Effects of Socioeconomic Status and Healthcare Resource Availability on Survival in Older (≥66 years) Non-Hispanic Black Patients Versus Non-Hispanic White Patients With Multiple Myeloma.

Background: Several factors contribute to the known disparities in overall survival (OS) between non-Hispanic Black (NHB) patients and non-Hispanic White (NHW) patients with multiple myeloma (MM).

Patients And Methods: To explore whether socioeconomic status (SES) and healthcare resource (HCR) availability impacts OS, this retrospective study used linked Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare claims and Area Health Resource Files to identify NHB and NHW patients aged ≥66 years with MM (newly diagnosed 6/1/2013-12/31/2017). Continuous Medicare A and B enrollment until 12/31/2019 or preceding death was required.

The inhibitory receptor PVRIG is dominantly expressed in the bone marrow of patients with multiple myeloma and its blockade enhances T-cell engager's immune activation.

Therapeutic advances in treating patients with multiple myeloma (MM), including novel immunotherapies, have improved the disease control, but it remains incurable. Although traditional immune check point inhibitors have shown limited clinical benefit, targeting alternative immune-inhibitory pathways may offer a novel way to address relapsed disease. Blockade of the immune regulator TIGIT was shown to enhance antitumor immunity in preclinical MM models.

Heme promotes venetoclax resistance in multiple myeloma through MEK-ERK signaling and purine biosynthesis.

We previously demonstrated that reduced intrinsic electron transport chain (ETC) activity predicts and promotes sensitivity to the BCL-2 antagonist, venetoclax (Ven) in multiple myeloma (MM). Heme, an iron-containing prosthetic group, and metabolite is fundamental to maintaining ETC activity. Interrogation of the CD2 subgroup of MM from the CoMMpass trial (NCT01454297), which can be used as a proxy for Ven-sensitive MM (VS MM), shows reduced expression of the conserved heme biosynthesis pathway gene signature.

Phase II Study of Defactinib (VS6063) in Patients With Tumors With Loss: Results From the NCI-MATCH ECOG-ACRIN Trial (EAY131) Subprotocol U.

Purpose: The NCI-MATCH trial assigned patients with solid tumors, lymphomas, or multiple myeloma to targeted therapies on the basis of identified genetic alterations from tumor biopsies. In preclinical models, ()-inactivated tumors display sensitivity to focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibition. The EAY131-U subprotocol evaluated the efficacy of defactinib, a FAK inhibitor, in patients with -altered tumors.

Cumulative Deficits Frailty Index and Relationship Status Predict Survival in Multiple Myeloma.

Several tools have been proposed for assessing frailty in multiple myeloma (MM), but most are based on clinical trial datasets. There is also limited data on the association between frailty and patient-reported outcomes, and the prognostic value of social determinants of health. This study evaluates the prognostic impact of frailty, based on the cumulative deficit frailty index (FI), and relationship and socioeconomic status (SES) in newly diagnosed MM patients.

Complement C3d enables cell-mediated immunity capable of distinguishing spontaneously transformed from nontransformed cells.

Immune surveillance depends in part on the recognition of peptide variants by T cell antigen receptors. Given that both normal B cells and malignant B cells accumulate mutations we chose a murine model of multiple myeloma to test conditions to induce cell-mediated immunity targeting malignant plasma cell (PC) clones but sparing of normal PCs. Revealing a previously unknown function for intracellular C3d, we found that C3d engaged T cell responses against malignant PC in the bone marrow of mice that had developed multiple myeloma spontaneously.

Efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor engineered natural killer cells in the treatment of hematologic malignancies: a systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical studies.

Background: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) engineered NK cells (CAR-NK) are a novel approach to the immunotherapy of hematologic malignancies which seeks to overcome some of the challenges faced by CAR-T cells (CAR-T). With few published clinical studies, preclinical studies can identify strategies to accelerate clinical translation. We conducted a systematic review on the preclinical in vivo use of CAR-NK for the treatment of hematologic malignancies to assess these therapies in a holistic and unbiased manner.

Recurrent Cardiac Tamponade from Multiple Myeloma While Receiving Teclistamab.

Bispecific therapy has changed the treatment paradigm for multiple myeloma. We report a patient with recurrent malignant pericardial effusions with cardiac tamponade and new atrial fibrillation during treatment, suggesting that new or worsening pericardial disease may be a potential cardiovascular adverse effect of bispecific therapy.

Correction to: Searching for Immunocompromising Conditions in Low-risk Adults After Invasive Pneumococcal Disease: An Opportunity to Uncover Multiple Myeloma Early.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofae653.].

Dosing strategy of intrapleural bortezomib for myelomatous pleural effusion: A case report and review of literature.

Myelomatous pleural effusion (MPE) is a rare, often treatment-resistant complication of multiple myeloma. Intrapleural bortezomib shows promise but lacks standardized dosing. We report a 62-year-old woman with MPE treated with 1.

Rapid high-dose cyclophosphamide as bridging treatment for advanced therapies in multiple myeloma.

Patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma proceeding with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy or bispecific antibodies (BsAb) may need bridging therapy to realize their benefits. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of rapid, peripheral, high-dose cyclophosphamide (TurboCy) in 15 patients intending to proceed with CAR T-cell therapy, BsAbs, or long-term regimens. The overall response rate was 80% and the clinical benefit rate was 100% in a heavily pretreated high-risk cohort.

Immediate improvement in patient care: Auditing adherence to the British Society for Haematology guidelines on screening and management of the long-term consequences of multiple myeloma and treatment.

Advances in myeloma have resulted in improved prognosis for patients. However complications of the disease and treatment, pose a risk of specific long-term consequences. An audit tool was adapted to assess adherence to the British Society for Haematology guidelines for screening and management of long-term myeloma consequences.

The evolving treatment landscape of multiple myeloma in Portugal: A nation-wide retrospective cohort study of real-world clinical practice.

Objectives: To characterize variations in real-world treatment patterns in multiple myeloma (MM) in Portugal over a 5-year period.

Methods: A retrospective cohort multicenter study using secondary data of national hospital drug consumption database from 11 Portuguese public hospitals between 2017 and 2022.

Results: Number of MM-treated patients increased 53% over 5 years (from 825 to 1266 patients).

The UK consensus supporting effective introduction of novel treatments for multiple myeloma in the National Health Service.

Introduction: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a relapsing, debilitating blood cancer which remains incurable despite advances in treatments. Patients typically receive multiple lines of treatment, to which they become refractory, thereby limiting treatment options. B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) represent a novel modality of treatment that has significant efficacy for relapsed or refractory patients.

Real-world practitioner perceptions of CARTITUDE-4 results for patients with previously treated multiple myeloma.

Introduction: Initially approved for the fifth-line or later therapeutic setting, the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell regimen ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel) was recently approved for second-line (2L) treatment in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). Oncology practitioners use clinical trials to inform treatment, but real-world impressions and impact on practice are lacking. We aimed to determine whether presenting CARTITUDE-4 clinical trial data would impact real-world preferences/perceptions around CAR T-cell therapy.

Understanding ethnic inequalities in diagnostic intervals of cancer: a cohort study of patients presenting suspected cancer symptoms to general practitioners in England.

Background: UK Asian and black patients experience longer cancer diagnostic intervals - period between initial symptomatic presentation in primary care and cancer diagnosis.

Aim: To determine whether these differences are due to prolonged primary care intervals (period between first primary care presentation and secondary care referral), referral interval (period between referral and first secondary-care appointment) or secondary care interval (period between the first secondary care appointment and diagnosis).

Design And Setting: We conducted a cohort study of patients with seven common cancers (breast, lung, prostate, colorectal, oesophagogastric, myeloma, and ovarian), diagnosed after presenting symptoms in English primary care.

Exosomal tRF-1003 induces angiogenesis via regulating the HIF1α/VEGF signaling in multiple myeloma.

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) remains a therapeutically challenging hematologic malignancy characterized by frequent relapse and disease progression. Angiogenesis regulated by non-coding RNAs plays a vital role in MM pathogenesis. Despite the potential clinical applications of tsRNAs, the specific mechanisms by which they contribute to MM progression, particularly through angiogenesis within the bone marrow microenvironment, remain elusive.

IRX-related homeobox gene MKX is a novel oncogene in acute myeloid leukemia.

Homeobox genes encode transcription factors which organize differentiation processes in all tissue types including the hematopoietic compartment. Recently, we have reported physiological expression of TALE-class homeobox gene IRX1 in early myelopoiesis restricted to the megakaryocyte-erythroid-progenitor stage and in early B-cell development to the pro-B-cell stage. In contrast, sister homeobox genes IRX2, IRX3 and IRX5 are aberrantly activated in the corresponding malignancies acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and B-cell progenitor acute lymphoid leukemia.

The current understanding of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy for older patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has changed treatment landscape of relapsed or refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and more older patients have been treated with curative intent for R/R disease, including patients previously deemed unfit for autologous stem-cell transplant with a broader application of CAR T-cell therapy. Due to the unique CAR T-cell-related toxicity and special attention needed in treating older patients, optimal patient selection and management of CAR T-cell therapy in older patients are becoming more critical. More data are emerging in the field; multiple approaches, such as geriatric and frailty assessment and multi-disciplinary work with geriatrics, are being studied for CAR T-cell therapy application.