Radiotherapy for the treatment of solitary plasmacytoma: 7-year outcomes by a mono-institutional experience

Solitary plasmacytoma: single-institution experience, and systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical outcomes

ABSTRACT

In this study, we first analyzed data from 147 patients with solitary plasmacytomas treated at the Mayo Clinic between 2005 and 2022 and then expanded our investigation through a systematic review and meta-analysis of 62 studies, encompassing 3487 patients from the years 1960 to 2022. Our findings reveal that patients with up to 10% clonal plasma cells in their bone marrow (BM), denoted as plasmacytoma +, had a significantly reduced median disease-free survival (DFS) of 15.7 months vs 79 months, P < .05, observed in patients with true solitary plasmacytomas, with no clonal cells in the BM. Risk factors identified for shorter DFS included the presence of clonal plasma cells in the marrow and a difference between involved and uninvolved free light chains of >5 mg/dL. The meta-analysis portion of our study highlighted a male predominance among patients, with a median age of 58 years, and confirmed radiation therapy as the predominant treatment modality. We also found that DFS rates at 3, 5, and 10 years were 66.9%, 55%, and 42.1%, respectively, and noted a significant difference in outcomes between patients with bone and extramedullary plasmacytomas, with the latter group exhibiting better survival rates. This dual-faceted approach provides a thorough overview of survival rates and critical risk factors for patients with plasmacytoma, underscoring the vital role of accurate disease staging at diagnosis and the impact of tumor location on patient prognosis.

Solitary plasmacytoma: should new approaches in diagnosis and treatment be adopted?

Background

Radiotherapy (RT) is the gold standard for solitary plasmacytomas (SP) with great local control. The influence of radiotherapy as well as factors on multiple myeloma (MM) progression is unknown.

Materials and methods

We present a retrospective study of 27 patients with SP (bone-SBP- and extramedullary-SEP-), treated since 1995 to 2021. We aim to analyze prognostic factors affecting local control and progression to MM in patients treated with radiotherapy (RT).

Results

Mean age was 57.3 years. 22 were SBP and 5 SEP. 13 patients were treated with definitive RT, and 14 with a combination of RT and systemic treatment and/or surgery. Local control was observed in 91.5% of cases. 28% experienced progression to MM. With a median follow up of 61.4 months [39.5, 121.6], 5-years MM-free-survival was 81 ± 8%; no individuals progressed further 50 months since diagnosis. Large tumor bulk (> 5 cm) and type (SBP 36% vs. SEP 0%) were associated with progression. Progression was not affected by doses greater than 46 Gy and/or surgery. An immunophenotype different from IgG kappa was predictive of less progression (p = 0.031) in Cox regression analysis adjusted for age, RT dose and tumor bulk > 5 cm. Patients with positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) staging showed less MM progression, without statistical differences.

Conclusion

RT achieves more than 90% of local control. The immunophenotype IgG kappa showed more risk of progression to MM. Initial staging with PET-CT seems to lead to a better identification of SP. The inclusion of bad prognosis patients in clinical trials would determine the role of adjuvant chemoimmunotherapy in SP treatment.

Theranostic Approaches for Gastric Cancer: An Overview of In Vitro and In Vivo Investigations

Gastric cancer (GC) is the second most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide and a serious public health concern. This high death rate is mostly caused by late-stage diagnoses, which lead to poor treatment outcomes. Radiation immunotherapy and targeted therapies are becoming increasingly popular in GC treatment, in addition to surgery and systemic chemotherapy. In this review, we have focused on both in vitro and in vivo research, which presents a summary of recent developments in targeted therapies for gastric cancer. We explore targeted therapy approaches, including integrin receptors, HER2, Claudin 18, and glutathione-responsive systems. For instance, therapies targeting the integrin receptors such as the αvβ3 and αvβ5 integrins have shown promise in enhancing diagnostic precision and treatment efficacy. Furthermore, nanotechnology provides novel approaches to targeted drug delivery and imaging. These include glutathione-responsive nanoplatforms and cyclic RGD peptide-conjugated nanoparticles. These novel strategies seek to reduce systemic toxicity while increasing specificity and efficacy. To sum up, the review addresses the significance of personalized medicine and advancements in gastric cancer-targeted therapies. It explores potential methods for enhancing gastric cancer prognosis and treatment in the future.

Intestinal perforation with abdominal abscess caused by extramedullary plasmacytoma of small intestine: A case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) of the gastrointestinal tract is an extremely rare disease. Clinical manifestations of EMPs are varied and depend on the location and progression of the tumor.

CASE SUMMARY

Here, we firstly report a case of intestinal perforation with abdominal abscess caused by EMP of the small intestine in a 55-year-old female patient. The patient received emergency surgery immediately after the necessary preoperative procedures. During the operation, EMP was found to have caused the perforation of the small intestine and the formation of multiple abscesses in the abdominal cavity. Partial resection of the small intestine with peritoneal irrigation and drainage was performed. EMP was finally confirmed by postoperative histopathology and laboratory tests. Additionally, we performed a literature review of gastrointestinal EMP to obtain a deeper understanding of this disease.

CONCLUSION

EMP of the small intestine may have spontaneous perforation, which requires emergency surgery. Surgical resection can obtain good therapeutic effects.

RR Myelo POINT: A Retrospective Single-Center Study Assessing the Role of Radiotherapy in the Management of Multiple Myeloma and Possible Interactions with Concurrent Systemic Treatment

Background and purpose: Although chemotherapy, biological agents, and radiotherapy (RT) are cornerstones of the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM), the literature regarding the possible interactions of concurrent systemic treatment (CST) and RT is limited, and the optimal RT dose is still unclear. Materials and methods: We retrospectively analyzed the records of patients who underwent RT for MM at our institution from 1 January 2005 to 30 June 2020. The data of 312 patients and 577 lesions (treated in 411 accesses) were retrieved. Results: Most of the treated lesions involved the vertebrae (60%) or extremities (18.9%). Radiotherapy was completed in 96.6% of the accesses and, although biologically effective doses assuming an α/β ratio of 10 (BED 10) > 38 Gy and CST were significantly associated with higher rates of toxicity, the safety profile was excellent, with side effects grade ≥2 reported only for 4.1% of the accesses; CST and BED 10 had no impact on the toxicity at one and three months. Radiotherapy resulted in significant improvements in performance status and in a pain control rate of 87.4% at the end of treatment, which further increased to 96.9% at three months and remained at 94% at six months. The radiological response rate at six months (data available for 181 lesions) was 79%, with only 4.4% of lesions in progression. Progression was significantly more frequent in the lesions treated without CST or BED 10 < 15 Gy, while concurrent biological therapy resulted in significantly lower rates of progression. Conclusion: Radiotherapy resulted in optimal pain control rates and fair toxicity, regardless of BED 10 and CST; the treatments with higher BED 10 and CST (remarkably biological agents) improved the already excellent radiological disease control.