Publications by authors named "Tala Shekarkhand"

Lenalidomide maintenance is associated with a significantly improved progression-free in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Maintenance with lenalidomide is generally well tolerated; however, lenalidomide associated diarrhea is a common side effect and bile acid malabsorption has been suggested as an underlying mechanism. We conducted a single arm phase 2 trial of colesevelam, a bile acid binder, for lenalidomide-associated diarrhea in multiple myeloma.

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B-cell-maturation-antigen (BCMA)-directed therapies are highly active for multiple myeloma, but infections are emerging as a major challenge. In this retrospective, single-center analysis we evaluated infectious complications after BCMA-targeted chimeric-antigen-receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T), bispecific-antibodies (BsAb) and antibody-drug-conjugates (ADC). The primary endpoint was severe (grade ≥3) infection incidence.

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B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeting therapeutics have dramatically improved outcomes in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). However, whether the mechanisms of resistance between these therapies are shared and how the identification of such mechanisms before therapy initiation could refine clinical decision-making remains undefined. We analyzed outcomes for 72 RRMM patients treated with teclistamab, a CD3 × BCMA bispecific antibody, 42% (30/72) of whom had prior BCMA-directed therapy exposure.

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Teclistamab (Tec) is a first-in-class BCMA × CD3 bispecific T-cell engager antibody approved for treating multiple myeloma progressing after at least 4 lines of therapy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the rate of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) in patients who were treated with commercial Tec and had prior exposure to other T-cell redirection therapies. A retrospective chart review was performed to identify patients who completed the Tec step-up dosing phase between November 2022 and November 2023.

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B-cell-maturation-antigen (BCMA)-directed therapies are highly active for multiple myeloma, but infections are emerging as a major challenge. In this retrospective, single-center analysis we evaluated infectious complications after BCMA-targeted chimeric-antigen-receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T), bispecific-antibodies (BsAb) and antibody-drug-conjugates (ADC). The primary endpoint was severe (grade ≥ 3) infection incidence.

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Teclistamab, a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)- and CD3-targeting bispecific antibody, is an effective novel treatment for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (R/RMM), but efficacy in patients exposed to BCMA-directed therapies and mechanisms of resistance have yet to be fully delineated. We conducted a real-world retrospective study of commercial teclistamab, capturing both clinical outcomes and immune correlates of treatment response in a cohort of patients (n = 52) with advanced R/RMM. Teclistamab was highly effective with an overall response rate (ORR) of 64%, including an ORR of 50% for patients with prior anti-BCMA therapy.

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Purpose: Sustained minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity is associated with long-term survival in multiple myeloma. The gut microbiome is affected by diet, and in turn can modulate host immunity, for example through production of short-chain fatty acids including butyrate. We hypothesized that dietary factors affect the microbiome (abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria or stool butyrate concentration) and may be associated with multiple myeloma outcomes.

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Importance: Recently, the benefit of adding daratumumab to the proteasome inhibitor-based, 3-drug combination of bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who underwent high-dose melphalan chemotherapy and autologous hemopoietic cell transplant was assessed. Here, we examine the addition of daratumumab to the second-generation proteasome inhibitor-based, 3-drug combination of carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone.

Objective: To assess the safety and effectiveness of carfilzomib-lenalidomide-dexamethasone-daratumumab combination therapy for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, in the absence of high-dose melphalan chemotherapy and autologous hemopoietic cell transplant.

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