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Biomedical subjects

Sagar Lonial

Publications and source records attributed to Sagar Lonial.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Comprehensive molecular profiling of multiple myeloma identifies refined copy number and expression subtypes.

Multiple myeloma is a treatable, but currently incurable, hematological malignancy of plasma cells characterized by diverse and complex tumor genetics for which precision medicine approaches to treatment are lacking. The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation's Relating Clinical Outcomes in Multiple Myeloma to Personal Assessment of Genetic Profile study ( NCT01454297 ) is a longitudinal, observational clinical study of newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma (n = 1,143) where tumor samples are characterized using whole-genome sequencing, whole-exome sequencing and RNA sequencing at diagnosis and progression, and clinical data are collected every 3 months. Analyses of the baseline cohort identified genes that are the target of recurrent gain-of-function and loss-of-function events. Consensus clustering identified 8 and 12 unique copy number and expression subtypes of myeloma, respectively, identifying high-risk genetic subtypes and elucidating many of the molecular underpinnings of these unique biological groups. Analysis of serial samples showed that 25.5% of patients transition to a high-risk expression subtype at progression. We observed robust expression of immunotherapy targets in this subtype, suggesting a potential therapeutic option.

Humans↗

Activity and safety of bortezomib in multiple myeloma patients with advanced renal failure: a multicenter retrospective study.

Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) frequently present with concomitant renal dysfunction, and those requiring dialysis have particularly poor outcomes. Bortezomib is a reversible proteasome inhibitor with significant activity in MM. This retrospective case analysis evaluated the feasibility and activity of bortezomib-based therapy in MM patients (n = 24) requiring dialysis support for advanced renal failure. All but 1 patient were undergoing dialysis at the time of therapy. Patients received bortezomib alone or bortezomib-based combination therapy. Among 20 patients with available response data, overall response rate (complete response [CR] + partial response) was 75%, with 30% CR + near CR. One patient was spared dialysis, and 3 other patients became independent of dialysis following bortezomib-based treatment. These encouraging results suggest that bortezomib or bortezomib-based regimens can be used in MM patients requiring dialysis, with manageable toxicities. Further studies will more formally evaluate the impact of bortezomib-based regimens in this patient population.

Adult↗

Multicenter phase II study of bortezomib in patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma.

PURPOSE: Evaluate response rate, duration of response (DOR), time-to-progression (TTP), overall survival (OS), and safety of bortezomib treatment in patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Bortezomib 1.3 mg/m(2) was administered on days 1, 4, 8, and 11 of a 21-day cycle, for up to 17 cycles. Response and progression were determined using International Workshop Response Criteria, both using data from independent radiology review and by the investigators. Primary efficacy analyses were based on data from independent radiology review. RESULTS: In total, 155 patients were treated. Median number of prior therapies was one (range, one to three). Response rate in 141 assessable patients was 33% including 8% complete response (CR)/unconfirmed CR. Median DOR was 9.2 months. Median TTP was 6.2 months. Results by investigator assessments were similar. Median OS has not been reached after a median follow-up of 13.4 months. The safety profile of bortezomib was similar to previous experience in relapsed multiple myeloma. The most common adverse events grade 3 or higher were peripheral neuropathy (13%), fatigue (12%), and thrombocytopenia (11%). Death from causes that were considered to be treatment related was reported for 3% of patients. CONCLUSION: These results confirm the activity of bortezomib in relapsed or refractory MCL, with predictable and manageable toxicities. Bortezomib provides significant clinical activity in terms of durable and complete responses, and may therefore represent a new treatment option for this population with usually very poor outcome. Studies of bortezomib-based combinations in MCL are ongoing.

Adult↗

Maintenance therapy with thalidomide improves overall survival after autologous hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation for multiple myeloma.

BACKGROUND: High-dose chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) transplantation improves survival for patients with multiple myeloma (MM); however, most patients develop recurrent disease after undergoing transplantation, and new treatment approaches are needed. The objective of this retrospective review of autologous HPC transplantation for patients with MM was to evaluate the impact of conditioning regimens and posttransplantation therapy on survival. METHODS: The authors reviewed 112 patients with MM who received autologous HPC grafts at their institution. Between June 1992 and August 2001, 54 patients received busulfan, cyclophosphamide, and etoposide (Bu/Cy/VP-16), and 58 patients received high-dose melphalan (MEL-200) followed by autologous HPC transplantation. After transplantation, 36 patients received thalidomide for maintenance or salvage therapy, and 76 patients received no posttransplantation thalidomide. RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 58 months, the median survival was 54 months. There was no statistically significant difference noted with regard to response to conditioning regimen, progression-free survival, or overall survival between the Bu/Cy/VP-16 and MEL-200 cohorts. Patients who received thalidomide after transplantation had improved median survival (65.5 months) compared with patients who did not receive thalidomide (44.5 months; P = .09). When they were separated according to reasons for thalidomide use, patients who received thalidomide as maintenance had improved overall survival compared with patients who received thalidomide as salvage (65 months vs. 54 months; P = .05). CONCLUSIONS: Combination chemotherapy provided no advantage over high-dose melphalan in patients with MM who underwent autologous HPC transplantation. The posttransplantation use of thalidomide seemed to improve the survival of patients compared with historical controls from the prethalidomide era. Further prospective trials are underway to confirm the benefit of thalidomide in the posttransplantation setting.

Adult↗

Proteasome inhibition: novel therapy for multiple myeloma.

Therapeutic options for patients with myeloma are a rapidly advancing area of research due in part to an increase in the understanding of myeloma biology as well as the development of novels agents. Proteasome inhibition is a novel modality for the treatment of patients with myeloma. Bortezomib, a novel proteasome inhibitor, was effective in a broad range of tumor cell lines in preclinical testing. In phase I trials, bortezomib was noted to be active in patients with multiple myeloma and lymphoma. This led to several multicenter trials confirming the safety and efficacy of bortezomib for patients with relapsed and refractory myeloma. Most recently, a large randomized phase III trial comparing bortezomib with high-dose dexamethasone demonstrated that bortezomib had an improved response rate, duration of remission and overall survival advantage in the setting of relapsed disease. These findings have led investigators to study proteasome inhibition with conventional chemotherapy and other novel agents. In addition, several recently completed and ongoing studies are evaluating the role of bortezomib in the initial treatment of myeloma. The success of proteasome inhibition in the treatment of myeloma is a model for effective translation of preclinical research into tangible clinical benefits for patients with cancer.

Boronic Acids↗

Novel treatment approaches for patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma.

Treatment options for patients with relapsed myeloma are a rapidly moving entity. Although autologous transplantation has improved outcomes for younger patients, the use of a second autologous transplant in the relapsed setting has less benefit. Nonmyeloablative allogeneic transplant is being studied in several large cooperative group trials, but to date early auto/mini-allo does not appear to be superior to tandem autologous transplantation. The greatest benefit in the relapsed setting has been demonstrated using novel targeted agents with biologically based therapies. The response rates from thalidomide with and without dexamethasone, bortezomib, and lenalidomide with and without dexamethasone clearly demonstrate high levels of activity with encouraging durations of remission. More recent studies are combining novel agents, and small phase I/II trials are demonstrating higher overall response and complete remission rates. The next generation of novel agents targeting heat shock proteins, the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, and monoclonal antibodies are further expanding the list of future potential agents. The rapid clinical development of targeting agents will give us more options to treat patients with relapsed or refractory myeloma, thereby improving quality of life and overall survival.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Results of a clinical phase I dose-escalation study of cytarabine in combination with fixed-dose vinorelbine, paclitaxel, etoposide and cisplatin for the treatment of relapsed/refractory lymphoma.

Management of relapsed lymphoma depends upon the variables of chemosensitive disease and successful stem cell mobilization. The microtubule specific agents, paclitaxel and vinorelbine, have efficacy in relapsed lymphoma and can enhance stem cell mobilization. We performed a phase I dose-escalation study of cytarabine combined with fixed doses of vinorelbine, paclitaxel, etoposide and cisplatin (VTEPA) for patients with relapsed/refractory lymphoma. The regimen consisted of paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 and vinorelbine 30 mg/m2 on day 1; cisplatin 20 mg/m2 and etoposide 100 mg/m2 over 4 h on days 2 - 5. Cytarabine 2 g m/m2 over 4 h, in successive cohorts on 1, 2, or 3 consecutive days: cohort A day 5; cohort B days 4 - 5; and cohort C days 3 - 5. Sixteen patients (Hodgkin's disease, n = 6; non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, n = 10) were enrolled. Fourteen of 16 patients (88%) had refractory and seven patients (44%) had primary refractory disease. Major toxicities included hematologic toxicity, mucositis and infectious complications. Infectious complications (10/16 patients) included neutropenic fever, sepsis and fungal pneumonia. Dose-limiting toxicity was achieved in cohort C, which received three doses of cytarabine. There were 33% partial responses, 27% stable disease and 40% progressive disease following a single cycle of VTEPA. Two of 16 patients suffered treatment-related mortality. Five patients went on to receive autologous (n = 4) or allogeneic transplant (n = 1), and five out of seven patients in this heavily pretreated group who received VTEPA for mobilization of an autologous graft were successfully collected. The recommended dose of cytarabine for further evaluation in a phase II study is 2 g m/m2 for 2 consecutive days in combination with VTEPA. Treatment of subjects with relapsed/refractory lymphoma using VTEPA as second- or third-line salvage therapy produced remissions in some patients and permitted collection of grafts and subsequent autologous transplantation, supporting a planned phase II trial.

Adult↗

A practical update on the use of bortezomib in the management of multiple myeloma.

Despite intensive therapy, multiple myeloma (MM) remains an incurable disease, and novel treatment approaches are therefore needed to improve outcome. Bortezomib is the first proteasome inhibitor to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products for the treatment of refractory or relapsed MM following the failure of at least two prior lines of therapy. Recently, it also received approval from the FDA for use as a second-line agent. An expert panel of hematologists met at the Ninth Congress of the European Hematology Association to review clinical data and experience in the treatment of MM with bortezomib, including bortezomib-based combination therapy. The conclusions of this expert panel, together with updated clinical data from the American Society of Hematology 46th Annual Meeting, provide a practical update on the use of bortezomib in MM. Bortezomib has demonstrated significant antitumor activity as a single agent in refractory and/or relapsed MM, with a significantly longer survival than with dexamethasone (1-year overall survival rate of 80% vs. 66%) and a 78% longer median time to progression. In combination therapy, patient responses suggest the possibility of chemosensitization and synergy. Furthermore, bortezomib does not appear to have an adverse effect on subsequent stem cell therapy. Bortezomib is well tolerated; most side effects are only mild to moderate and are manageable. Information is given on the practical management of the most common adverse events, including peripheral neuropathy and thrombocytopenia, and the use of bortezomib in renal and hepatic impairment.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Novel treatment approaches for patients with multiple myeloma.

Treatment options for patients with multiple myeloma are a rapidly progressing area of clinical and scientific development. The discovery of key signaling pathways needed for myeloma cell growth and proliferation has resulted in a plethora of new and different treatment options. Chief among these new agents are the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib and the immunomodulatory agents thalidomide and lenalidomide. Efficacy for these agents has been extensively studied in the relapsed and refractory states, and more recently in induction therapy. Impressive responses have been observed in the induction and relapsed disease states, completely changing the disease treatment paradigms. Building on these successes and strong preclinical work, other signal transduction inhibitors are being tested in phase I and phase II clinical trials. These include agents that target histone acetylation, farnesylation, heat shock proteins, and direct AKT-targeting agents. Additionally, monoclonal antibody targets are being developed in an effort to target the tumor cells extracellularly. Clinical trial development based on preclinically designed rational combinations and targets have the potential to rapidly translate these findings into meaningful clinical responses.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗

The combination of the farnesyl transferase inhibitor lonafarnib and the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib induces synergistic apoptosis in human myeloma cells that is associated with down-regulation of p-AKT.

The identification of signaling pathways critical to myeloma growth and progression has yielded an array of novel agents with clinical activity. Multiple myeloma (MM) growth is IL-6 dependent, and IL-6 is secreted in an autocrine/paracrine fashion with signaling via the Ras/Raf/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. We hypothesized that combining a Ras pathway inhibitor (lonafarnib, SCH66336) with a proteasome inhibitor (bortezomib, Velcade, PS-341) would enhance myeloma-cell killing. MM cell lines and primary human cells were used to test either single agent bortezomib, lonafarnib, or the combination on MM signaling and apoptosis. Combination therapy induced synergistic tumor-cell death in MM cell lines and primary MM plasma cells. Cell death was rapid and associated with increased caspase 3, 8, and 9 cleavage and concomitant down-regulation of p-AKT. Down-regulation of p-AKT was seen only in combination therapy and not seen with either single agent. Cells transfected with constitutively active p-AKT, wild-type AKT, or Bcl-2 continued to demonstrate synergistic cell death in response to the combination. The order of addition was critically important, supporting bortezomib followed by lonafarnib as the optimal schedule. The combination of a proteasome inhibitor and farnesyl transferase inhibitor demonstrates synergistic myeloma-cell death and warrants further preclinical and clinical studies.

Apoptosis↗

Risk factors and kinetics of thrombocytopenia associated with bortezomib for relapsed, refractory multiple myeloma.

Bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor with efficacy in multiple myeloma, is associated with thrombocytopenia, the cause and kinetics of which are different from those of standard cytotoxic agents. We assessed the frequency, kinetics, and mechanism of thrombocytopenia following treatment with bortezomib 1.3 mg/m2 in 228 patients with relapsed and/or refractory myeloma in 2 phase 2 trials. The mean platelet count decreased by approximately 60% during treatment but recovered rapidly between treatments in a cyclic fashion. Among responders, the pretreatment platelet count increased significantly during subsequent cycles of therapy. The mean percent reduction in platelets was independent of baseline platelet count, M-protein concentration, and marrow plasmacytosis. Plasma thrombopoietin levels inversely correlated with platelet count. Murine studies demonstrated a reduction in peripheral platelet count following a single bortezomib dose without negative effects on megakaryocytic cellularity, ploidy, or morphology. These data suggest that bortezomib-induced thrombocytopenia is due to a reversible effect on megakaryocytic function rather than a direct cytotoxic effect on megakaryocytes or their progenitors. The exact mechanism underlying bortezomib-induced thrombocytopenia remains unknown but it is unlikely to be related to marrow injury or decreased thrombopoietin production.

Adult↗

Bortezomib or high-dose dexamethasone for relapsed multiple myeloma.

BACKGROUND: This study compared bortezomib with high-dose dexamethasone in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma who had received one to three previous therapies. METHODS: We randomly assigned 669 patients with relapsed myeloma to receive either an intravenous bolus of bortezomib (1.3 mg per square meter of body-surface area) on days 1, 4, 8, and 11 for eight three-week cycles, followed by treatment on days 1, 8, 15, and 22 for three five-week cycles, or high-dose dexamethasone (40 mg orally) on days 1 through 4, 9 through 12, and 17 through 20 for four five-week cycles, followed by treatment on days 1 through 4 for five four-week cycles. Patients who were assigned to receive dexamethasone were permitted to cross over to receive bortezomib in a companion study after disease progression. RESULTS: Patients treated with bortezomib had higher response rates, a longer time to progression (the primary end point), and a longer survival than patients treated with dexamethasone. The combined complete and partial response rates were 38 percent for bortezomib and 18 percent for dexamethasone (P<0.001), and the complete response rates were 6 percent and less than 1 percent, respectively (P<0.001). Median times to progression in the bortezomib and dexamethasone groups were 6.22 months (189 days) and 3.49 months (106 days), respectively (hazard ratio, 0.55; P<0.001). The one-year survival rate was 80 percent among patients taking bortezomib and 66 percent among patients taking dexamethasone (P=0.003), and the hazard ratio for overall survival with bortezomib was 0.57 (P=0.001). Grade 3 or 4 adverse events were reported in 75 percent of patients treated with bortezomib and in 60 percent of those treated with dexamethasone. CONCLUSIONS: Bortezomib is superior to high-dose dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have had a relapse after one to three previous therapies.

Aged↗

Targeted therapy for haematological malignancies: clinical update from the American Society of Hematology, 2004.

Recent advances in the treatment and management of haematological malignancies are due in large part to an improved understanding of the basic biology that drives tumour cell growth and survival. This improved understanding has led to the clinical study and approval of a number of different targeted agents across a number of different haematological tumours. This review of clinical data covers some of the exciting clinical advances that were reported at the recent American Society of Hematology meeting in San Diego, USA. This paper focuses on three important areas of biological research that has yielded clinical trials that have affected clinical outcomes. The areas covered include proteasome inhibition and myeloma, tyrosine kinase inhibitors that are directed at the BCR-ABL fusion protein and chronic myeloid leukaemia/acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and FLT3 inhibitors and acute myeloid leukaemia acute lymphoblastic leukaemia therapy.

Animals↗

Immunomodulatory effects of human recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhuGM-CSF): evidence of antitumour activity.

Human recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhuGM-CSF) is traditionally used as supportive care for patients undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy or haematopoietic cell progenitor mobilisation. Emerging evidence suggests rhuGM-CSF, through activity on monocytes and dendritic cells, acts as a potent modulator of immune responses and has the ability to recruit inflammatory cells and cytokines to local and systemic sites of infection. The immunomodulatory effects of rhuGM-CSF suggest the potential to enhance innate and acquired immune responses against tumour-related antigens. Enhancement of innate antitumour immunity, especially in the context of minimal residual disease, is of central importance and presents the potential for meaningful contributions to long-term disease survival. This article discusses the immunomodulatory effects of rhuGM-CSF in the context of single-agent therapy in solid tumours, as well as combination therapy in lymphoma. In addition, dendritic cell modulation with rhuGM-CSF in haematopoietic progenitor grafts and rhuGM-CSF-transduced tumour vaccines will be discussed.

Animals↗

A randomized trial comparing the combination of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor versus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for mobilization of dendritic cell subsets in hematopoietic progenitor cell products.

The ability of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) administration to increase the content of blood leucocytes and hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) is well established, yet the effect of these cytokines on immune function is less well described. Recent data indicate that plasmacytoid dendritic cells (DC2) may inhibit cellular immune response. We hypothesized that administration of the combination of G-CSF and GM-CSF after chemotherapy would reduce the type 2, or plasmacytoid, DC2 content of the autologous blood HPC grafts compared with treatment with G-CSF alone. To test this hypothesis, 35 patients with lymphoma and myeloma were randomized to receive either G-CSF or the combination of G-CSF plus GM-CSF after chemotherapy, and blood HPC grafts were collected by apheresis. Cytokine-related adverse events between the 2 groups were similar. More than 2 x 10(6)CD34 + cells per kilogram were collected by apheresis in 14 of 18 subjects treated with G-CSF and in 16 of 17 subjects treated with GM-CSF plus G-CSF ( p = not significant). There were minor differences between the 2 groups with respect to the content of T cells and CD34 + cells in the apheresis products. However, grafts collected from recipients of the combination of GM-CSF plus G-CSF had significantly fewer DC2 cells and similar numbers of DC1 cells compared with recipients treated with G-CSF alone. A third cohort of patients received chemotherapy followed by the sequential administration of G-CSF and the addition of GM-CSF 6 days later. Grafts from these patients had a markedly reduced DC2 content compared with those from patients treated either with G-CSF alone or with the concomitant administration of both cytokines. These data, and recent data that cross-presentation of antigen by DC2 cells may induce antigen-specific tolerance among T cells, suggest that GM-CSF during mobilization of blood HPC grafts may be a clinically applicable strategy to enhance innate and acquired immunity after autologous and allogeneic HPC transplantation.

Adult↗

Multiple myeloma: the role of transplant and novel treatment strategies.

Multiple myeloma will be diagnosed in over 14,000 new patients over the next year. While myeloma is rarely curable, recent advances have improved the care and outlook for most patients. Recent progress has been made on the molecular characterization of myeloma, cytogenetics, prognosis, and supportive care. Randomized trials have proven the efficacy of high-dose therapy supported by autologous transplantation. Reduced-intensity allogeneic transplantation, associated with much less morbidity and mortality than standard myeloablative transplantation, can now be offered to more myeloma patients. And finally, a greater understanding of the pathophysiology of myeloma development and progression, growth, and survival have led to the development and clinical use of several novel therapeutics. This review will discuss recent improvements in therapies for myeloma focusing on transplantation and novel targeted therapies.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Reconstructing immunity after allogeneic transplantation.

A major goal of our research is to reduce the graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) activity of allogeneic donor T cells in bone marrow transplantation (BMT), while preserving graft-vs-tumor (GVT) effects. Using ex vivo immunosuppressive strategies and cell-separation techniques to modulate the graft prior to transplantation, we examined the roles of different donor immune cells on GVHD and GVT effects in allogeneic mouse models. Our results demonstrate that donor-memory CD4 T cells facilitate posttransplant immunological reconstitution without causing GVHD, whereas transplantation of equal numbers of donor naïve CD4 T cells leads to fatal GVHD. The initial events of donor T cells interacting with antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in the transplant recipient appear to be critical to the development of GVT, GVHD, or anergy to alloantigens. In the setting of clinical BMT, increased numbers of donor type 2 dendritic cells (DCs) were associated with an increased rate of posttransplant relapse, and decreased rates of chronic GVHD. In a mouse transplant model, manipulation of the DC content of bone marrow grafts was achieved by depletion of CD11b+ cells. Mice transplanted with CD11b- depleted marrow showed enhanced posttransplant expansion of memory T cells with markedly improved GVT activity and limited GVHD compared to recipients of unmanipulated marrow. A model that differentiates GVT from GVHD based on interaction of T-cell subsets with DC subsets is proposed.

Animals↗