948 Renal impairment (RI) is a common presenting complication of multiple myeloma (MM) and is associated with increased risk of treatment related toxicity and early death. The management of RI in patients with MM requires vigorous supportive measures and the immediate institution of antimyeloma therapy. After the introduction of novel agents a significant improvement of the survival of patients with MM has been observed; however, the impact of these therapies on the survival of MM patients who present with RI has not been extensively studied. In order to analyze the impact of RI in newly diagnosed patients with MM over the past 20 years, we analyzed 1773 patients with symptomatic myeloma who were treated within the Greek Myeloma Study Group (GMSG). Patients were divided in groups according to the date of initial treatment (1/1/1990-31/12/1994, 1/1/1995-31/12/1999, 1/1/2000-31/12/2004, after 1/1/2005). Thalidomide became available in Greece after 1/1/2000 and bortezomib after 1/1/2005. eGFR was calculated by the modified MDRD formula and the degree of RI was rated as severe when eGFR was <30 ml/min, moderate when eGFR was 30–59 ml/min and mild (or no RI) when eGFR >60 ml/min. The frequency of RI over time was similar as well as the proportion of patients who presented with severe RI (17% vs. 21% vs. 17% vs. 19%) for the respective time periods (p=0.496). More patients >65 years started therapy after 2000 (44% vs. 50% vs. 59% vs. 59%, respectively, p<0.001), especially patients >75 years (13% vs. 18% vs. 24% vs. 32%, respectively, p<0.001). Anemia (Hb <10 g/dl; p=0.007) and ISS-3 disease (p=0.001) were more common after 1/1/1995; there were no other significant differences in the characteristics of the patients during the respective time periods. No patients received upfront novel agents before 31/12/1999, while 20% received upfront novel agent in the period 2000–2004 (almost exclusively thalidomide) and 73% after 1/1/2005 (mostly thalidomide and bortezomib). Myeloma response (≥PR) to frontline therapy was achieved in 56.5% & 54% of patients in the period 1990–1994 & 1995–1999 vs. 67% and 72% of patients in the periods 2000–2004 and after 2005 (p<0.001). The median survival of patients has improved significantly during the past 20 years: 39 months (1990-1994), 31 months (1995-1999), 40.5 months (2000-2004), 54 months after 2005 (p<0.001). The median OS for patients with severe RI has improved significantly from 18 months & 19.5 months in the 1990–1994 & 1995–1999 to 29 months and 32 months for the periods 2000–2004 and after 2005 (p=0.005). For patients with moderate RI the OS improved from 33 & 26 months between 1990–1994 & 1995–1999 to 40 & 44 months in the periods 2000–2004 and after 2005 (p=0.003). For patients with an eGFR ≥60 ml/min the OS improvement was less pronounced (48.5 months vs. 45 months vs. 51 months for the periods 1990–1994 & 1995–1999 & 2000–2004 respectively (p=0.076) and only after 2005 a significant improvement in OS is observed (median OS has not been reached; 3-year OS rate is 73%, p<0.001). For patients with severe RI early death rates (<2 months from initiation of therapy) were 12% vs. 7% for patients with moderate RI vs. 3% for patients with mild or no RI (p<0.001) and remained unchanged over time. We then adjusted for differences between groups in a multivariate model: treatment after 1/1/2000 was independently associated with improved survival compared to patients treated before 31/12/1999 (p<0.001). After adjusting for the degree of RI in the model, the hazards ratios (HR) for death for patients with severe RI for the 2000–2004 and after 2005 periods were 0.485 & 0.387 respectively compared to patients treated before 2000 (p<0.001 for both comparisons). For patients with moderate RI the respective HRs were 0.65 (p=0.003) & 0.57 (p=0.001), while for patients with mild or no RI the HRs were 0.85 (p=0.1) & 0.66 (p=0.003) for the 2000–2004 and after 2005 periods, respectively. In conclusion, the incidence of RI at diagnosis of MM has remained unchanged during the past 20 years, despite the increasing numbers of older patients who are diagnosed and treated for MM. The risk of early death is almost 2 to 4-fold higher in patients with severe RI vs. patients with moderate or no RI and has not improved over time. However, after the introduction of novel therapies there has been a significant improvement of the survival of patients with RI, which is more pronounced in patients with severe RI. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

The polo-like kinase PLK2 has recently been identified as a potential theranostic marker in the management of chemotherapy sensitive cancers. The methylation status of the PLK2 CpG island varies with sensitivity to paclitaxel and platinum in ovarian cancer cell lines. Importantly, extrapolation of these in vitro data to the clinical setting confirms that the methylation status of the PLK2 CpG island predicts outcomes in patients treated with carboplatin & paclitaxel chemotherapy. A second cell cycle regulator, p57Kip2, is also subject to epigenetic silencing in carboplatin resistance in vitro and in vivo, emphasising that cell cycle regulators are important determinants of sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents and providing insights into the phenomenon of collateral drug sensitivity in oncology. Understanding the mechanistic basis and identification of robust biomarkers to predict collateral sensitivity may inform optimal use of chemotherapy in patients receiving multiple lines of treatment.

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Whereas beta‐2‐microglobulin (β2M) has mainly been used as a prognostic factor in patients with lymphoproliferative disorders, some studies have reported the value of β2M in myeloproliferative disorders (MPD). In order to investigate a potential role in the pathogenesis of MPD and to find a possible value as indicators in monitoring the course of the disease, we measured β2M, TNF‐α, IL‐1α, IL‐1β, IL‐2, sIL‐2R, IL‐6 and IL‐10 in 55 patients with MPD, at diagnosis and during the course of the disease. In progressive disease and particularly when transformation to acute leukemia occurred, high levels of β2M, IL‐2 and sIL‐2R were found in all patients; the elevation was progressive, which suggests a potential prognostic usefulness in the individual patient.

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