We conducted a clinical trial of thalidomide as initial therapy for asymptomatic smoldering (SMM) or indolent multiple myeloma (IMM). Sixteen patients were studied. Thalidomide was given orally at a dose of 200 mg/day for 2 weeks, and then increased as tolerated by 200 mg/day every 2 weeks to a maximum dose of 800 mg/day. Bone marrow microvessel density (MVD) and angiogenesis grading were estimated using CD34 immunostaining. Six patients had a confirmed response to therapy with at least 50% or greater reduction in serum and urine monoclonal (M) protein. When minor responses (25-49%) decrease in M protein concentration) were included, 11 of 16 patients (69%) responded to therapy. Major grade 3-4 toxicities included two patients with somnolence, and one patient each with syncope and neutropenia. Pre-treatment MVD was not a significant predictor of response to therapy, median MVD 4 and 12 in responders and non-responders respectively, P = 0.09. We conclude that thalidomide has significant activity in the treatment of newly diagnosed SMM/IMM. However, we do not recommend treatment with thalidomide at this stage since some patients with SMM/IMM can be stable for several months or years without any therapy. Additional randomized trials are needed to determine if thalidomide will delay progression to active multiple myeloma.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2402183 | DOI Listing |
Clin Cancer Res
January 2025
Bristol-Myers Squibb (United States), Summit, New Jersey, United States.
Purpose: Orvacabtagene autoleucel (orva-cel; JCARH125), a CAR T-cell therapy targeting B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA), was evaluated in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) patients in the EVOLVE phase 1/2 study (NCT03430011). We applied a modified piecewise model to characterize orva-cel transgene kinetics and assessed the impact of various covariates on its pharmacokinetics (PK).
Experimental Design: The population PK analysis included 159 patients from the EVOLVE study.
Cancer Causes Control
January 2025
Office of Cancer Survivorship, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Purpose: Rare cancers are defined as those for which there are less than 15 cases per 100,000 in the population annually. While much progress in detection and treatment has been made over the past decade for many rare cancers, less progress has been made in understanding survivorship needs. The objective of this study was to characterize the National Institutes of Health (NIH) cancer survivorship grant portfolio focused on rare cancers and to identify gaps specific to this area of science.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLeuk Lymphoma
January 2025
Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Minimal residual disease (MRD) has emerged as an important prognostic maker in patients with multiple myeloma at different stages of their treatment. Moreover, it is being increasingly incorporated as an endpoint in various clinical trials. Since maintenance therapy is an integral part of myeloma treatment, especially in the upfront setting post autologous transplantation, it is imperative to understand the role of MRD testing in the maintenance stetting.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIndian J Clin Biochem
January 2025
Department of Clinical Hematology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Kerala India.
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a highly heterogeneous disease characterised by neoplastic clonal plasma cell proliferation and a wide range of clinical manifestations including skeletal destruction, hypercalcemia, anaemia, renal failure, and immune suppression. Currently accepted and widely used staging criteria for MM patients are the International staging system (ISS) and the Revised International staging system (R-ISS). In order to anticipate outcomes for these patients and to select a risk-adapted therapy, a staging approach that can classify MM patients based on risk at the time of diagnosis itself may be helpful.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Neurol
January 2025
Neurology Department, Central Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Dalian City, 116000, China.
Background: Autoimmune encephalitis associated with anti-GluK2 antibodies is a recently identified condition, typically characterized by cerebellar ataxia. This case report presents a unique clinical manifestation involving involuntary movements and emotional dysregulation, expanding the known phenotype spectrum.
Case Presentation: A 60-year-old woman presented with a two-year history of involuntary movements predominantly affecting her lower limbs and facial muscles, occasionally accompanied by hysterical shouting.
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