Benefit from autologous stem cell transplantation in primary refractory myeloma? Different outcomes in progressive versus stable disease

Patients with multiple myeloma (MM), who are eligible for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), typically receive a finite period of initial therapy prior to ASCT. It is not clear if patients with suboptimal (less than a partial) response to initial therapy benefit from additional alternative therapy with intent to maximize pre-transplant response. We identified 539 patients with MM who had an ASCT after having achieved less than a partial response (PR) to first line induction chemotherapy between 1995 and 2010. These patients were then divided into two groups: those who received additional salvage chemotherapy prior to ASCT (n=324) and those who had no additional salvage chemotherapy immediately prior to ASCT (n=215). Additional pre-transplant chemotherapy resulted in deepening responses in 68% (complete response in 8% and PR in 60%). On multivariate analysis there was no impact of pre-transplant salvage chemotherapy on treatment related mortality (TRM), risk for relapse, progression free or overall survival. In conclusion, for patients achieving a less than PR to initial induction therapy including with novel agent combinations, additional pre-ASCT salvage chemotherapy improved the depth of response and pre-ASCT disease status but was not associated with survival benefit.

“…Rosinol et al reported that patients with stable disease after induction therapy have an outcome comparable to those with chemosensitive disease. 19 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Pretransplant Therapy and Depth of Disease Response before Autologous Transplantation for Multiple Myeloma

Vij

Kumar

Zhang

et al. 2015

“…The Spanish myeloma group looked at the outcome of outcome of primary refractory MM, which they defined as never having achieved a minimal response or better [63]. Patients underwent either tandem autologous or autologous HCT followed by RIC allogeneic transplantation.…”

Section: Hct For Patients With Refractory Diseasementioning

confidence: 99%

American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, European Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network, and International Myeloma Working Group Consensus Conference on Salvage Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Patients with Relapsed Multiple Myeloma

Giralt

Garderet

Durie

et al. 2015

152

In contrast to the upfront setting in which the role of high-dose therapy with autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) as consolidation of a first remission in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) is well established, the role of high-dose therapy with autologous or allogeneic HCT has not been extensively studied in MM patients relapsing after primary therapy. The International Myeloma Working Group together with the Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network, the American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, and the European Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation convened a meeting of MM experts to: (1) summarize current knowledge regarding the role of autologous or allogeneic HCT in MM patients progressing after primary therapy, (2) propose guidelines for the use of salvage HCT in MM, (3) identify knowledge gaps, (4) propose a research agenda, and (5) develop a collaborative initiative to move the research agenda forward. After reviewing the available data, the expert committee came to the following consensus statement for salvage autologous HCT: (1) In transplantation-eligible patients relapsing after primary therapy that did NOT include an autologous HCT, high-dose therapy with HCT as part of salvage therapy should be considered standard; (2) High-dose therapy and autologous HCT should be considered appropriate therapy for any patients relapsing after primary therapy that includes an autologous HCT with initial remission duration of more than 18 months; (3) High-dose therapy and autologous HCT can be used as a bridging strategy to allogeneic HCT; (4) The role of postsalvage HCT maintenance needs to be explored in the context of well-designed prospective trials that should include new agents, such as monoclonal antibodies, immune-modulating agents, and oral proteasome inhibitors; (5) Autologous HCT consolidation should be explored as a strategy to develop novel conditioning regimens or post-HCT strategies in patients with short (less than 18 months remissions) after primary therapy; and (6) Prospective randomized trials need to be performed to define the role of salvage autologous HCT in patients with MM relapsing after primary therapy comparing it to “best non-HCT” therapy. The expert committee also underscored the importance of collecting enough hematopoietic stem cells to perform 2 transplantations early in the course of the disease. Regarding allogeneic HCT, the expert committee agreed on the following consensus statements: (1) Allogeneic HCT should be considered appropriate therapy for any eligible patient with early relapse (less than 24 months) after primary therapy that included an autologous HCT and/or high-risk features (ie, cytogenetics, extramedullary disease, plasma cell leukemia, or high lactate dehydrogenase); (2) Allogeneic HCT should be performed in the context of a clinical trial if possible; (3) The role of postallogeneic HCT maintenance therapy needs to be explored in the context of well-designed prospective trials; and (4) Prospective randomized trials nee...

“…The evidence to support a first auto-HCT for refractory disease (defined as < partial response (PR) to induction therapy) is generally limited to older retrospective studies (Table 4). Based on this literature even patients with refractory disease can gain some benefit from auto-HCT, though this is probably less true for patients with overtly progressive disease [20]. It is also important to mention that data from these studies are from the early 2000s, such that a patient refractory to novel therapies may have a different clinical course.…”

Section: Auto-hct Versus Conventional Chemotherapymentioning

confidence: 97%

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Multiple Myeloma: Guidelines from the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation

Shah

Callander

Ganguly

et al. 2015

111

Therapeutic strategies for multiple myeloma (MM) have changed dramatically over the past decade. Thus, the role of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) must be considered in the context of this evolution. In this evidence-based review, we have critically analyzed the data from the most recent clinical trials to better understand how to incorporate HCT and when HCT is indicated. We have provided our recommendations based on strength of evidence with the knowledge that ongoing clinical trials make this a dynamic field. Within this document, we discuss the decision to proceed with autologous HCT, factors to consider before proceeding to HCT, the role of tandem autologous HCT, post-HCT maintenance therapy, and the role of allogeneic HCT for patients with MM.