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Morabito F, Tripepi G, Martino EA, Vigna E, Mendicino F, Morabito L, Todoerti K, Al-Janazreh H, D'Arrigo G, Canale FA, Cutrona G, Neri A, Martino M, Gentile M. Spotlight on Melphalan Flufenamide: An Up-and-Coming Therapy for the Treatment of Myeloma. DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY 2021; 15:2969-2978. [PMID: 34262262 PMCID: PMC8275138 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s295215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Despite recent therapeutic advances, multiple myeloma (MM) patients experience relapses as they become resistant to various classes and combinations of treatment. Melphalan (L-PAM) is an ageless drug. However, its use in the autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) setting and the innovative quadruplet regimen as well as daratumumab, bortezomib, and prednisone make this old drug current yet. Melflufen is a peptide-conjugated alkylator belonging to a novel class of compounds, representing an overcoming of L-PAM in terms of mechanism of action and effectiveness. The improved melflufen cytotoxicity is related to aminopeptidase activity, notably present in normal and neoplastic cells and remarkably heavily overexpressed in MM cells. Upon entering a cell, melflufen is cleaved by aminopeptidases, ultimately releasing the L-PAM payload and eliciting further the inflow and cleavage of the conjugated peptide. This virtuous loop persists until all extracellular melflufen has been utilized. The aminopeptidase-driven accumulation results in a 50-fold increase in L-PAM cell enrichment as compared with free alkylator. This condition produces selective cytotoxicity, increased on-target cell potency, and decreased off-target cell toxicity, ultimately overcoming resistance pathways triggered by previous treatments, including alkylators. Due to its distinct mechanism of action, melflufen plus dexamethasone as a doublet, and in combination with other novel drugs, has the potential to be beneficial for a broad range of patients with relapsed/refractory (RR) MM in third- or even in second-line therapy. The safety profile of melflufen has been consistent across studies, and no new safety concerns have been identified when melflufen was administered in doublet and triplet combinations. Based on growing clinical evidence, melflufen could be not only a good addition in the fight against RRMM but also a drug with a very favorable tolerability profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fortunato Morabito
- Biotechnology Research Unit, AO of Cosenza, Cosenza, Italy.,Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, Hemato-Oncology Department, Augusta Victoria Hospital, East Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Giovanni Tripepi
- HCNR-IBIM, Clinical Epidemiology and Physiopathology of Renal Diseases and Hypertension of Reggio Calabria, Reggio, Calabria, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Lucio Morabito
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center-IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Katia Todoerti
- Hematology, Fondazione Cà Granda IRCCS Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Hamdi Al-Janazreh
- Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, Hemato-Oncology Department, Augusta Victoria Hospital, East Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Graziella D'Arrigo
- HCNR-IBIM, Clinical Epidemiology and Physiopathology of Renal Diseases and Hypertension of Reggio Calabria, Reggio, Calabria, Italy
| | - Filippo Antonio Canale
- Stem Cell Transplant Program, Clinical Section, Department of Hemato-Oncology and Radiotherapy, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano "Bianchi-Melacrino-Morelli", Reggio, Calabria, Italy
| | | | - Antonino Neri
- Hematology, Fondazione Cà Granda IRCCS Policlinico, Milan, Italy.,IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Massimo Martino
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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