PURPOSE Single-cycle melphalan 200 mg/m2 and autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT) followed by lenalidomide (len) maintenance have improved progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for transplantation-eligible patients with multiple myeloma (MM). We designed a prospective, randomized, phase III study to test additional interventions to improve PFS by comparing AHCT, tandem AHCT (AHCT/AHCT), and AHCT and four subsequent cycles of len, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (RVD; AHCT + RVD), all followed by len until disease progression. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with symptomatic MM within 12 months from starting therapy and without progression who were age 70 years or younger were randomly assigned to AHCT/AHCT + len (n = 247), AHCT + RVD + len (n = 254), or AHCT + len (n = 257). The primary end point was 38-month PFS. RESULTS The study population had a median age of 56 years (range, 20 to 70 years); 24% of patients had high-risk MM, 73% had a triple-drug regimen as initial therapy, and 18% were in complete response at enrollment. The 38-month PFS rate was 58.5% (95% CI, 51.7% to 64.6%) for AHCT/AHCT + len, 57.8% (95% CI, 51.4% to 63.7%) for AHCT + RVD + len, and 53.9% (95% CI, 47.4% to 60%) for AHCT + len. For AHCT/AHCT + len, AHCT + RVD + len, and AHCT + len, the OS rates were 81.8% (95% CI, 76.2% to 86.2%), 85.4% (95% CI, 80.4% to 89.3%), and 83.7% (95% CI, 78.4% to 87.8%), respectively, and the complete response rates at 1 year were 50.5% (n = 192), 58.4% (n = 209), and 47.1% (n = 208), respectively. Toxicity profiles and development of second primary malignancies were similar across treatment arms. CONCLUSION Second AHCT or RVD consolidation as post-AHCT interventions for the up-front treatment of transplantation-eligible patients with MM did not improve PFS or OS. Single AHCT and len should remain as the standard approach for this population.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a condition affecting young children that causes lifelong disabilities. Umbilical cord blood cells improve motor function in experimental systems via paracrine signaling. After demonstrating safety, we conducted a phase II trial of autologous cord blood (ACB) infusion in children with CP to test whether ACB could improve function (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01147653; IND 14360). In this double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, crossover study of a single intravenous infusion of 1–5 × 107 total nucleated cells per kilogram of ACB, children ages 1 to 6 years with CP were randomly assigned to receive ACB or placebo at baseline, followed by the alternate infusion 1 year later. Motor function and magnetic resonance imaging brain connectivity studies were performed at baseline, 1, and 2 years post‐treatment. The primary endpoint was change in motor function 1 year after baseline infusion. Additional analyses were performed at 2 years. Sixty‐three children (median age 2.1 years) were randomized to treatment (n = 32) or placebo (n = 31) at baseline. Although there was no difference in mean change in Gross Motor Function Measure‐66 (GMFM‐66) scores at 1 year between placebo and treated groups, a dosing effect was identified. In an analysis 1 year post‐ACB treatment, those who received doses ≥2 × 107/kg demonstrated significantly greater increases in GMFM‐66 scores above those predicted by age and severity, as well as in Peabody Developmental Motor Scales‐2 Gross Motor Quotient scores and normalized brain connectivity. Results of this study suggest that appropriately dosed ACB infusion improves brain connectivity and gross motor function in young children with CP. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2017;6:2071–2078

PurposeIncreasing the number of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells within an umbilical cord blood (UCB) graft shortens the time to hematopoietic recovery after UCB transplantation. In this study, we assessed the safety and efficacy of a UCB graft that was expanded ex vivo in the presence of nicotinamide and transplanted after myeloablative conditioning as a stand-alone hematopoietic stem-cell graft.MethodsThirty-six patients with hematologic malignancies underwent transplantation at 11 sites.ResultsThe cumulative incidence of neutrophil engraftment at day 42 was 94%. Two patients experienced secondary graft failure attributable to viral infections. Hematopoietic recovery was compared with that observed in recipients of standard UCB transplantation as reported to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (n = 146). The median time to neutrophil recovery was 11.5 days (95% CI, 9 to 14 days) for recipients of nicotinamide-expanded UCB and 21 days (95% CI, 20 to 23 days) for the comparator (P < .001). The median time to platelet recovery was 34 days (95% CI, 32 to 42 days) and 46 days (95% CI, 42 to 50 days) for the expanded and the comparator cohorts, respectively (P < .001). The cumulative incidence of grade 2 to 4 acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) at day 100 was 44%, and grade 3 and 4 acute GVHD at day 100 was 11%. The cumulative incidence at 2 years of all chronic GVHD was 40%, and moderate/severe chronic GVHD was 10%. The 2-year cumulative incidences of nonrelapse mortality and relapse were 24% and 33%, respectively. The 2-year probabilities of overall and disease-free survival were 51% and 43%, respectively.ConclusionUCB expanded ex vivo with nicotinamide shortens median neutrophil recovery by 9.5 days (95% CI, 7 to 12 days) and median platelet recovery by 12 days (95% CI, 3 to 16.5 days). This trial establishes feasibility, safety, and efficacy of an ex vivo expanded UCB unit as a stand-alone graft.

Background: Len maintenance after autoHCT has improved progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS). However, the role of additional interventions after autoHCT such as tandem autoHCT or triple therapy consolidation remains to be determined. Methods: This is a phase III clinical trial (NCT#01109004) of transplant-eligible patients (pts) with symptomatic MM <71 years of age within 12 months of initiating therapy and without prior progression who were randomly assigned 1:1:1 to receive melphalan 200mg/m2 autoHCT and 4 cycles of RVD consolidation (lenalidomide 15mg daily days 1-14, dexamethasone 40mg day 1,8 and 15, and bortezomib 1.3mg/m2 days 1,4,8 and 11 every 21 days) (ACM), versus tandem melphalan 200mg/m2 autoHCT (TAM) or versus a single autoHCT (AM). Randomization was stratified by disease risk (cytogenetic abnormalities - del13q by karyotype, del17q, t(4;14), t(14;16), t(14;20) and hypodyploid; or high beta-2 microglobulin) and center. All arms included Len maintenance (at maximum tolerated dose of 5 to 15 mg orally daily until progression) with dose modifications for toxicities. All patients were reviewed centrally for eligibility, response and progression. The primary objective was to compare 38-month PFS of the three arms. The events for PFS included progression, non-protocol anti-myeloma therapy, or death. Comparisons between treatment groups were based on pairwise log-rank tests stratified on disease risk, with significance levels adjusted for the 3 pairwise comparisons and for interim analyses. In calculating the cumulative incidence of progression, the events were progression or non-protocol anti-myeloma therapy, and death was a competing risk. Results: From June 2010 to November 2013, 758 pts (ACM, N=254; TAM, N=247; AM, N=257) aged 20-70 years (median 57y) were enrolled. Of those enrolled, 24% were classified as high risk. Non-compliance rates following the first autoHCT were 12%, 32% and 5% for ACM, TAM and AM, respectively. Median available follow up from randomization was 38 months. Follow-up is continuing through January 2017. 38-month estimated probabilities for PFS were 57% (95% CI: 50-63%), 56% (95% CI: 49-63%) and 52% (95% CI: 45-59%) for ACM, TAM and AM, respectively (ACM vs TAM p=0.75, ACM vs AM p=0.21, TAM vs AM p=0.37). Corresponding probabilities of OS were 86% (95% CI: 80-90%), 82% (95%CI: 76-87%) and 83% (95% CI: 78-88%). Median OS has not been reached. Cumulative incidences of disease progression at 38 months were 42% (95% CI: 36-48%), 42% (95% CI: 35-48%) and 47% (95% CI: 40-54%) for the ACM, TAM and AM arms, respectively. There were 39 cases of second primary malignancy (SPM) reported in 36 participants and the cumulative incidences for first SPM were 6.0% (95% CI: 3.4-9.6%), 5.9% (95% CI: 3.3-9.6%) and 4.0% (95% CI: 1.9-7.2%) for the ACM, TAM, and AM, respectively. Conclusions: The primary results of the largest randomized US transplant trial in MM demonstrated comparable PFS and OS. The addition of RVD consolidation or a second auto-HCT was not superior to a single auto HCT followed by Len maintenance in the upfront treatment of MM. A long term follow-up trial to track outcomes in these patients is ongoing. Disclosures Stadtmauer: Amgen: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy. Pasquini:Atara: Other: travel reimbursement for a meeting; Baxalta: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Efebera:Millennium/Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Karyopharm: Honoraria. Ganguly:Onyx: Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Giralt:Celgene: Consultancy; Millenium/Takeda: Consultancy. Hari:Celgene: Consultancy; Millennium/Takeda: Consultancy. McCarthy:Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Honoraria; Millennium/Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria; The Binding Site: Consultancy, Honoraria. Qazilbash:Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Shah:Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Millennium/Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Vesole:Takeda: Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Speakers Bureau. Vij:Millennium/Takeda: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy. Vogl:Celgene: Consultancy; Millennium/Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding. Somlo:PUMA: Consultancy; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Millennium/Takeda: Speakers Bureau; Astra Zeneca: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Krishnan:Celgene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Millennium/Takeda: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Onyx: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau.

Omidubicel is an ex vivo expanded hematopoietic progenitor cell, and non-expanded myeloid and lymphoid cell product derived from a single umbilical cord blood unit. We report results of a phase III trial to evaluate the efficacy of omidubicel compared to standard umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT). Between January 2017 and January 2020, 125 patients aged 13-65 with hematologic malignancies were randomized to omidubicel versus standard UCBT. Patients received myeloablative conditioning and graft versus host disease (GvHD) prophylaxis with a calcineurin inhibitor and mycophenolate mofetil. The primary endpoint was time to neutrophil engraftment. The treatment arms were well balanced and racially diverse. Median time to neutrophil engraftment was 12 days (95% CI 10-14 days) and 22 days (95% CI 19-25 days) (p&lt;0.001) for the omidubicel and control arms, respectively. The cumulative incidence of neutrophil engraftment was 96% and 89% for patients receiving omidubicel and control transplants, respectively. The omidubicel arm had faster platelet recovery (55% vs. 35% recovery by 42 days, p=0.028), a lower incidence of first grade 2/3 bacterial or invasive fungal infections (37% vs. 57%, p=0.027), and spent more time out of hospital during the first 100 days following transplant (median 61 vs. 48 days, p=0.005) than controls. Differences in GvHD and survival between the two arms were not statistically significant. Transplantation with omidubicel results in faster hematopoietic recovery and reduced early transplant-related complications as compared to standard UCBT. The results suggest that omidubicel may be considered as a new standard of care for adult patients eligible for UCBT.

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Measuring response among patients with multiple myeloma is essential for the care of patients. Deeper responses are associated with better progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). To test the hypothesis that Mass-Fix, a mass spectrometry-based means to detect monoclonal proteins, is superior to existing methodologies to predict for survival outcomes, samples from the STAMINA trial (NCT01109004), a trial comparing three transplant approaches, were employed. Samples from 575 patients from as many as three time points (post-induction [post-I; pre-maintenance [pre-M]; 1 year post enrollment [1YR]) were tested when available. Four response parameters were assessed: Mass-Fix, serum immunofixation, complete response, and measurable residual disease (MRD) by next generation flow cytometry. Of the four response measures, only MRD and Mass-Fix predicted for PFS and OS at multiple testing points on multivariate analyses. Although MRD drove Mass-Fix from the model for PFS at post-I and pre-M, 1YR Mass-Fix was independent of 1YR MRD. For OS, the only prognostic pre-I measure was Mass-Fix, and the only 1YR measures that were prognostic on multivariate analysis were 1YR MRD and 1YR Mass-Fix. SIFE and CR were not. Mass-Fix is a powerful means to track response.

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