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The accuracy of current prediction tools for ischaemic and bleeding events after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains insufficient for individualised patient management strategies. We developed a machine learning-based risk stratification model to predict all-cause death, recurrent acute myocardial infarction, and major bleeding after ACS.

This multicenter, open-label phase 2 trial determined the safety and efficacy of carfilzomib, a novel and irreversible proteasome inhibitor, in combination with cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone (CCyd) in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) ≥65 years of age or who were ineligible for autologous stem cell transplantation. Patients (N = 58) received CCyd for up to 9 28-day cycles, followed by maintenance with carfilzomib until progression or intolerance. After a median of 9 CCyd induction cycles (range 1-9), 95% of patients achieved at least a partial response, 71% achieved at least a very good partial response, 49% achieved at least a near complete response, and 20% achieved stringent complete response. After a median follow-up of 18 months, the 2-year progression-free survival and overall survival rates were 76% and 87%, respectively. The most frequent grade 3 to 5 toxicities were neutropenia (20%), anemia (11%), and cardiopulmonary adverse events (7%). Peripheral neuropathy was limited to grades 1 and 2 (9%). Fourteen percent of patients discontinued treatment because of adverse events, and 21% of patients required carfilzomib dose reductions. In summary, results showed high complete response rates and a good safety profile. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01346787.

We performed a phase 1/2 trial to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of pomalidomide and to explore its efficacy when combined with cyclophosphamide-prednisone in relapsed/refractory myeloma patients. Pomalidomide was given at 1 to 2.5 mg/d, cyclophosphamide at 50 mg every other day, prednisone at 50 mg every other day, for 6 28-day cycles, followed by pomalidomide-prednisone maintenance therapy. Thromboprophylaxis was recommended. Sixty-nine patients were enrolled, 55 received the MTD (2.5 mg/d) and were evaluated. Best responses included complete response in 3 patients (5%), very good partial response in 10 (18%), partial response in 15 (27%), minimal response in 11 (20%), stable disease in 15 (27%), and progressive disease in 1 (3%), for an overall response rate of 51%. The median time-to-response was 1.83 months. After a median follow-up of 14.8 months, median progression-free survival was 10.4 months and 1-year overall survival was 69%. At the MTD, grade 3 to 4 toxicities included anemia (9%), thrombocytopenia (11%), neutropenia (42%), neurologic events (7%), dermatologic events (7%), and thromboembolism (2%). Grade 3 to 5 infections occurred in 5 patients (9%). Five patients (9%) discontinued treatment for toxicity. New grade 3 to 4 adverse events were low during maintenance. Pomalidomide-cyclophosphamide-prednisone is safe and effective in relapsed/refractory myeloma patients. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01166113.

A sequential approach including bortezomib induction, intermediate-dose melphalan, and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), followed by lenalidomide consolidation-maintenance, has been evaluated. Efficacy and safety data have been analyzed on intention-to-treat and results updated. Newly diagnosed myeloma patients 65 to 75 years of age (n = 102) received 4 cycles of bortezomib-pegylated liposomal doxorubicin-dexamethasone, tandem melphalan (100 mg/m2) followed by ASCT (MEL100-ASCT), 4 cycles of lenalidomide-prednisone consolidation (LP), and lenalidomide maintenance (L) until disease progression. The complete response (CR) rate was 33% after MEL100-ASCT, 48% after LP and 53% after L maintenance. After a median follow-up of 66 months, median time-to-progression (TTP) was 55 months and median progression-free survival 48 months. Median overall survival (OS) was not reached, 5-year OS was 63%. In CR patients, median TTP was 70 months and 5-year OS was 83%. Median survival from relapse was 28 months. Death related to adverse events (AEs) occurred in 8/102 patients during induction or transplantation. Rate of death related to AEs was higher in patients ≥70 years compared with younger (5/26 vs 3/76, P = .024). Bortezomib-induction followed by ASCT and lenalidomide consolidation-maintenance is a valuable option for elderly myeloma patients, with the greatest benefit in those younger than 70 years of age.

Introduction Coronary artery disease (CAD), along with its main complications such as acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and congestive heart failure (CHF), remains a serious worldwide problem and affects many patients despite the improvement of medical treatment. The possibility of the replacement of the infarcted areas by the re-generation of the myocardial cells has been long discussed and the mobilization of the stem cells from bone marrow (BMCs) to the peripheral blood (PB) induced by cytokines, represents a potential pathway to activate the regenerative process.Patients and Methods We describe BMC mobilization and direct/indirect revascularization in 15 patients operated on for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and/or mitral valve surgery and/or ventricular remodeling combined to multiple trans-myocardial punctures (Sen technique) in ungraftable non-viable fibrotic areas.Results Peak values of circulating BMCs were recorded between day +4 and day +6. We had no in-hospital (0–30 days) mortality. All the patients were discharged from the ICU after a median period of 2 days while the in-hospital length of stay was 10.5+4.2 days (range 7–21) and all patients were discharged in good clinical condition. There were two sudden deaths over the mid-term, at postoperative day (POD) 32 and 45 respectively.Conclusions Our study suggests that the combination of BMC mobilization and CABG may be safely performed. However, considering the small series, final conclusions about the benefit of this procedure must await a larger prospective study comparing the role of cytokines alone, myocardial perforation, and the combination of both.

CD38 rules proliferation signals in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells, suggesting that the molecule is not merely a prognostic marker but also a key element in the pathogenetic network underlying the disease. CD38 has a genetic polymorphism, characterized by a C>G variation in the regulatory region of intron 1. The working hypothesis is that the presence of different alleles in CLL patients marks (or accounts for) some of the clinical heterogeneity. CD38allele distribution in 248 Italian patients overlapped with that of the controls (n = 232), suggesting that susceptibility to CLL is not influenced by CD38genotype. Stratification of patients according to markers of unfavorable prognosis constantly resulted in a significantly higher frequency of the rare G allele. Furthermore, analysis of clinical parameters showed that G allele is independently associated with nodal/splenic involvement. The highest G allele frequency was observed in the 16 patients of the cohort that developed Richter syndrome (RS). Five-year cumulative incidence of transformation was significantly higher in G allele carriers than in CC homozygotes. Multivariate analysis on a total of 30 RS patients confirmed that the probability of transformation is strongly associated with G allele, likely representing an independent risk factor for RS development.

CD38 rules proliferation signals in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells, suggesting that the molecule is not merely a prognostic marker but also a key element in the pathogenetic network underlying the disease. CD38 has a genetic polymorphism, characterized by a C>G variation in the regulatory region of intron 1. The working hypothesis is that the presence of different alleles in CLL patients marks (or accounts for) some of the clinical heterogeneity. CD38 allele distribution in 248 Italian patients overlapped with that of the controls (n = 232), suggesting that susceptibility to CLL is not influenced by CD38 genotype. Stratification of patients according to markers of unfavorable prognosis constantly resulted in a significantly higher frequency of the rare G allele. Furthermore, analysis of clinical parameters showed that G allele is independently associated with nodal/splenic involvement. The highest G allele frequency was observed in the 16 patients of the cohort that developed Richter syndrome (RS). Five-year cumulative incidence of transformation was significantly higher in G allele carriers than in CC homozygotes. Multivariate analysis on a total of 30 RS patients confirmed that the probability of transformation is strongly associated with G allele, likely representing an independent risk factor for RS development.

Our interest in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) derives primarily from the exploitation of human diseases as strategic models for defining the in vivo biological roles of CD38. Using this model, we showed that CD38 triggers robust proliferation/survival signals modulated through the interactions with the CD31 ligand expressed by nurselike cells and by the stromal/endothelial components. By analyzing a cohort of 56 patients with clinically and molecularly characterized CLL, we show that (1) patients with CD38+/ZAP-70+ are characterized by enhanced migration toward Stromal derived factor-1α (SDF-1α)/CXCL12; (2) CD38 ligation leads to tyrosine phosphorylation of ZAP-70, showing that these markers are functionally linked; (3) ZAP-70 represents a limiting factor for the CD38 pathway in the CLL context, as shown by studying CD38-mediated signal transduction in 26 molecularly characterized patients; and (4) the CLL subgroup of patients defined on the basis of migratory potential is marked by a specific genetic signature, with a significant number of differentially expressed genes being involved in cell-cell interactions and movement. Altogether, the results of this work provide biological evidence for why the combined analysis of CD38 and ZAP-70 expression as determined in several clinical trials results in more dependable identification of patients with CLL who have aggressive disease.

Zamagni: Celgene Corporation: Honoraria, Other: Advisory board, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Advisory board, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Honoraria, Other: Advisory board, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board, Speakers Bureau. Gay:Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Omedé:Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Galli:Janssen: Honoraria; Leadiant (Sigma-Tau): Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria. Zambello:Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Gamberi:Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Patriarca:Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Tacchetti:Celgene: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Honoraria; Oncopeptides: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Honoraria. Boccadoro:Sanofi: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding; AbbVie: Honoraria; Mundipharma: Research Funding. Cavo:bms: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; sanofi: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: travel accommodations, Speakers Bureau; novartis: Honoraria; takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: travel accommodations, Speakers Bureau. Oliva:Adaptive Biotechnologies: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Oliva: Celgene: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Belotti:Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Galli:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Leadiant (Sigma-Tau): Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria. Offidani:Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Vozella:Amgen: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria. Zambello:Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Kirsch:Adaptive Biotechnologies: Employment. Jacob:Adaptive Biotechnologies: Employment, Other: shareholder. Ballanti:Amgen: Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria. Corradini:Roche: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria; KiowaKirin: Honoraria; Kite: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Other: Travel Costs; BMS: Other: Travel Costs; Servier: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria, Other: Travel Costs; Gilead: Honoraria, Other: Travel Costs; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel Costs; Amgen: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Travel Costs; Daiichi Sankyo: Honoraria; Jazz Pharmaceutics: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Travel Costs. Omedé:Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Cavo:takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: travel accommodations, Speakers Bureau; janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: travel accommodations, Speakers Bureau; bms: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; sanofi: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; novartis: Honoraria; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Musto:Amgen: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria. Boccadoro:Sanofi: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding; AbbVie: Honoraria; Mundipharma: Research Funding. Gay:AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.The presentation includes discussion of off-label use of a drug or drugs for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

Background.Despite the improvement of therapeutic regimens, a relevant proportion of multiple myeloma (MM) patients (pts) experience early relapse (ER) [Majithia, Leukemia 2016] and represents an unmet medical need. It is therefore of high clinical interest to identify baseline factors that may predict ER.

Background: In multiple myeloma (MM), different clinical parameters and molecular prognostic factors can predict disease course and response to therapy. The classification of myeloma patients includes laboratory parameters associated with higher tumor activity, resistance to therapy and proliferative competence. Tumor circulating plasma cells (TCPC) in MM patients showed a strong correlation with a more aggressive disease.

Gay: Roche: Other: Advisory Board; Seattle Genetics: Other: Advisory Board; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Amgen: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board. Galli:Sigma-Tau: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria. Belotti:Celgene: Other: Advisory Board; Amgen: Other: Advisory Board. Zamagni:BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Angelucci:Novartis: Honoraria, Other: Chair Steering Committee TELESTO protocol in MDS; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Chair DMC proptocol BELIEVE 1 and BELIVE 2 in Thalassemia; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (MA) and CRISPR Therapeutics AG (CH): Other: Chair DMC CRISPR CAS9 in Hemoglobinopathies; Jazz Pharmaceuticals Italy: Other: Local (national) advisory board on AML; Roche Italia: Other: Local (national) advisory board on biosimilars. Annibali:Celgene; Takeda; Amgen, Janssen Cilag: Honoraria. Offidani:Amgen: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Takeda: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board. Palumbo:Takeda: Employment. Musto:Amgen: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria. Cavo:GlaxoSmithKline: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AbbVie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Boccadoro:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding; Mundipharma: Research Funding; Sanofi: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; AbbVie: Honoraria.

Larocca: Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria. Petrucci:Amgen: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Takeda: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board. Gaidano:AbbVie: Other: Advisory Board; Janssen: Other: Advisory Board, Speakers Bureau. Musto:Amgen: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria. Offidani:Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Takeda: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Amgen: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board. Cavo:Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GlaxoSmithKline: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AbbVie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Caravita di Toritto:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Other: Travel and Accomodation EMN; Amgen: Other: Advisory Board; Johnson & Johnson: Other: Advisory Board, Travel and Accomodation EHA; Celgene: Other: Advisory Board, Travel and Accomodation ASH, Research Funding; Takeda: Other: Advisory Board. Montefusco:Janssen: Other: Advisory Board; Amgen: Other: Advisory Board; Celgene: Other: Advisory Board. Palumbo:Takeda: Employment. Boccadoro:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding; AbbVie: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Sanofi: Honoraria, Research Funding; Mundipharma: Research Funding. Bringhen:Celgene: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Takeda: Consultancy; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria.

Oliva: Celgene: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria. Larocca:Amgen, Celgene, BMS, Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria. Offidani:Janssen: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding. Palumbo:Janssen Cilag: Honoraria; Takeda: Employment, Honoraria. Boccadoro:Sanofi, Celgene, Amgen, Janssen, Novartis, Abbivie, BMS: Honoraria; Celgene, Janssen, Amgen, BMS, Mundipharma, Novartis, Sanofi: Research Funding.

Bringhen: Mundipharma: Other: ADVISORY BOARD; Amgen: Other: ADVISORY BOARD; Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria; Karyopharm: Other: ADVISORY BOARD. Petrucci:Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria. Caravita di Toritto:Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria. Ria:BMS: Speakers Bureau; BMS: Speakers Bureau; Italfarmaco: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; CSL Behring: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen-Cilag: Other: Advisory Board, Speakers Bureau; Binding Site: Speakers Bureau. Cavo:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Millennium: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen-Cilag: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria. Foà:Janssen-Cilag: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Genetech: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Ariad: Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Speakers Bureau; BMS: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Corradini:Celgene: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi Aventis: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Gentium: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Gaidano:Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Honoraria; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Morphosys: Consultancy, Honoraria. Palumbo:Janssen Cilag: Honoraria; Takeda: Employment, Honoraria. Sonneveld:Celgene: Other: Advisory board, Research Funding; Millennium: Other: Advisory board, Research Funding; Onyx: Other: Advisory board, Research Funding; Janssen-Cilag: Other: Advisory board, Research Funding. Boccadoro:Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; SANOFI: Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Abbivie: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Mundipharma: Research Funding; CELGENE: Honoraria, Research Funding.

IntroductionHeavy light chain (HLC) assay is a recently developed method that separately quantifies the k and L-bounded amounts of a given intact immunoglobulin (Ig). It allows an accurate quantification of both the involved/uninvolved Ig and permits to quantify even small monoclonal protein. Free light chain (FLC) and HLC can provide prognostic information for multiple myeloma patients.

Vγ9Vδ2 T cells have a natural inclination to recognize malignant B cells in vitrovia receptors for stress-induced self-ligands and TCR-dependent recognition of phosphoantigens (pAgs) generated in the mevalonate (Mev) pathway. This inclination is continuously challenged in vivoby the immune suppression operated by tumor cells. Multiple myeloma (MM) is a prototypic B-cell malignancy in which myeloma cells subvert the local microenvironment to reshape antitumor immune responses. In this study, we have investigated the immune competence of bone marrow (BM) Vγ9Vδ2 T cells in a large series of MM patients. We have found that the BM microenvironment significantly hampers the pAg-reactivity of BM Vγ9Vδ2 T cells, which become largely PD-1+and are surrounded by PD-L1+myeloma cells and increased numbers of PD-L1+myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell dysfunction is an early event that can be already detected in individuals with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and not fully reverted even when MM patients achieve clinical remission. Anti-PD-1 treatment increases the cytotoxic potential of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells by almost 5-fold after pAg stimulation, and appears to be a promising strategy for effective immune interventions in MM.

The absence of mutations in the IgVH genes along with the expression of the cell surface receptor CD38 and the cytoplasmic kinase ZAP-70 are independent molecular markers of unfavourable outcome in CLL patients. Our group has been interested in unravelling the role of CD38 in CLL not only as disease marker but also as pathogenetic agent. We have shown that CD38 can positively affect proliferation and survival of CLL cells through binding CD31, the ligand expressed by stromal, endothelial and nurse-like cells (NLC). Starting points of our current investigation are that NLC produce high levels of the attractant stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1α/CXCL12), CD38 is an essential mediator of migration and homing in murine neutrophils, and ZAP-70 is a key element in CXCR4 (SDF-1α receptor) pathway in T cells. The consequent working hypothesis is that CD38 and ZAP-70 intertwine to influence CLL cell migration. The analysis of a cohort of 56 clinically and molecularly characterized CLL patients demonstrated that CD38+/ZAP-70+ samples migrate significantly better towards CXCL12 than all the other CLL subgroups, including the CD38+/ZAP-70− one, suggesting a functional association between CD38 and ZAP-70. CD38 engagement by agonistic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) leads to phosphorylation of the activatory tyrosines present in ZAP-70 in 26 CLL cell cases and in an ad hoc modified B line expressing a ZAP-70-myc construct. More importantly, ZAP-70 is required for CD38 signalling, as the CD38 pathway is impaired in CD38+/ZAP-70− CLL cells. Microarray analyses performed on a subgroup of 20 CLL patients indicate the existence of a genetic signature marking CLL samples endowed with a high migratory potential. These studies resulted in the identification of a panel of 24 differently expressed genes, many of which are known to be involved in adhesion and migration. Taken together, the above data point to a direct role for the CD38/ZAP-70 pathway in CLL migration towards CXCL12. Indeed, CXCL12-mediated chemo taxis of CLL cells and of the NALM-6 pre-B cell line can be efficiently blocked by anti-CD38 mAbs in a dose-dependent fashion. Out of the 9 different anti-CD38 mAbs tested, only the ones binding epitopes close to the C terminus of the molecule interfere with migration, while the ones binding closer to the plasma membrane do not. Pre-treatment of CLL and NALM-6 cells results in the almost complete block of the CXCR4 signalling pathway. This was shown by monitoring Ca2+ mobilization, actin polymerization and ligand-induced internalization. Further, upon exposure to CXCL12, CD38 and CXCR4 become physically associated, as shown using confocal microscopy and co-immunoprecipitation approaches. CD38 however, does not internalize upon CXCL12 biding to CXCR4. Collectively, these data suggest that the blocking effects of the anti-CD38 mAbs are due to steric hindrance. In conclusion, we believe that these results offer biological evidence explaining why the combination of CD38 and ZAP-70 results in a more efficient identification of CLL patients with aggressive disease. Further, it may provide a rationale for using anti-CD38 ligands or inhibitors as an adjunct tool for the therapy of aggressive CLL.

Introduction. A perturbed microenvironment with secretion of inflammatory cytokines is typical of MM. Prostaglandins (pg) are implicated in inflammation and angiogenesis and play a role in the pathogenesis of several solid malignancies. Expression of COX-2, the key enzyme of pg synthesis in inflamed tissues, is common in many of these cancers and plays a major role in their development. Moreover, it often acts as a poor prognostic indicator. Despite a large amount of data concerning COX-2 expression in solid tumors, few data are currently available in hematological malignancies. In MM there are several biological, epidemiological and clinical considerations suggesting a potential involvement of the pg pathway. Aim of this study is to verify the involvement of COX-2 in MM and to assess its prognostic role. Patients and methods. COX-2 expression has been assessed by western blotting (WB) as previously described (Du Bois RN, et al, Gastroenterology, 1996). Our positive control was the COX-2 positive cell line HT-29, while bone marrows (BM) from 15 healthy donors were our negative controls. We assessed a panel of 124 samples obtained by 113 patients with plasma cell dyscrasias. Sixteen samples belonged to subjects with MGUS, 80 to patients with MM at diagnosis, and 28 to patients with relapsed/refractory MM. In 11 patients, samples taken at different treatment phases were available. To confirm WB findings and to demonstrate that COX-2 expression occurs in malignant plasma cells immunohistochemistry (IC), and flow cytometry for COX-2 were also performed in 31 and four patients, respectively. Finally, COX-2 expression has been assessed in BM cells from four COX-2 positive patients following selection for the CD138 antigen using the Miltenyi cell separation system. COX-2 expression at the mRNA level has also been assessed by real time quantitative PCR. Results. A dilution test showed that our technique is sensitive enough to detect 2% HT-29 cells in a background of COX-2 negative cells. The 15 normal BM were COX-2 negative. In contrast, COX-2 expression was noticed in 12.5% of MGUS, 34.6% of MM at diagnosis and 56% of MM at relapse. COX-2 positivity at diagnosis and relapse was unrelated to disease stage, BM plasmacytosis, creatinine, Hb levels and ß2 microglobulin. COX-2 expression appeared to be of prognostic relevance: at diagnosis the median time to progression was 14 months in COX-2 positive and 40 months in COX-2 negative subjects (p<0.001). At relapse, of 14 patients showing COX-2 expression, 10 have already died of MM, and four are still alive. In contrast, of 11 COX-2 negative patients only one patient died while 10 are still alive (p<0.001). IC, cell separation and flow cytometry studies indicate that COX-2 expression is related to the malignant plasma cell population. COX-2 mRNA was overexpressed in patients showing increased COX-2 protein expression. Conclusions: a) COX-2 is frequently expressed in plasma cell dyscrasias; b) COX-2 expression is more frequent in advanced disease phases; c) COX-2 expression correlates to a worse outcome. Future studies are required to verify whether COX-2 might be clinically useful as a prognostic marker and/or therapeutic target.