Текст сохранён. Часть иллюстраций пока доступна только в первоисточнике; загрузка будет проверена повторно.
The definition of high-risk (HR) multiple myeloma (MM) is constantly evolving, 1 the presence of a deletion of 17p13 (del[17p]) and/or translocation (4;14) (t[4;14]), which represents approximately 20% to 25% of patients in the series remains the main definition of HR MM. 2 These patients are characterized with shorter survivals, related to an early relapse rate (median time to progression [TTP] <4 months) and rapid development of mechanisms of resistance to treatments. 2 The multicenter phase II, IFM 2010-02 study, evaluated pomalidomide plus dexamethasone (Pd) in RRMM characterized with del(17p) and/or t(4;14) demonstrated limited activity, with an median TTP at 3.0 months, at 7.3 and 2.8 months in case of del(17p) and of t(4;14), respectively. 3 The development of triplet or quadruplet-based regimens has improved survival, with limitations to these treatment regimens because of the safety profile issues that can be experienced as difficult. 4 - 6 We hypothesized that addition of ixazomib (a boronate acid oral proteasome inhibitor) at increased dose density to Pd (IxPd) in HR RRMM would provide a triplet-based treatment approach with improved convenience and safety profile, and thus adherence to treatment to ease the continuous treatment until progression.
This study is a multicenter, open-label, single arm, phase II study of IxPd in RRMM with adverse genomic abnormalities. The main eligibility criteria were RRMM in line 2 or 3, refractory to lenalidomide, but not to pomalidomide and ixazomib, a measurable disease, 7 a platelet count ≥75×10 9 /L, a neutrophil count ≥1.0×10 9 /L, and creatinine clearance (MDRD) >30 mL/ min. The cytogenetic analysis was performed centrally by Pr Avet Loiseau/Pr Corre Jill on sorted bone marrow plasma cells. HR was define as presence of either del(17p) and/or t(4;14) since diagnosis or at study entry to compare IxPd to Pd from the IFM 2010-02 study. The study was sponsored by the Intergroupe Francophone du Myélome (IFM) in accordance with national regulations in France (Eudract number 2016-002650-20). This trial is registered at clinicaltrials gov Identifier: NCT03683277 . The patients received 17 induction 21-days’-based cycles, consisting of ixazomib 3 mg/day (days 1, 4, 8 and 11), pomalidomide 4 mg/day (days 1 to 14) and weekly dexamethasone (40 mg day 1, 8 and 15, 20 mg ≥75 years old), followed by a maintenance phase of 28-day-based cycles with ixazomib 4 mg/day (days 1, 8 and 15) and pomalidomide 4 mg/day (days 1 to 21), given until progression. The primary endpoint was time to progression (TTP). 7 Secondary endpoints included the safety profile of the regimen using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (version 4.0), the response rates, response durations, overall survival time (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Sparse pharmacokinetic (PK) samples were collected from patients on days 1 and 11 of cycle 1, then pre-dose for cycles 2 to 5. We studied whether PK analysis would differ in HR RRMM from previous studies using the same dose schedule of Ixazomib (MLN2238). We considered a 100% improvement in median TTP from the median TTP at 3 months in IFM 2010-02 as clinically relevant in IFM 2014-01. The number of patients to be included is 26 patients if using a two-sided test with a type i error of 5% and ensuring a power of 80%. 8 Considering the median TTP would differ across HR RRMM, 9 and under the assumption that we would study separately the two populations of HR RRMM, the statistical design considered the inclusion of 70 patients with a power slightly above 90, assuming a minimum of 40% of patients would be included in the least represented population. 8 We recruited 26 patients then the study was terminated prematurely on December 31, 2022 due to lack of recruitment. A safety analysis was performed when 15 patients had completed at least one cycle at ANSM (agence nationale de securite du medicament) request. The data monitoring committee (DMC) confirmed the treatment was safe and allowed the study to fully recruit. The primary analysis was conducted on an intention-to-treat basis (ITT). All statistical analyses were performed with SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC) and R software version 4.0.4 (The R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria).
Of the 32 screened patients, 26 were included and started the protocol induction phase, eight received the maintenance according to protocol ( Online Supplementary Figure S1 ). At end of study, 25 patients had discontinued the study treatment, 22 for progressive disease, 15 patients died, all of them related to MM, and one patient remains on treatment with commercial products. At study entry, 12 patients presented with del(17p), 9 with t(4;14), and five with del(17p) and t(4;14). Fifteen patients had two prior lines. All patients were refractory to lenalidomide. The patients’ characteristics are summarized in Table 1 .
With a median follow-up time of 27 months (interquartile range [IQR], 23-29), the median TTP time improved by more than three times at 10.2 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.4-13.0). The median OS time was 23.7 (95% CI: 12.2-not evaluable [NE]) months. Survival times are shown in Figure 1 . The patients with t(4;14) had longer median survival times compared to IFM 2010-02, the benefit appeared limited in other subgroups of interest. The response rates were similar at the end of induction and at study completion ( Online Supplementary Table S1 ). The median duration of response was 10.0 (IQR, 3.4-13.6) months, similar across HR subgroups. Dose-normalized PK concentrations were comparable across patient response subgroups; a slight trend toward higher values was observed in patients with partial response/very good partial response (PR/VGPR) ( Figure 1E ).
At the data cutoff, 25 patients (96%) had discontinued treatment and the most common reason was disease progression (N=18, 70%). All patients experienced at least one AE, with a median frequency of ten occurrences per patient (IQR, 4-15), and 85% (N=22) experienced AE of grade ≥3, with a median frequency of two occurrences per patient (IQR, 1-4) (Online Supplementary Table S2). There were no observed differences across study phases, induction and maintenance, and across HR subgroups. The summary of the dose relative intensity of ixazomib and pomalidomide is provided in Table 2 .
Table 1.
Patients’ characteristics, according to their abnormalities, t(4;14) and del(17p), at inclusion, median (Q1-Q3) or N (%) and description of prior lines of therapy, N (%). Data presented as a whole and according to their abnormalities, t(4;14) and del(17p), at inclusion.

Our study met its primary endpoint, however, it is fair to conclude that the benefit brought to these patients is limited with our IxPd regimen. The other approved regimens available to these patients lenalidomide refractory, across high-risk and even non-high risk RRMM patients, also showed limited activity, with median PFS from 7.8 months to 28.1 months. 10 These data confirm that we have recruited patients that were truly high-risk being lenalidomide refractory RRMM, even in early relapse L2 and L3, and on top cytogenetic high-risk, thus characterized with a very poor outcome. Our results demonstrate that new drug developments are needed for this population.
Our study results appear to confirm the added value of a proteosome inhibitor (PI) in HR MM with t(4;14) compared to Pd doublet-based regimen. This raises questions on whether the effect seen with IxPd was only explained by the triplet-based regimen, triplet expectedly performing better, or whether there is a true biological effect, yet to be demonstrated. In our study, not all t(4;14) HR MM benefited from the study treatment, also questioning on certain t(4;14) being of lesser HR profile compared to other. 11
There are three different PI available in MM in various indications, ixazomib and bortezomib that belong to the boronate acid-based family and carfilzomib an epoxyketone-based PI. The bortezomib’s safety profile remains difficult for a long period of time in HR MM, who tend to relapse rapidly when treatments are stopped, despite the subcutaneous and weekly developments. 12 , 13 When IFM 2014-01 started, carfilzomib was available only as a bi-weekly schema, with an increasing risk of cardio vascular safety concerns. Ixazomib appeared an interesting PI to study given its oral bioavailability and its favorable safety profile. Ixazomib was therefore the most appealing PI to improve the adherence of patients to a prolonged study treatment for responders and to combine with immunomodulatory drugs. 14
We believe our study results support our hypothesis that the twice-weekly ixazomib concentrations with 12 mg total given per 21 days-based cycle of ixazomib, with reduced doses (3 mg at days 1, 4, 8 and 11), in the induction phase might be of importance in HR RRMM, compared to Tourmaline-MM1 study. 15 Our study population was harder to treat, and we have observed overall response rate (ORR) and VGPR rates at 60% at end of induction phase, while ORR and ≥VGPR rates were 78% and 48% in Tourmaline-MM1 study. It would be of interest to further develop this design in future and larger ixazomib studies.
As a conclusion, the study IFM 2014-01, a phase II study of the triplet-based combination of ixazomib plus pomalidomide and dexamethasone, in high-risk early RRMM refractory to lenalidomide, met its primary end point objective. We have observed an increase of the median TTP with the addition of ixazomib to pomalidomide and dexamethasone in this very hard to treat population characterized with a very poor outcome. This data confirms the importance of introducing a proteasome inhibitors in HR RRMM treatment’s regimens, particularly in t(4;14). This phase II study needs confirmation in a larger cohort.
Table 2.
Number of cycles, relative dose intensity of ixazomib and pomalidomide, and patients with more than 12 cycles of treatment, as a whole and according to their abnormalities, t(4;14) and del(17p), at inclusion.
Supplementary Material
Иллюстрация — в первоисточнике ↗
Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank the patients and their families. IFM (Intergroupe Francophone of Multiple Myeloma) project’s team that conducted the study. A special thanks to the project manager Miss S Rollet from IFM. A special thanks to Pr Jean-Yves Mary who has always overviewed the study from its conception to its end. A special thanks to the members of the DMC, Pr Chantal Doyen (Belgique), Pr Jean-Pierre Marolleau (CHU Amiens, France) et Dr Marie-Christine Perrault-Pochat (CHU Poitiers, France). BMS provided pomalidomide and Takeda ixazomobid.
Data-sharing statement
Data supporting this article are part of an ongoing clinical trial and are not publicly available. Data will be considered for sharing, with restriction due to data privacy regulations, and the informed consent. Requests for de-identified patient data by researchers with proposed use of the data can be made to the corresponding author with specific data needs, analysis plans and dissemination plans. Those requests will be reviewed by a study steering committee (IFM group) and the study sponsor for release upon publication. Response will typically be given in 3 months.
References
1. D’agostino M Cairns DA Lahuerta JJ . Second Revision of the International Staging System (R2-ISS) for overall survival in multiple myeloma: a European Myeloma Network (EMN) report within the HARMONY Project . J Clin Oncol . 2022 ; 40 ( 29 ): 3406 - 3418 . 35605179 10.1200/JCO.21.02614
2. Perrot A Lauwers-Cances V Tournay E . Development and validation of a cytogenetic prognostic index predicting survival in multiple myeloma . J Clin Oncol . 2019 ; 37 ( 19 ): 1657 - 1665 . 31091136 10.1200/JCO.18.00776 PMC6804890
3. Leleu X Karlin L Macro M . Pomalidomide plus low-dose dexamethasone in multiple myeloma with deletion 17p and/or translocation (4;14): IFM 2010-02 trial results . Blood . 2015 ; 125 ( 9 ): 1411 - 1417 . 25575538 10.1182/blood-2014-11-612069
4. Schmidt J Braggio E Kortuem KM . Genome-wide studies in multiple myeloma identify XPO1/CRM1 as a critical target validated using the selective nuclear export inhibitor KPT-276 . Leukemia . 2013 ; 27 ( 12 ): 2357 - 2365 . 23752175 10.1038/leu.2013.172 PMC3922416
5. Vincent Rajkumar S . Multiple myeloma: 2013 update on diagnosis, risk-stratification, and management . Am J Hematol . 2013 ; 88 ( 3 ): 226 - 235 . 23440663 10.1002/ajh.23390
6. Avet-Loiseau H Magrangeas F Moreau P . Molecular heterogeneity of multiple myeloma: Pathogenesis, prognosis, and therapeutic implications . J Clin Oncol . 2011 ; 29 ( 14 ): 1893 - 1897 . 21482986 10.1200/JCO.2010.32.8435
7. Sonneveld P Avet-Loiseau H Lonial S . Treatment of multiple myeloma with high-risk cytogenetics: a consensus of the International Myeloma Working Group . Blood . 2016 ; 127 ( 24 ): 2955 - 2962 . 27002115 10.1182/blood-2016-01-631200 PMC4920674
8. Lachin JM . Biostatistical methods: the assessment of relative risks. 2nd ed . Wiley ; 2014 .
9. Reece D Song KW Fu T . Influence of cytogenetics in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma treated with lenalidomide plus dexamethasone: adverse effect of deletion 17p13 . Blood . 2009 ; 114 ( 3 ): 522 - 525 . 19332768 10.1182/blood-2008-12-193458
10. Dimopoulos MA Moreau P Terpos E . Multiple myeloma: EHA-ESMO clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up . Ann Oncol . 2021 ; 32 ( 3 ): 309 - 322 . 33549387 10.1016/j.annonc.2020.11.014
11. Stong N Ortiz-Estévez M Towfic F . The location of the t(4;14) translocation breakpoint within the NSD2 gene identifies a subset of patients with high-risk NDMM . Blood . 2023 ; 141 ( 13 ): 1574 - 1583 . 35984902 10.1182/blood.2022016212 PMC10163314
12. Delforge M Bladé J Dimopoulos MA . Treatment-related peripheral neuropathy in multiple myeloma: the challenge continues . Lancet Oncol . 2010 ; 11 ( 11 ): 1086 - 1095 . 20932799 10.1016/S1470-2045(10)70068-1
13. Mateos MV San Miguel JF . Safety and efficacy of subcutaneous formulation of bortezomib versus the conventional intravenous formulation in multiple myeloma . Ther Adv Hematol . 2012 ; 3 ( 2 ): 117 - 124 . 23556118 10.1177/2040620711432020 PMC3573435
14. Chauhan D Tian Z Zhou B . In vitro and in vivo selective antitumor activity of a novel orally bioavailable proteasome inhibitor MLN9708 against multiple myeloma cells . Clin Cancer Res . 2011 ; 17 ( 16 ): 5311 - 5321 . 21724551 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-11-0476 PMC3156932
15. Moreau P Masszi T Grzasko N . Oral ixazomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone for multiple myeloma . N Engl J Med . 2016 ; 374 ( 17 ): 1621 - 1634 . 27119237 10.1056/NEJMoa1516282