrile neutropenia (n = 4, 6%). DVT (all grades) was experienced by 5 (8%) patients, and only one grade 3/4 new-onset peripheral neuropathy was observed after 6 cycles of treatment. Conclusions: Len + Dex treatment in this expanded-access study demonstrated efficacy and predictable safety, consistent with that of previously published trials for patients with RRMM. More patients achieved VGPR and CR after long-term therapy compared with those receiving 〈 12 cycles of therapy. Furthermore, QoL assessments at baseline and 6 months revealed that patients treated with Len + Dex showed meaningful improvements in certain QoL and symptom scores. Disclosures: Oriol-Rocafiguera: Celgene: Consultancy; Janssen-Cilag: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy. García-Laraña:Celgene: Consultancy; Janssen-Cilag: Consultancy. Mateos:Celgene: Honoraria. Cibeira:Celgene: Honoraria for Lectures; Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria for Lectures; Pharmion: Honoraria for Lectures. Knight:Celgene: Employment. Rosettani:Celgene Corporation: Employment.

Description: Abstract 1811 Poster Board I-837 The prognostic significance of achieving complete remission (CR) in Multiple Myeloma (MM) has finally been accepted. However, available studies have been based on series with a median follow-up around 5 years. This time period is insufficient according to the current life expectation of MM. Aim To establish the real effect of prognosis of the different response categories in a cohort of MM patients treated with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) after long term follow up. Patients and methods Follow-up from diagnosis of 344 MM patients transplanted between 1989 and 1998 has been updated. These patients were previously included in a study aimed at establishing the post-ASCT response significance in MM and to validate the EBMT classification (Br J Haemat 2000;109:438-46). It was possible to update the follow up of 322 patients as at April 2009. At this date 99 patients were alive with a median follow-up form diagnosis of 12.5 years. Response categories and evaluated cases were: i) Complete Response (IF-) (CR), n= 84 ii) near Complete Response (EF-/IF+) (nCR), n= 66 iii) Very good partial response (VGPR) (

Description: Melphalan – Prednisone (MP) has been the Standard of care for elderly multiple myeloma patients in the past 40 years. However, bortezomib and thalidomide-based combinations have demonstrated to improve the efficacy in terms of both response rate and time to events as compared to MP. In two recent Phase II and phase III trials we have shown (Mateos et al. Blood 2006; San Miguel JF et al. EHA 2008) that the combination VMP is highly effective, but it remains to be elucidated which agent is the optimal partner for bortezomib: an alkylating or an immunomodulatory drug. In order to answer this question in April 2006, Spanish Myeloma Group (PETHEMA/GEM) activated a phase III trial comparing VMP versus VTP in untreated MM patients older than 65 years. Patients in the VMP arm received intravenous bortezomib 1.3 mg/m2 twice weekly (days 1, 4, 8, 11; 22, 25, 29 and 32) for one 6-week cycle (8 doses per cycle), followed by once weekly (days 1, 8, 15 y 22) for five 5-week cycles (4 doses per cycle) in combination with oral melphalan 9 mg/m2 and prednisone 60 mg/m2 once daily on days 1–4 of each cycle. Patients in the VTP arm received the same bortezomib and prednisone regimen, but instead of melphalan they received continuous thalidomide at dose of 100 mg daily. For both groups, treatment continued for a maximum of 6 cycles (31 weeks) unless disease progression or unacceptable treatment-related toxicity occurred. The primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR) after induction therapy and secondary endpoints included time to progression (TTP), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), time to and duration of response, and safety. As of July 30, 2008, 246 out of 260 planned patients have been included in the study and 167 are evaluables for response to induction therapy and adverse events (AEs). Efficacy and toxicity analyses were performed on an intention-to-treat basis. 80 patients were randomly assigned to receive VMP and 87 to receive VTP. Regarding baseline characteristics, including cytogenetic abnormalities, no significant differences were observed in both arms. No significant differences were observed in response rate: ≥ PR in 78% of patients in VMP and VTP groups respectively, with a CR rate of 18% vs 23% (p=NS) and CR/nCR of 38% vs 32% (P= NS). Only one patient prgressed under induction treatment in each arm. Median time to first response was similar in both arms (1,6 months) and there were not differences in the median time to achieve CR (4,4 vs 4,9 months). Regarding haematological toxicity, VMP resulted in higher incidence of ≥G3 neutropenia (34% vs 19%; p=0,009) and thrombocytopenia (21% vs 9%; p=0,01); in contrast, 157 related non-hematological AEs occurred in VTP arm vs 133 in VMP arm (p

Description: Abstract 1935 Smoldering Multiple Myeloma (SMM) is an asymptomatic proliferative disorder of plasma cells (PCs) defined by a serum monoclonal component (MC) of 30 g/L or higher and/or 10% or more plasma cells in the bone marrow (BM), but no evidence of end-organ damage. There are several risk factors predicting high-risk of progression to symptomatic disease (〉50% at 2 years): 〉10% of PCs in BM, serum MC 〉30g/L, 〉95% aberrant PCs by immunophenotyping, or abnormal free-light chains. Standard of care of SMM is close follow-up without treatment until progression disease. Several trials have evaluated the role of early treatment with convencional agents (melphalan), bisphosphonates and novel agents (thalidomide, anti-IL1a), with no clear benefit, but they didn't focus on high-risk patients. In this phase III trial, SMM patients at high-risk of progression were randomized to receive Len-dex as induction followed by Len alone as maintenance vs no treatment in order to evaluate whether the early treatment prolongs the time to progresión (TTP) to symptomatic disease. The high risk population was defined by the presence of both 〉PC 10% and MC 〉30g/L or if only one criterion was present, patients must have a proportion of aberrants PCs within the total PCsBM compartment by immunophenotyping of 95% plus immunoparesis. Len-dex arm received an induction treatment consisting on nine four-weeks cycles of lenalidomide at dose of 25 mg daily on days 1–21 plus dexamethasone at dose of 20 mg daily on days 1–4 and 12–15 (total dose: 160mg), followed by maintenance until progression disease with Lenalidomide at dose of 10 mg on days 1–21 every two months (ammended in May 2010 into monthly). The 124 planned patients were recruited between October 2006 and June 2010, and 118 were evaluables (three in Len-dex and three in therapeutic abstention arm didn't meet inclusion criteria). This second interim analysis was planned when all patients were recruited. According to baseline characteristics, both groups were well balanced. On an ITT analysis (n=57), based on IMWG criteria, the overall response rate during induction therapy was 75%, including 51% PR, 12% VGPR, 5% CR and 7% sCR. If we select the group of 33 patients who completed the nine induction cycles, the ORR was 91%, including 15% VGPR, 9% CR and 9% sCR. After a median of 8 cycles of maintenance therapy (1-15), the sCR increased to 16%. After a median follow-up of 16 months (range:1-33), four patients progressed to symptomatic disease in the Len-dex arm: two of them during maintenance therapy after 24 and 28 months from inclusion and the other two progressed 3 and 8 months after early discontinuation of the trial due to personal reasons. In addition, nine patients have developed biological progression during maintenance, but in all but one of these, Len has been able to control the disease without CRAB symptoms (median of 9·5 months (1-18)). In the therapeutic abstention arm, 21 out of 61 patients progressed to active MM. The estimated hazard ratio was 6·7 (95%CI= 2·3-19·9), corresponding to a median TTP from inclusion of 25 months for the not treatment arm vs median not reached in the treatment arm (p

Description: Introduction: Liver metabolism has two fundamental types of enzymes. Phase two enzymes include GlutathioneS-transferases (GST), with three main variants: GST-M1, GST-T1 and GST-P1. Individual differences in these enzymes could influence their detoxificating capacity. Aim: To study the influence of several genetic GST liver enzymes variants in the development of liver Sinusoidal Obstruction Syndrome (SOS) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) that received BUMEL as conditioning regimen for Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation (ASCT). Patients: 91 patients with MM - included in Spanish protocol Myeloma 2000 that had received BUMEL as conditioning schedule for ASCT - have been studied; 12 of them had developed SOS. 62 healthy individuals as well as 12 patients with monoclonal gammapathy of uncertain significance (MGUS) were also studied. Methods: Three genotype variants of GST enzymes were studied: presence or absence of GST-M1, GST-T1 and GST-P1 polymorphism Ile105Val by real time PCR in light cycler v2 or ABI PRISM 7900HT thermocyclers. Associations between variables were studied by X2 and exact Fisher test. Logistic regression analysis was performed to calculate Odds ratios and relative risk of SOS development. Results: Significant differences (p〉0.0001) were found in the prevalence of homozygous genotype GST-P1 Ile105Val comparing the group of patients with MM and SOS (5 of 12, 41%) and the rest of MM patients without SOS (5 of 79, 6%). This genotype was present in 17% of healthy individuals and MGUS. The genotype absence of GST-M1 was observed in 33% (4/ 12) of MM patients with SOS, 46% (37/79) of MM patients without SOS (p=0.38), 56% of controls and 71% of MGUS. The genotype absence of GST-T1 was observed in 50% (6/ 12) of MM patients with SOS, 27% (22/79) without SOS (p=012), 19% (16/62) of healthy individuals and 21% of MGUS. 33% (4/12) of MM patients with SOS presented the absence of GST-T1 genotype and the presence of homozygous GST-P1 Ile105Val and none of the patients with MM without SOS (p=0,000) presented these genotypes. The only factor associated to development of SOS in regression study was the presence of genotype GST-P1 Ile105Val in homozygosis (OR 10.57 CI 2.45–45.6 p=0.002). Conclusions: The genotype absence of GST-T1 together with the homozygous GST-P1 Ile105Val polymorphism, especially the latter, should be considered as new risk factors in the development of SOS in MM undergoing ASCT conditioning regimen with BUMEL.

Description: Abstract 307 Introduction: In April 2006, the Spanish Myeloma Group (PETHEMA/GEM) activated a randomized phase III trial comparing TD vs. VTD vs. VBMCP/VBAD/Bortezomib (VBMCP/VBAD/B) in patients 65 years-old or younger with newly diagnosed symptomatic MM followed by ASCT with MEL-200. Primary end points: response rate after induction and after ASCT and time to progression. Patients and Method: TD consisted of thalidomide 200 mg daily (escalating doses in the first cycle) and dexamethasone 40 mg on days 1–4 and 9–12 at 4-week intervals for 6 cycles. The VTD regimen was identical to TD plus bortezomib 1.3 mg/m2 on days 1,4,8,11 of each cycle. Combination chemotherapy plus bortezomib consisted of 4 cycles of VBMCP/VBAD on an alternating basis followed by 2 cycles of bortezomib (1.3 mg/m2 on days 1,4,8, and 11 every 3 weeks). The duration of the induction therapy was 24 weeks in all arms. From April 6, 2006 to August 5, 2009 the 390 planned patients entered the study. Four patients failed the eligibility criteria. 386 patients (median age: 56 yrs; M: 207, F: 179; IgG: 233, IgA: 85, light chain: 57, IgD: 9, Ig M: 2) were analyzed. The stage according to the ISS was I in 147 patients, II in 160, III in 75 and unknown in 4 and 66 patients (17%) had extramedullary soft-tissue plasmacytomas (EMP). Seventy out of the 330 patients (21%) with cytogenetic studies had high-risk cytogenetics (t(4;14), t(14;16), and/or 17p deletion). One-hundred and thirty patients were allocated to VTD, 127 to TD and 129 to VBMCP/VBAD/B. Prognostic factors, including cytogenetics, were similar in the 3 arms. Response, survival and toxicity were evaluated on an intention-to-treat basis. Responses reported by investigators were centrally reassessed. Result: The IFE negative CR rate was significantly higher with VTD (35%) compared to TD (14%) and VBMCP/VBAD/B (22%) (p=0.0001 and p=0.01, respectively). The progressive disease (PD) rate during induction was significantly lower with VTD than with TD (7% vs. 23%, p=0.001). In patiens with high-risk cytogenetics, the CR rate was significantly greater with VTD when compared with TD (35% vs. 0%, p=0.002) and with VBMCP/VBAD/B (35% vs. 22%, p=0.02). The CR rate to VTD in patients with 17p deletion was 58% while none of the patients with this cytogenetic abnormality responded to TD or to VBMVP/VBAD/B (p=0.03 and p=0.02, respectively). Of interest, the CR rate in patients with t(11;14) was significantly lower than in patients lacking this abnormality (11% vs. 27%, p=0.01). This low CR rate in patients with t(11;14) was similar in the 3 arms. In the overall series, PD was significantly higher in patients with EMP (24% vs. 11%, p=0.01) with a significantly higher PD rate for TD as compared to VTD (40% vs. 12%, p=0.02). The incidence of thrombotic events was 2%, 6% and 5% for VTD, TD and VBMCP/VBAD/B, respectively (p=NS). The frequency of grade ≥ 3 peripheral neuropathy was 12% with VTD compared to 1% in both the TD and the VBMCP/VBAD/B arms (p= 0.0002). Treatment was discontinued due to toxicity en 16 patients (VTD:9, TD:4, VBMCP/VBAD/B:3). Nine patients died during the induction period (3 in each arm). On an intention to treat basis, the post-ASCT CR rate was higher in the VTD arm compared with TD (46% vs. 24%, p=0.004) and VBMCP/VBAD/B (46% vs. 38%, p=0.1). The estimated overall survival (OS) at 4 years was 76% with no significant differences among the 3 arms. After a median follow-up of 27 months, the progression-free survival (PFS) was not reached with VTD while it was 27 and 38 months with TD and VBMCP/VBAD/B, respectively (p=0.006). In the overall series, patients with high-risk cytogenetics had a significantly shorter OS (p=0.00007) and PFS (p=0.004). In addition, when compared with the good-risk group, patients with high-risk cytogenetics showed a trend towards a shorter PFS either after induction with VTD (median not reached vs. 17 months, p=0.05) and with TD (median 28 vs. 15 months, p=0.09). Conclusion: Induction with VTD resulted in a significantly higher CR rate in both the overall series and in patients with high-risk cytogenetics. The post-ASCT CR rate was also significantly higher with VTD than with TD and there was a trend when compared with VBMCP/VBAD/B. Finally, VTD resulted in a significantly longer PFS. However, longer follow-up is required to establish whether or not VTD will overcome the poor prognosis of patients with high-risk cytogenetics. Disclosures: Rosiñol: Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria. Off Label Use: Bortezomib and Thalidomide are not approve for first line in Spain. Cibeira:Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria. Mateos:Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria. Oriol:Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria. García-Laraña:Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria. De La Rubia:Janssen-Cilag: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Sureda:Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria. Díaz-Mediavilla:Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria. Alegre:Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria. Lahuerta:Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria. San Miguel:Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Blade:Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding.

Description: Abstract 130 In April 2006, the Spanish Myeloma Group (PETHEMA/GEM) activated a randomized phase III trial comparing TD vs. VTD vs. VBMCP/VBAD/Velcadeâ in patients 65 years-old or younger with newly diagnosed symptomatic MM, followed by ASCT with MEL-200. The primary end points were response rate after induction and after ASCT and time to progression. TD consisted of thalidomide 200 mg daily (escalating doses in the first cycle) and dexamethasone 40 mg on days 1–4 and 9–12 at 4-week intervals for 6 cycles. The VTD regimen was identical to TD plus Velcade 1.3 mg/m2 on days 1,4,8,11 of each cycle. Combination chemotherapy plus Velcadeâ consisted of 4 cycles of VBMCP/VBAD on an alternating basis followed by 2 cycles of Velcadeâ (1.3 mg/m2 on days 1,4,8, and 11 every 3 weeks). The duration of the induction therapy was 24 weeks in all arms. From April 6, 2006 to August 5, 2009 the 390 planned patients entered the study. As of December 31, 2008, 305 patients (median age: 57 yrs, M: 156, F:149; IgG. 181, IgA: 71, light chain: 43, others: 10) entered the study and are the basis of the current analysis. Fifty-six (18%) patients had soft-tissue extramedullary plasmacytomas (EMP) and the stage according to the ISS was I in 39%, II in 41 %, III in 19 % and unknown in 1%. The prognostic factors, including cytogenetics, was similar in the 3 arms. Fifty-five (18%) patients had high-risk cytogenetics (t(4;14), t(14;16) and/or 17p deletion). Two-hundred and ninety-nine patients (TD:103, VTD: 99 and VBMCP/VBAD/Velcade®: 97) were evaluable for response and toxicity to induction therapy. The ≥ PR rate was 64%, 82% and 75% with TD, VTD and VBMCP/VBAD/Velcade®, respectively (p=NS). The IF negative CR rate was significantly higher with VTD (29%) and with VBMCP/VBAD/Velcade® (25%) than with TD (14%) (p=0.009 and p=0.04, respectively). Progressive disease (PD) was significantly higher with TD than with VTD (21% vs. 8%, p=0.009). In the overall series, PD was significanty higher in patients with EMP (34% vs. 12%, p=0.0002) with a significanty higher PD rate for TD as compared with VTD (40% vs. 14%, p=0.05). In patients with poor cytogenetics the CR rate was significantly higher with VTD than with TD (42% vs. 5%, p=0.009). In this high-risk group the PD rate was higher with TD (37%) and with VBMCP/VBAD/Velcade® (23%) than with VTD (0%) (p=0.009 and p=0.04, respectively). The incidence of thrombotic events ≥ grade 3 was higher in the TD arm (9% vs. 1% vs. 3%, p=0.07 and p=0.01) while ≥3 peripheral neuropathy was higher with VTD (14% vs. 0% and 1%, p

Description: For establishing the true effect of different response categories in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) treated with autologous stem cell transplantation, we evaluated, after a median follow-up of 153 months, 344 patients with MM who received a transplant between 1989 and 1998. Overall survival (OS) at 12 years was 35% in complete response (CR) patients, 22% in near complete response (nCR), 16% in very good partial response (VGPR), and 16% in partial response (PR) groups. Significant differences in OS and progression-free survival were found between CR and nCR groups (P = .01 and P = .002, respectively), between CR and VGPR groups (P = .0001 and P = .003), or between CR and PR groups (P = .003 and P = 〈 10−5); no differences were observed between the nCR and VGPR groups (P = .2 and P = .9) or between these groups and the PR group (P = .1 and P = .8). A landmark study found a plateau phase in OS after 11 years; 35% patients in the CR group and 11% in the nCR+VGPR+PR group are alive at 17 years; 2 cases had relapsed in the nCR+VGPR+PR group. In conclusion, MM achieving CR after autologous stem cell transplantation is a central prognostic factor. The relapse rate is low in patients with 〉 11 years of follow-up, possibly signifying a cure for patients in CR.

Description: Abstract 614 Smoldering MM (sMM) is a plasma cell (PC) disorder defined by the presence of ≥10% of PC and/or a serum M-component (MC) ≥3g/dl without end-organ damage. Recent studies have identified a subgroup of sMM at high risk of progression to active MM (〉50% at 2 y): patients with both PC ≥10% & MC ≥3g/dl (Kyle R. NEJM 2007) or ≥95% aberrant PC (aPC) by immunophenotyping (Pérez E. Blood 2007) or abnormal FLCs (Dispenzieri A. Blood 2008). Standard of care for sMM is monitoring without treatment until disease progression. Several small studies have explored the value of early treatment with either conventional agents (melphalan/prednisone) or novel drugs (thalidomide, interleukin-1b), with no clear benefit. It should be noted that these trials didn't focus on high-risk sMM. In this phase III trial we investigated whether early treatment prolongs the time to progression (TTP) in sMM patients at high risk of progression to active MM. Patients were randomized to receive Len-dex versus no treatment. The high risk population was defined by the presence of both PC ≥10% and MC ≥3g/dl or if only one criterion was present, patients must have a proportion of aPC within the total PCBM compartment by immunophenotyping of ≥95% plus immunoparesis. 120 patients are planned to be recruited. The 60 patients randomized to the Len-dex arm receive nine four-weeks cycles of lenalidomide at dose of 25 mg daily on days 1-21 plus dexamethasone at dose of 20 mg daily on days 1-4 and 12-15 (total dose: 160mg) (induction phase); subsequently maintenance with Lenalidomide at dose of 10 mg on days 1-21 every two months administered until disease progression. Between October 2006 and June 2008, 80 patients were randomized. In this interim analysis, we present the first 40 patients recruited. According to baseline characteristics, both groups were well balanced. In an ITT analysis (n=40), based on IMWG criteria, the overall response rate was 90%, including 53% PR, 21% VGPR, 11% CR and 5% sCR. If we select the group of 16 patients who completed the nine cycles, the ORR was 100%, including 27% VGPR, 13% CR and 7% sCR. After a median follow-up of 16 months (range:12-20), no disease progression was observed in the Len-dex arm, while 8 patients progressed to active MM in the therapeutic abstention arm with a median TTP from inclusion in the trial of 17.5 months (p

Description: Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) has become the standard of care for young MM pts. The analysis of prognostic factors will contribute to identify which pts benefit more from this procedure. However, in this type of analysis it is important that all pts receive uniform treatment, and since primary refractory pts have a different prognosis from pts sensitive to initial chemotherapy, our policy was to use up-front a more intensive treatment approach for the refractory pts. In this report we will focus on the analysis of clinical prognostic factors in sensitive MM pts to induction chemotherapy. The Spanish PETHEMA/GEM2000 trial included untreated MM pts younger than 70 years and consisted on six alternating cycles of chemotherapy VBMCP/VBAD followed by high dose therapy (BuMel or Mel200) supported with ASCT. Pts achieving CR IF- or CR IF+ after the first transplant received maintenance treatment with interferon/prednisone, while pts with a remaining visible M-spike (partial or minimal response) received a second HDT/SCS with CBV (cyclophosphamide, etoposide and BCNU) or a dose-reduced intensity allogeneic transplant if donor is available. Between January 2000 and December 2004, 803 pts were considered to have chemosensitive disease and were transplanted as above described. Median age at time of diagnosis was 59 y (range: 31–70). Baseline characteristics were similar to those previously reported in other series in which young patients were included. Following initial chemotherapy, the response rate was: 13.6% CRIF-, 14% CRIF+ and 60% PR. Response rate increased after HDT/SCS: CRIF-, CRIF+ and PR rates were 38%, 20% and 35%, respectively. Early death rate, occurring during the first two months after ASCT was 3,5% (28 pts). 207 out of 803 pts received a second HDT/SCS. 531 pts (66%) started maintenance therapy after transplant with interpheron and prednisone in most of them (77%). After a median follow-up of 45 months (range: 6–91), the median EFS time for the 803 pts was 45 months (95% CI: 40,5–49,1), defining event as relapse/progression or death; median OS time has not been reached and the estimated 8-year EFS and OS were 30 and 53%, respectively. Univariate analysis identified the following adverse prognostic factors for EFS: age ≥ 59 y, advanced Durie and Salmon stage, advanced ISS stage, Monoclonal component ≥ 30g/l, Hemoglobin (Hb) level 〈 11 g/dl, creatinine 〉 1,5 mg/dl, Bone Marrow Plasma cells infiltration ≥ 45%, performance status according to EGOG 3–4, and failure to achieve CR IF- after induction chemotherapy or after the first transplant. The same prognostic factors were identified in the univariate analysis for OS. On multivariate analysis only five variables retained an independent prognostic influence on EFS and OS: age ≥ 59 y (p:0,04), Hb 〈 11 g/dl p:0,000), advanced ISS stage (p:0,03) and lack of CRIF- after transplant (p:0,000). The three ISS stages could be subdivided into two subgroups using the variables selected in the multivariate analysis. Thus pts who didn’t achieve CR IF- after transplantation and had an additional adverse factor (either age or anemia) showed a significant different outcome within the ISS stage I, II and III.