F-18 FDG PET/CT and F-18 FLT PET/CT as predictors of outcome in patients with multiple myeloma. A pilot study

Irradiated Bone Marrow Volume is Associated With Hematologic Toxicity in Patients With Multiple Myeloma

PURPOSE

Palliative radiation therapy (RT) is effective for multiple myeloma (MM) but may cause cytopenia. Bone marrow volume receiving 10 Gy (BMV10Gy) has been associated with hematologic toxicity (HT) in cervical cancer, but no studies have investigated this in MM. We hypothesized that absolute BMV10Gy is associated with acute HT in MM patients receiving palliative RT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This single institution retrospective analysis evaluated 125 MM patients who received palliative RT between 2007 and 2023 and had ≥2 weeks of follow-up laboratory data. Laboratory values were recorded pre-RT, post-RT, and at nadir within 90 days of completing RT. Clinical HT was defined as new transfusion/growth factor, admission for HT, and/or systemic therapy pause/discontinuation. BM was defined as a bone volume within the RT field. BMV5-40Gy (cubic centimeter [cm3]) was recorded for each treatment. Logistic regressions were performed with clinical HT as the primary endpoint.

RESULTS

Around 105 (84%) patients received concurrent systemic therapy. Median BMV10Gy was 266 cm3 (IQR, 157-501 cm3). Median RT equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions was 26 Gy (IQR, 23-33 Gy). On univariable analysis, BMV5Gy, BMV10Gy, and BMV15Gy were significantly associated with clinical HT (P = .014, P = .018, P = .050, respectively), while RT equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions dose was not (P = .997). On multivariable analysis, BMV10Gy was significantly associated with clinical HT (P = .049) after adjusting for dose, number of lesions treated, lesion location (spine, pelvis, limb, and soft tissue), and systemic therapy class. Disease course (number of prior systemic therapies) was significantly associated with clinical HT on univariable and multivariable analysis, with late relapsed/refractory patients (≥3 prior systemic therapies) having 9.6 higher odds of clinical HT compared to newly diagnosed patients (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, this is the first study to associate the volume of irradiated BM with acute HT in MM. In addition to BMV5-15Gy, number of prior relapses and systemic therapy lines were significantly associated with HT. Disease history should be evaluated, and RT field volumes were minimized for patients with poor bone marrow reserve (eg, late relapsed/refractory disease).

Amino Acid and Proliferation PET/CT for the Diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic malignancy characterized by infiltration of monoclonal plasma cells in the bone marrow (BM). The standard examination performed for the assessment of bone lesions has progressed from radiographic skeletal survey to the more advanced imaging modalities of computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). The Durie-Salmon PLUS staging system (upgraded from the Durie-Salmon staging system) applies 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-glucose (18F-FDG) PET/CT, and MRI findings to the staging of MM, and 18F-FDG PET/CT has been incorporated into the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) guidelines for the diagnosis and staging of MM. However, 18F-FDG PET/CT has significant limitations in the assessment of diffuse BM infiltration and in the differentiation of MM lesions from inflammatory or infectious lesions. The potential of several new PET tracers that exploit the underlying disease mechanism of MM has been evaluated in terms of improving the diagnosis. L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1), a membrane protein that transports neutral amino acids, is associated with cell proliferation and has strong ability to represent the status of MM. This review evaluates the potential of amino acid and proliferation PET tracers for diagnosis and compares the characteristics and accuracy of non-FDG tracers in the management of patients with MM.