clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01208818.

PURPOSE We report a multicenter controlled trial comparing renal recovery and tolerance profile of doublet versus triplet bortezomib-based regimens in patients with initial myeloma cast nephropathy (CN) and acute kidney injury (AKI) without need for dialysis. METHODS After symptomatic measures and high-dose dexamethasone, patients were randomly assigned to receive bortezomib plus dexamethasone (BD), or BD plus cyclophosphamide (C-BD). In patients with < 50% reduction of serum free light chains (sFLCs) after 3 cycles, chemotherapy was reinforced with either cyclophosphamide (BD group) or thalidomide (C-BD group). RESULTS Ninety-two patients were enrolled in each group. At random assignment, characteristics of the 2 groups were similar, including median age (68 years) and serum creatinine level (305.5 and 273.5 µmol/L in BD and C-BD group, respectively). At 3 months, renal response rate (primary end point) was not different (41 v 47 responders in the BD and C-BD groups, respectively; relative risk [RR], 0.87; P = .46). Very good partial response (free light chain reduction ≥ 90%) or more was achieved in 36 and 47 patients, respectively (RR, 0.76; P = .10). After 1 cycle of chemotherapy, 69 in the BD group and 67 patients in the C-BD group had achieved sFLC level ≤ 500 mg/L. Serious adverse events were recorded in 30 and 40 patients, respectively. At 12 months, 19 patients had died (9 in the BD group v 10 in the C-BD group), including 10 (6 in the BD group and 4 in the C-BD group) from myeloma progression and 3 (0 in the BD group and 3 in the C-BD group) from infection. Within median follow-up of 27 months, 43 and 42 patients switched to new therapy, respectively. Overall, 50 patients (24 in the BD group and 26 in the C-BD group) had died. CONCLUSION This randomized study did not show any benefit of C-BD compared with BD on renal recovery of patients with initial CN not requiring dialysis. Adding cyclophosphamide did not sufficiently improve the efficacy-toxicity balance. Patients with myeloma with AKI are fragile, and indication for doublet or triplet regimen should be adapted to frailty.

SummaryPost-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) are associated with poor patient and graft survival. The risk of rejection and subsequent graft loss are increased by the reduction of immunosuppression therapy, the cornerstone of PTLD treatment. This multicentre, retrospective, nonrandomized cohort study includes 104 adults who developed PTLD after renal or simultaneous renal/pancreatic transplantation between 1990 and 2007. It examines the effect of calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) withdrawal on long-term graft and patient survival. At 10 years postonset of PTLD, the Kaplan-Meier graft loss rate was 43.9% and graft loss or death with functioning graft was 64.4%. Cox multivariate analysis determined risk factors of graft loss as PTLD stage greater than I-II and CNI withdrawal, and for graft loss and mortality, these remained risk factors along with age over 60 years. Type and location of PTLD, year of diagnosis, and chemotherapy regime were not independent risk factors. Multivariate analysis determined CNI withdrawal as the most important risk factor for graft loss (HR = 3.07, CI 95%: 1.04-9.09; P = 0.04) and death (HR: 4.00, CI 95%: 1.77-9.04; P < 0.001). While long-term stable renal function after definitive CNI withdrawal for PTLD has been reported, this review determined that withdrawal is associated with reduced graft and patient survival.