Gain of chromosome 1q (+1q) is commonly identified in multiple myeloma and has been associated with inferior outcomes. However, the prognostic implication of +1q has not been evaluated in the setting of standard triplet regimens. We retrospectively analyzed 201 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed myeloma who received induction with lenalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (RVD) and were tested for +1q at diagnosis by fluorescent in-situ hybridization. Patients with +1q (n = 94), compared to those without +1q (n = 107), had shorter median progression-free survival (PFS) (41.9 months vs 65.1 months, p = 0.002, HR = 1.90) and overall survival (median not reached (NR) for either arm, p = 0.003, HR 2.69). In subgroup analyses, patients with co-occurring +1q and t(4;14), t(14;16) or del(17p) or with 4 or more copies of 1q had significantly worse PFS (25.1 months and 34.6 months, p < 0.001 and p = 0.0063, respectively), whereas patients with three copies and no other high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities had no significant difference in PFS. These data suggest that when treated with RVD induction, patients with +1q should be considered at very high risk for early progression in multiple myeloma when ≥4 copies are detected or in the context of other high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities.

PURPOSE The MASTER trial combined daratumumab, carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (Dara-KRd) in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM), using minimal residual disease (MRD) by next-generation sequencing (NGS) to inform the use and duration of Dara-KRd post-autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT) and treatment cessation in patients with two consecutive MRD-negative assessments. METHODS This multicenter, single-arm, phase II trial enrolled patients with NDMM with planed enrichment for high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities (HRCAs). Patients received Dara-KRd induction, AHCT, and Dara-KRd consolidation, according to MRD status. MRD was evaluated by NGS at the end of induction, post-AHCT, and every four cycles (maximum of eight cycles) of consolidation. Primary end point was achievement of MRD negativity (< 10–5). Patients with two consecutive MRD-negative assessments entered treatment-free MRD surveillance. RESULTS Among 123 participants, 43% had none, 37% had 1, and 20% had 2+ HRCA. Median age was 60 years (range, 36-79 years), and 96% had MRD trackable by NGS. Median follow-up was 25.1 months. Overall, 80% of patients reached MRD negativity (78%, 82%, and 79% for patients with 0, 1, and 2+ HRCA, respectively), 66% reached MRD < 10–6, and 71% reached two consecutive MRD-negative assessments during therapy, entering treatment-free surveillance. Two-year progression-free survival was 87% (91%, 97%, and 58% for patients with 0, 1, and 2+ HRCA, respectively). Cumulative incidence of MRD resurgence or progression 12 months after cessation of therapy was 4%, 0%, and 27% for patients with 0, 1, or 2+ HRCA, respectively. Most common serious adverse events were pneumonia (6%) and venous thromboembolism (3%). CONCLUSION Dara-KRd, AHCT, and MRD response-adapted consolidation leads to high rate of MRD negativity in NDMM. For patients with 0 or 1 HRCA, this strategy creates the opportunity of MRD surveillance as an alternative to indefinite maintenance.

Gain of chromosome 1q (+1q) is one of the most common recurrent cytogenetic abnormalities in multiple myeloma (MM), occurring in approximately 40% of newly diagnosed cases. Although it is often considered a poor prognostic marker in MM, +1q has not been uniformly adopted as a high-risk cytogenetic abnormality in guidelines. Controversy exists regarding the importance of copy number, as well as whether +1q is itself a driver of poor outcomes or merely a common passenger genetic abnormality in biologically unstable disease. Although the identification of a clear pathogenic mechanism from +1q remains elusive, many genes at the 1q21 locus have been proposed to cause early progression and resistance to anti-myeloma therapy. The plethora of potential drivers suggests that +1q is not only a causative factor or poor outcomes in MM but may be targetable and/or predictive of response to novel therapies. This review will summarize our current understanding of the pathogenesis of +1q in plasma cell neoplasms, the impact of 1q copy number, identify potential genetic drivers of poor outcomes within this subset, and attempt to clarify its clinical significance and implications for the management of patients with multiple myeloma.

Background. The iPrEx study demonstrated that combination oral emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (FTC/TDF) as preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) protects against HIV acquisition in men who have sex with men and transgender women. Selection for drug resistance could offset PrEP benefits.Methods. Phenotypic and genotypic clinical resistance assays characterized major drug resistant mutations. Minor variants with FTC/TDF mutations K65R, K70E, M184V/I were measured using 454 deep sequencing and a novel allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR) diagnostic tolerant to sequence heterogeneity.Results. Control of primer-binding site heterogeneity resulted in improved accuracy of minor variant measurements by AS-PCR. Of the 48 on-study infections randomized to FTC/TDF, none showed FTC/TDF mutations by clinical assays despite detectable drug levels in 8 participants. Two randomized to FTC/TDF had minor variant M184I detected at 0.53% by AS-PCR or 0.75% by deep sequencing, only 1 of which had low but detectable drug levels. Among those with acute infection at randomization to FTC/TDF, M184V or I mutations that were predominant at seroconversion waned to background levels within 24 weeks after discontinuing drug.Conclusions. Drug resistance was rare in iPrEx on-study FTC/TDF-randomized seroconverters, and only as low-frequency minor variants. FTC resistance among those initiating PrEP with acute infection waned rapidly after drug discontinuation.Clinical Trials Registration. NCT00458393.

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Background: Minimal/measurable residual disease (MRD) post initial therapy is prognostic of long term outcomes in patients (pts) with newly diagnosed MM (NDMM), but has not been used to modify therapy. We hypothesized that the combination of daratumumab, carfilzomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (Dara-KRd) would be safe and highly active in pts with NDMM. In addition, we employed MRD by next generation sequencing (NGS) to inform the use and duration of Dara-KRd post-autologous transplant (AHCT) and treatment cessation in pts with confirmed MRD negativity. Methods: Eligible pts had NDMM requiring treatment, CrCl ≥40 ml/min, adequate liver and heart function, ECOG performance status 0-2 with no age limit. There was a planned enrichment for pts with high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities (HRCA). Treatment cycles consisted of daratumumab 16 mg/kg IV days 1,8,15,22 (with typical reduction in frequency with subsequent cycles), carfilzomib 56 mg/m 2 IV days 1,8,15, lenalidomide 25 mg PO days 1-21 and dexamethasone 40 mg PO/IV days 1,8,15,22 repeated every 28 days. Pts received 4 cycles of Dara-KRd as induction, AHCT, and received 0, 4 or 8 cycles of Dara-KRd consolidation, according to MRD status. MRD was evaluated by NGS (ClonoSEQ®) in all pts at end of induction, post-AHCT, and during each 4-cycle block of Dara-KRd consolidation. Primary endpoint was achievement of MRD negativity (&lt;10 -5 as defined by IMWG) in the intent-to-treat population. Other endpoints included MRD &lt;10 -6 and complete response (CR) by IMWG criteria. Pts received therapy until achievement of two consecutive MRD &lt;10 -5 (confirmed MRD-negativity, i.e., post-induction and post-AHCT or post-AHCT and during consolidation). Confirmed MRD-negative pts entered treatment-free observation and MRD surveillance ("MRD-SURE" phase) with surveillance for MRD resurgence 6 months after treatment cessation and yearly thereafter. Pts completing consolidation without confirmed MRD-negativity received lenalidomide maintenance. Results: The study accrued 123 participants between 03/2018 and 09/2020. Fifty-three patients (43%) had no HRCA, 46 (37%) had 1 and 24 (20%) had 2+ HRCA [gain 1q, t(4;14), t(14;16), t(14;20) or del(17p)]. Median age was 60 y (36-79) and 20% were 70 or older. Twenty-three percent of pts were non-white, 20% had ECOG 2, 21% had high LDH, and 20% R-ISS3. Disease was trackable by NGS-MRD in 118 (95.9%) of pts. Median follow up is 25.1 mo. Four pts remain on protocol treatment, 20 transitioned to lenalidomide maintenance and 84 (71.2%) have reached confirmed MRD negativity and entered MRD-SURE. For those patients, median follow up post treatment cessation is 14.2 mo. Most common severe adverse events were pneumonia (N=8), and venous thromboembolism (N=3) and 3 patients died during treatment. Overall, 80% of pts have achieved MRD negativity and 66 % MRD &lt; 10 -6. Depth of response improved with each phase of therapy and became similar in patients with 0, 1 or 2+ HR abnormalities as assessed post-AHCT and with MRD-guided consolidation (Figure 1). A similar proportion of patients with 0, 1 and 2+ HRCA reached MRD negativity (78. % vs. 82% vs 79 %) and MRD&lt;10 -6 (64% vs. 73% vs. 58%). Response ≥CR was obtained in 86% of pts. Two-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 87% (91%, 97%, 58% for patients with 0, 1 and 2+ HRCA respectively) and 2-year overall survival (OS) was 94% (96%, 100%, and 75% for patients with 0, 1 and 2+ HRCA respectively, Figure 2). None of the pts reaching MRD-SURE has died from MM recurrence. Cumulative incidence of MRD resurgence or IMWG progression 12 months after cessation of therapy was 4%, 0% and 27% for patients with 0, 1 or 2+ HR abnormalities respectively. Conclusion: Monoclonal antibody-based quadruplet therapy, AHCT and MRD response-adapted consolidation therapy leads to the highest rate of MRD negativity reported in NDMM. Near all patients with 0 or 1 HRCA and confirmed MRD negativity remain free of IMWG progression or MRD resurgence despite cessation of treatment. While most patients with ultra-high risk MM reach deep responses with this approach, novel consolidative strategies are needed. For most patients with NDMM, this strategy creates the opportunity of MRD surveillance as an experimental alternative to the burden of indefinite maintenance. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Costa: Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Chhabra: GSK: Honoraria. Dholaria: Janssen: Research Funding; Jazz: Speakers Bureau; MEI: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Angiocrine: Research Funding; Poseida: Research Funding; Celgene: Speakers Bureau. Silbermann: Sanofi Genzyme: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Giri: CareVive: Honoraria, Research Funding; PackHealth: Research Funding. Hari: GSK: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Millenium: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Adaptive Biotech: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Oncopeptides: 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, Other, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene-BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. OffLabel Disclosure: Carfilzomib for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma