Prevalence and Significance of Incidental PET/CT Findings of Cancer Detected in Patients Evaluated for Their Primary Hematologic Malignancy: A Systematic Review.

In the evaluation of a patient's primary hematologic malignancy, positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging may incidentally detect a concerning abnormality suggestive of a second concurrent cancer. Despite accounting for nearly 10% of all cancers diagnosed in Canada, there has yet to be a systematic review focused on the prevalence and significance of these incidental PET/CT findings in the context of primary hematologic malignancies. As such, a systematic search strategy was employed on MEDLINE and Embase to document the prevalence and clinical significance of incidental PET/CT findings suggestive of a second concurrent cancer detected in patients evaluated for their primary hematologic malignancy.

Tandem Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation Does Not Benefit High-Risk Myeloma Patients in the Maintenance Era: Real-World Results from The Canadian Myeloma Research Group Database.

In patients with multiple myeloma (MM), the presence of high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities is associated with worse disease control and survival. Autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) does benefit these patients. Tandem transplantation has been explored as a means to deepen responses and further improve survival however, its role remains controversial.

Long-term follow-up of outcomes including progression-free survival 2 in patients with transplant-ineligible multiple myeloma in the real-world practice: A multi-institutional report from the Canadian Myeloma Research Group (CMRG) database.

Multiple myeloma remains an incurable cancer mostly affecting older adults and is characterized by a series of remission inductions and relapses. This study aims to evaluate the outcomes in newly diagnosed transplant-ineligible patients using bortezomib/lenalidomide-based regimens in the Canadian real world as well as their outcomes in the second line. The Canadian Myeloma Research Group Database (CMRG-DB) is a national database with input from multiple Canadian Centres with now up to 8000 patients entered.

Real world data on outcomes of anti-CD38 antibody treated, including triple class refractory, patients with multiple myeloma: a multi-institutional report from the Canadian Myeloma Research Group (CMRG) Database.

Multiple myeloma (MM) remains incurable despite the availability of novel agents. This multi-center retrospective cohort study used the Canadian Myeloma Research Group Database to describe real-world outcomes of patients withanti-CD38 monoclonal antibody (mAb) refractory MM subsequently treated with standard of care (SoC) regimens. Patients with triple class refractory (TCR) disease (refractory to a proteasome inhibitor, immunomodulatory drug, and anti-CD38 mAb) were examined as a distinct cohort.

Long-term survivorship care after CAR-T cell therapy.

While cytokine release syndrome and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome are well-recognized acute toxicities of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, these complications have become increasingly manageable by protocolized treatment algorithms incorporating the early administration of tocilizumab and corticosteroids. As CAR-T cell therapy expands to new disease indications and the number of long-term survivors steadily increases, there is growing recognition of the need to appropriately evaluate and manage the late effects of CAR-T cell therapy, including late-onset or persistent neurotoxicity, prolonged cytopenias, delayed immune reconstitution and infections, subsequent malignancies, organ dysfunction, psychological distress, and fertility implications. In this review, we provide a practical approach to the long-term survivorship care of the CAR-T cell recipient, with a focus on the optimal strategies to address the common and challenging late complications affecting this unique population.

Real-world results of autologous stem cell transplantation in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: a report from the Canadian Myeloma Research Group database.

Autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) remains an important option for eligible multiple myeloma (MM) patients as part of initial therapy. Using the Canadian Myeloma Research Group (CMRG) national database, we examined the details and outcomes of ASCT performed as first-line therapy in eligible Canadian MM patients between 2007 to 2021. We included 3821 patients with 72% receiving CyBorD induction and 2061 patients receiving maintenance, consisting of lenalidomide +/- steroids in 78.

Outcome of carfilzomib/pomalidomide-based regimens after daratumumab-based treatment in relapsed multiple myeloma: A Canadian Myeloma Research Group Database analysis.

Introduction: Although daratumumab-containing regimens improve multiple myeloma (MM) outcomes, recurrence is inevitable.

Methods And Objective: We performed a retrospective study using the Canadian Myeloma Research Group Database to benchmark the efficacy of carfilzomib- or pomalidomide-based therapies immediately following progression on daratumumab treatment.

Results: We identified 178 such patients; median number of prior lines of therapy was 3, 97% triple-class exposed, and 60% triple-class refractory.

Redefining attrition in multiple myeloma (MM): a Canadian Myeloma Research Group (CMRG) analysis.

While most patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma (MM) receive initial therapy, reported attrition rates are high. Understanding attrition rates and characteristics of patients not receiving subsequent therapy is useful for MM stakeholders. We performed an analysis of attrition rates in a large disease-specific database of patients with newly diagnosed MM who received at least one line of therapy between Jan 1/10-Dec 31/20.

Definition and Clinical Significance of the Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance-Like Phenotype in Patients With Monoclonal Gammopathies.

Purpose: The existence of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and light-chain (AL) amyloidosis who present with a monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)-like phenotype has been hypothesized, but methods to identify this subgroup are not standardized and its clinical significance is not properly validated.

Patients And Methods: An algorithm to identify patients having MGUS-like phenotype was developed on the basis of the percentages of total bone marrow (BM) plasma cells (PC) and of clonal PC within the BM PC compartment, determined at diagnosis using flow cytometry in 548 patients with MGUS and 2,011 patients with active MM. The clinical significance of the algorithm was tested and validated in 488 patients with smoldering MM, 3,870 patients with active MM and 211 patients with AL amyloidosis.

A Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Diagnostic Algorithm for the Early and Efficient Detection of Amyloidosis.

Amyloidosis is a rare protein misfolding disease caused by the accumulation of amyloid fibrils in various tissues and organs. There are different subtypes of amyloidosis, with light chain (AL) amyloidosis being the most common. Amyloidosis is notoriously difficult to diagnose because it is clinically heterogeneous, no single test is diagnostic for the disease, and diagnosis typically involves multiple specialists.

Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance in Patients With Transthyretin Amyloidosis (ATTR): Analysis Using the iStopMM Criteria.

Introduction: To identify the prevalence of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) in patients with transthyretin amyloid (ATTR). We used the iStopMM study revised reference ranges for serum free light-chain (sFLC) corrected for eGFR to identify ATTR patients with light-chain MGUS (LC-MGUS). Characteristics and frequencies of the ATTR cohort with underlying MGUS was compared to a cohort of MGUS patients without ATTR.

Carfilzomib usage patterns and outcomes in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma: A multi-institutional report from the Canadian Myeloma Research Group (CMRG) Database.

Carfilzomib is an active and commonly used treatment in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Using the Canadian Myeloma Research Group Database, we performed a retrospective observational study of patients treated with carfilzomib for relapse of MM in a real-world setting in Canada between years 2007 and 2020. A total of 445 patients were included in this study: the doublet (Kd/p,  = 218) and triplets (KCd,  = 88; KRd,  = 99; KPd/p,  = 40).

Understanding real-world treatment patterns and clinical outcomes in AL amyloidosis patients diagnosed in Canada: A population-based cohort study.

Amyloid light chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare and chronic bone marrow disorder. Existing claims data can be used to help understand the real-world treatment patterns and outcomes of this patient population. Various population-based administrative databases in Alberta, Canada were queried from 2010 to mid-2019 to identify cases of AL amyloidosis.

Real-world Outcomes With Cumulative Bortezomib Dose and Efficacy in the Treatment of Transplant-ineligible Multiple Myeloma With Cyclophosphamide, Bortezomib, and Dexamethasone.

Background: Higher cumulative dose of bortezomib, a key component of Multiple Myeloma (MM) treatment regimens, has been shown to improve outcomes in MM patients, but must be balanced with toxicities including peripheral neuropathy. In this study, we studied the effect of cumulative bortezomib dose on survival, depth of response, and discontinuation rate in transplant ineligible MM patients.

Patients And Methods: Data from 70 patients treated with Cyclophsophamide, Bortezomib, and Dexamethasone (CyBorD) in a single Canadian center were grouped according to above vs below median cumulative bortezomib dose and analyzed for progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), depth of response, and discontinuation rate.

Real-world data on lenalidomide dosing and outcomes in patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma: Results from the Canadian Myeloma Research Group Database.

Using the Canadian Myeloma Research Group Database, a retrospective study of 167 newly diagnosed, transplant-ineligible patients with multiple myeloma (MM) that received lenalidomide-dexamethasone as front-line treatment was conducted to understand the impact of lenalidomide dosing. Starting dose modifications were common, 42% of patients started on lenalidomide <25 mg with normal renal function. During treatment course, 35% of patients required further dose reduction.

Incomplete chimerism following myeloablative and anti-thymocyte globulin-conditioned hematopoietic cell transplantation is a risk factor for relapse and chronic graft-versus-host disease.

Background Aims: The value of routine chimerism determination after myeloablative hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is unclear, particularly in the setting of anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG)-based graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis.

Methods: Blood samples were collected at 3 months post-HCT from 558 patients who received myeloablative conditioning and ATG-based GVHD prophylaxis. Chimerism was assessed using multiplex polymerase chain reaction of short tandem repeats in sorted T cells (CD3+) and leukemia lineage cells (CD13+CD33+ for myeloid malignancies and CD19+ for B-lymphoid malignancies).

Amyloidosis and COVID-19: experience from an amyloid program in Canada.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV2) and associated COVID-19 infection continue to impact patients globally. Patients with underlying health conditions are at heightened risk of adverse outcomes from COVID-19; however, research involving patients with rare health conditions remains scarce. The amyloidoses are a rare grouping of protein deposition diseases.