High dose melphalan and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in AL amyloidosis

B-cell maturation antigen chimeric antigen receptor-T therapy alleviated heart failure in patients with multiple myeloma

Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) are likely to achieve poor therapeutic response when organs are involved. We produced anti-B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells, which are in a trial for patients with relapsed/refractory MM. One enrolled patient developed severe heart failure, highly suspected as light chain cardiac amyloidosis. He exhibited increased N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide with a peak of 32 299 ng/mL and heart failure with an ejection fraction of 30%. Anti-BCMA CAR-T cells were administered following lymphodepletion. The patient achieved cardiac response within 1 week with a decrease in N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide by 80%, an increase in ejection fraction from 30% to 56%, and a haematological response with negative minimal residual disease at 1 month and a complete response at 1 year. To date, this patient has maintained good health without heart failure or haematological relapse. Herein, we show the efficacy of anti-BCMA CAR-T cells in patients with MM and severe heart failure.

The role of induction therapy before autologous stem cell transplantation in low disease burden AL amyloidosis patients

BACKGROUND

Induction therapy is recommended before autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for AL amyloidosis patients with high disease burden [bone marrow plasma cells (BMPCs) > 10%], but the role of induction therapy before ASCT in patients with low disease burden (BMPCs ≤ 10%) is still unknown.

METHODS

A total of 227 patients with AL amyloidosis were included in this study. Among 227 patients, 124 patients received bortezomib-based induction prior to ASCT and were defined as group A, 35 patients received other chemotherapeutic induction and were defined as group B, and the other 68 patients without induction were defined as group C. We compared the differences of efficacy and prognosis between the three groups.

RESULTS

The haematological overall response rates (ORR) of groups A, B and C were 91%, 67% and 75%, respectively. The complete response rates (CR) of groups A, B and C were 50%, 25% and 20%, respectively. Both the ORR and CR rates of group A were significantly higher than those of groups B and C. The renal response rates of groups A, B and C were 64%, 46% and 47%, respectively. The cardiac response rates of groups A, B and C were 74%, 45% and 40%, respectively. The renal and cardiac responses rates of group A were also significantly higher than those of the other two groups. After a median follow-up of 44 months, the median OS was not reached. The 5-year estimated overall survival (OS) rates of groups A, B and C were 81%, 57% and 67%, respectively. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 83 months for all patients. The 5-year estimated PFS rates of groups A, B and C were 61%, 38% and 49%, respectively. Both the OS and PFS of group A were higher than those of both group B and group C. On multivariate analysis, baseline dFLC > 50 mg/L was associated with worse survival, but induction with bortezomib was associated with better survival.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated that low disease burden AL patients who are eligible for ASCT may benefit from bortezomib-based induction therapy.

Second Stem Cell Transplantation for Relapsed Refractory Light Chain (AL) Amyloidosis

Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is an effective treatment modality in light chain (AL) amyloidosis but can be offered only to a subset of patients. The feasibility, benefit, and risks of second ASCT (ASCT2) have been rarely reported. The objective of this study was to assess the utility of ASCT2 in AL amyloidosis and to identify the target population with the greatest benefit. This retrospective study examined all AL patients who underwent ASCT2 for relapsed refractory disease between 2003 and 2020. Twenty-six patients were included. The use of ASCT2 has increased over time, from 2.5% of all ASCTs from 2003 to 2011 to 5% from 2012 to 2020 (P = .056). The median time between the first ASCT (ASCT1) and ASCT2 was 7.2 years (range, 0.6 to 17.7). Fifty-four percent of patients received at least one line of therapy between ASCTs. Second stem cell mobilization prior to ASCT2 was required in 42% of patients. Full-dose melphalan (200 mg/m²) was given to 73% of patients. Two patients had failed to engraft by day 100 but eventually recovered to normal blood counts. Both had second stem cell mobilization prior to ASCT2 with prior melphalan exposure. Four patients (15%) died before day 100. Progression-free and overall survival were significantly longer from ASCT2 for those who had durable remission after ASCT1 (≥5 years) and for those who did not receive therapy between ASCTs. ASCT2 is feasible and can produce favorable outcomes, especially among those with durable response to ASCT1. ASCT2, if chosen, should preferably be performed after durable response to ASCT1 and at first progression.

A safety review of drug treatments for patients with systemic immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis

INTRODUCTION

In AL amyloidosis, a usually small plasma cell clone secretes unstable, amyloid-forming light chains, causing cytotoxicity and progressive (multi)organ function deterioration. Treatment aims at reducing/eradicating the underlying clone, to reduce/zero the supply of the amyloidogenic protein and halt the amyloidogenic cascade.

AREAS COVERED

Safety data of alkylating agents, proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs, and monoclonal antibodies from clinical trials are reviewed.

EXPERT OPINION

Drugs used to treat AL amyloidosis are derived from experience with multiple myeloma or other B cell malignancies. However, treating AL amyloidosis is particularly challenging, as it implies delivering anti-neoplastic therapy to a hematologic malignancy directly causing (multi)organ function deterioration, often in elderly subjects with other comorbidities and polypharmacotherapy. This unique combination translates in increased patients' frailty and higher sensitivity toward treatment-related toxicities. Therefore, dose/schedule adjustments and special precautions are needed when translating treatment experience from multiple myeloma or other B cell malignancies to AL amyloidosis. Treatment of patients with AL amyloidosis should be risk adapted, tailored to individual patients' risk profile, considering the type and extent of organ involvement, and eventual comorbidity. As several classes of effective anti-plasma cell or B cell drugs are available, therapeutic choices are also influenced by individual drug's safety profile.

A longitudinal evaluation of health-related quality of life in patients with AL amyloidosis: associations with health outcomes over time

Light chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare disease associated with significant, irreversible organ dysfunction and high case fatality. An observational study was conducted to assess health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients treated for AL amyloidosis between 1994 and 2014 with both high dose melphalan and stem cell transplantation (HDM/SCT) or non‐SCT chemotherapy regimens. The SF‐36v1^® Health Survey (SF‐36) was administered to assess HRQoL during clinic visits. Analysis of variance was used to compare pre‐ and post‐treatment HRQoL within each treatment group to an age‐ and gender‐adjusted general population (GP) normative sample. Cox proportional hazard models were fit to examine associations between pre‐treatment levels of HRQoL and mortality within 1 and 5 years after initiating specific treatment regimens (HDM/SCT: n = 402; non‐SCT chemotherapy regimens: n = 172). Among patients who received HDM/SCT, there were significant improvements following treatment in vitality, social functioning, role‐emotional and mental health. Worse pre‐treatment SF‐36 physical component scores were associated with a greater risk of mortality in both treatment groups and follow‐up periods (P ≤ 0·005 for both). [Correction added on 20 October 2017, after first online publication: This P value has been corrected]. Using HRQoL assessments in every physician visit or treatment may provide valuable insights for treating rare conditions like AL amyloidosis.

Phase 2 trial of daily, oral epigallocatechin gallate in patients with light-chain amyloidosis

Previous studies have suggested that an increase in mitochondrial reactive oxygen species may cause organ damage in patients with light-chain (AL) amyloidosis; however, this damage can be decreased by antioxidant-agent treatment. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the major natural catechin in green tea, has potent antioxidant activity. Because EGCG has recently been reported to have a favorable toxicity profile for treating amyloidosis, we sought to examine the clinical efficacy and toxicity of EGCG in patients with AL amyloidosis. Fifty-seven patients were randomly assigned to the EGCG and observation groups and observed for six months. There were no increases in grade 3-5 adverse events and EGCG therapy was well tolerated. Although a decrease in the urinary albumin level was found in the EGCG group in patients with obvious albuminuria after treatment initiation, its antioxidant activity may not be sufficient to clarify the potential effect of EGCG in patients with AL amyloidosis. Because some of the biological markers responsible for organ damage were well correlated to the level of antioxidant potential in patients' plasma, the status of oxidative stress in the blood may indicate the extent of organ damage in clinical situations.

Prognostic impact of cytogenetic aberrations in AL amyloidosis patients after high-dose melphalan: a long-term follow-up study

Translocation t(11;14) confers a favorable prognosis in AL amyloidosis patients treated with HDM.

Stem cell transplantation compared with melphalan plus dexamethasone in the treatment of immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis

BACKGROUND

Autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT) is a common management strategy for select patients with immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis, but no trials have documented improved overall survival.

METHODS

Eighty-nine patients with biopsy-proven immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis were allowed to select treatment with melphalan plus dexamethasone (n = 34) or SCT (n = 55); all patients were transplant eligible. Treatment preference resulted in imbalanced study arms. Patients who selected SCT were younger, more frequently had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score less than 2, had lower-stage amyloidosis, and had a lower incidence of cardiac amyloidosis.

RESULTS

Patients receiving melphalan plus dexamethasone had a 3-year progression-free survival rate of 29.1% and an overall survival rate of 58.8%. Patients undergoing SCT had a 3-year progression-free survival rate of 51.7% and an overall survival rate of 83.6%. An attempt to match patients between the 2 arms in terms of risk produced 24 matched triplet sets (2 SCT patients for each melphalan-dexamethasone patient); there was no difference in hematologic response, but there was better survival after autologous SCT. A propensity score-matched analysis of the cohorts (melphalan plus dexamethasone vs SCT) showed an overall mortality hazard ratio of 2.56 (P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Although the study had limitations, similar hematologic responses and improved survival were observed after SCT versus melphalan plus dexamethasone. Cancer 2016;122:2197-205. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

Burden of cytogenetically abnormal plasma cells in light chain amyloidosis and their prognostic relevance

We performed cytoplasmic fluorescence in situ hybridization assays of light chain amyloidosis (AL). In total, 234 patients were enrolled: 28 patients with AL, 24 with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), and 182 with multiple myeloma (MM). Chromosomal abnormalities were detected in 13 of 22 (59%) AL patients without MM. All 13 patients demonstrated IGH rearrangement, and t(11;14)/IGH-CCND1 was most frequent (32%). Chromosome gain was not observed in AL patients without MM. These findings were dissimilar to findings in MGUS patients, in whom trisomy 9 was the most frequent abnormality. Of 6 AL patients with MM, 5 (83%) patients had cytogenetic abnormalities: 1q gain (4/6, 67%), gains of chromosome 9 (3/6, 50%), IGH rearrangement and RB1 (13q) deletions (2/6 each, 33%). The percentage of clonal plasma cells among total plasma cells was variable (median, 75%; range, 16-100%) for AL patients without MM, which was lower than the results for MM patients (median 100%). The overall survival of AL patients without MM was not significantly different according to the presence of cytogenetic abnormalities (P=0.510). In summary, among Korean AL patients, IGH rearrangement was the most frequent cytogenetic abnormality and cytogenetic aberration patterns differ compared with MGUS and MM patients.

The Clinical Presentation and Management of Systemic Light-Chain Amyloidosis in China

BACKGROUND

Amyloidosis includes a group of diseases characterized by the extracellular deposition of various fibrillary proteins that can autoaggregate in a highly abnormal fibrillary conformation. The amyloid precursor protein of systemic light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is comprised of monoclonal light chains that are due to plasma cell dyscrasia. The clinical presentation of patients with AL amyloidosis varies from patient to patient. Current treatment strategies target the clone in order to decrease the production of the pathologic light chains. Recent advances in therapy have helped many patients with AL amyloidosis achieve hematologic and organ responses.

SUMMARY

AL amyloidosis is the most common type of systemic amyloidosis in China with increasing morbidity and a high mortality rate. The clinical presentation of AL amyloidosis is variable, and the median overall survival was found to be 36.3 months. The disease prognosis and risk stratification are linked to serialized measurement of cardiac biomarkers and free light chains. The treatment of AL amyloidosis is mainly based on chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT). The use of novel agents (thalidomide, lenalidomide, and bortezomib) alone and in combination with steroids and alkylating agents has shown efficacy and continues to be explored.

KEY MESSAGES

AL amyloidosis is the most common type of systemic amyloidosis in China with increasing morbidity and a high mortality rate. The lack of prospective clinical trials using the current therapies is a challenge for evidence-based decision making concerning the treatment of AL amyloidosis.

FACTS FROM EAST AND WEST

(1) AL amyloidosis is the most prevalent type of amyloidosis accounting for 65% of the amyloidosis-diagnosed patients in the UK and for 93% of the amyloidosis-diagnosed patients in China. The predisposition of men over women to develop AL amyloidosis might be higher in China than in Western countries (2:1 vs. 1.3:1). Both in the East and West, incidence increases with age. At the time of diagnosis, edema is twice as frequent and the proportion of renal involvement is higher in Chinese compared to Western patients. (2) Melphalan followed by ASCT is the current standard therapy but is restricted to eligible patients. The efficacy and safety of bortezomib combined with dexamethasone were proven in Western patients and recently confirmed in a Chinese cohort. Recent studies in China and the US indicate that bortezomib induction prior to ASCT increases the response rate. Thalidomide and lenalidomide have shown benefit, but toxicity and lack of clinical evidence exclude these agents from first-line therapy. The green tea extract epigallocatechin-3-gallate is under investigation as an inhibitor of AL amyloid formation and a compound that might dissolve amyloid.