Outlook for myeloma patients has improved Treatment for relapsed and/or refractory myeloma Dr Guy Pratt Consultant Haematologist, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust Senior Lecturer, University of Birmingham 1970.. melphalan, cyclophosphamide, prednisolone 1990s.. Autologous stem cell transplantation beneficial for younger patients 1997 onwards Thalidomide Revilimid (lenalidomide) Newer drugs (carfilzomib, pomalidomide, monoclonal antibodies.) Natural course of myeloma Some definitions Remission: Absence of paraprotein in blood and myeloma cells in bone marrow following Plateau: Relapse: Stable disease following good response to, reduced but detectable paraprotein levels Disease progression following a previously successful course of Refractory: No response to whether initial or at relapse MGUS: Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance 1 st line 2 nd line 3 rd line Relapsed and refractory: Disease progression on a specific or within 60 days of stopping First relapse Relapse Paraprotein (g/l) Progression of myeloma following successful initial 1st line 1 st RELAPSE 1 1 st REMISSION st REMISSION 2 nd line Paraprotein Treatment REMISSION RELAPSE Relapse: Increase in paraprotein by 25% from baseline and al least 5g/L Repeat tests to confirm Treatment required if symptoms return Relapse often picked up by blood test showing rising paraprotein before any symptoms
Relapse often picked up by blood test showing rising paraprotein before any symptoms Relapse less commonly picked up by new symptoms Evidence of relapse with a rising paraprotein without symptoms or new organ damage may be observed Often difficult to know when to restart Treatment at relapse Deciding next. Factors to consider Length of first remission/plateau Tolerability to previous s Existing illnesses (comorbidities) Number of previous relapses Type(s) of previous Patient wishes What we are allowed to prescribe (NICE, Cancer Drugs Fund) Relapse options Same again? Try different? may be governed by NICE or Cancer drug fund approval Consider taking part in a clinical study - can take part at any point - provides another line of - must meet study criteria Supportive as necessary Treatment at first relapse The first proteasome inhibitor to be used in myeloma Current NICE-approved 2 nd line and Ist line for non-transplant patients Originally IV injection, but now given by subcutaneous injection Once or twice weekly, 4 8 cycles (a cycle is 3 weeks, 2 weeks on and one week off ) Generally combined with dexamethasone Can be combined with other agents (thalidomide, cyclophosphamide) Better responses if used early in disease course and in combination with other drugs Proteasome inhibitor Side-effects Nausea Constipation Diarrhoea Low platelets Neuropathy
Other options at first relapse Same again if first remission lengthy Thalidomide usually in combination Second transplant if first transplant remission >2yrs Enter a clinical study Hoping to get better access to other drugs such as lenalidomide (NICE, Cancer drugs fund) Thalidomide Originally developed as a sleeping tablet Marketed for morning sickness Withdrawn due to birth defects (phocomelia) Found to be an immune modulator, inhibits tumour Accidentally discovered to be effective in myeloma Thalidomide Side-effects of Thalidomide Effective in relapsed myeloma More effective if combined with dexamethasone (a steroid) Combination with dexamethasone has become popular in initial of transplant candidates (Birth defects) Sleepiness Constipation Rash Clots Peripheral neuropathy Second autologous transplant Early data from Myeloma X study may suggest benefit to two autologous transplants If second transplant is delayed due to relapse, long term outcome is no different from having two earlier Consider mini-allogeneic (donor) transplant for some patients if appropriate Second Relapse Paraprotein (g/l) Oral, 3 weeks on one week off 3 Dexamethasone pulses rd line 1 st line 2 nd line Continue until myeloma progresses 1 st Relapse 2 nd Relapse
Treatment at second relapse Revlimid (lenalidomide) Immunomodulatory drug (IMiD), similar to thalidomide but more potent and less toxic Current NICE approval at 3 rd line and beyond, in combination with dexamethasone Oral capsule taken daily on days 1-21 of 28-day cycle Recommended starting dose of 25mg (lower for patients with kidney damage) Dose continued or modified, until disease progression Revlimid Potential side-effects: Less constipation and neuropathy than thalidomide Neutropenia and thrombocytopenia Increased risk of blood clots Fatigue Muscle cramp Next lines of Consider previous s that have given lengthy remission Increasing dose or add drugs to existing Pomalidomide Bendamustine Other strategies for younger patients such as DT-PACE or ESHAP Non-approved drugs via access schemes Enter clinical study Bendamustine Chemotherapy drug Licensed for use in newly diagnosed patients unable to have thalidomide or Velcade Access at relapse via Individual Funding Request or Cancer Drugs Fund Intravenous infusion, 2 days every 4 weeks Effective as a monotherapy but better in combination with other drugs e.g. thalidomide and/or dexamethasone Potential side-effects: - nausea, vomiting - neutropenia, thrombocytopenia Pomalidomide Similar to lenalidomide but can work in patient who have failed lenalidomide Access at relapse via Cancer Drugs Fund but only for patients who have failed both bortezomib and lenalidomide Daily tablet Better in combination with other drugs e.g. thalidomide and/or dexamethasone Potential side-effects: neutropenia, thrombocytopenia
Mini-Allogeneic stem cell transplant Transplant using matched bone marrow stem cells from another human being (brother, sister, unrelated but matched individual) Reduced intensity transplants can be done up to 65+ years of age Mini-Allogeneic stem cell transplant Serious procedure risks involved Can be beneficial but graft versus host disease a problem Myeloma must be under control first Exact role in myeloma unclear Newer drugs in trial Carfilzomib Very promising proteasome inhibitor Same family as bortezomib but little neuropathy Clinical studies Novel drugs Kyprolis (carfilzomib) MLN 9708 Elotuzumab Daratumumab Panobinostat Intravenous injection Summary No standard best approach to at relapse - adapting to meet patients needs important - identifying the best sequence of s is challenging Relapse options - Consider same if lengthy first remission - Thalidomide-based if not had it before - Velcade-based if previously treated with thalidomide - Revlimid-based at subsequent relapse - Clinical studies - Second transplant For information: www.myeloma.org.uk 0800 980 3332