Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Am J Hematol 2021 Jun 23. Epub 2021 Jun 23.

Karyopharm Therapeutics, Newton, MA, USA.

Methods Mol Biol 2021 ;2348:189-204

Department of Medical Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

The human genome contains thousands of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), even outnumbering protein-coding genes. These molecules can play a pivotal role in the development and progression of human disease, including cancer, and are susceptible to therapeutic intervention. Evidence of biologic function, however, is still missing for the vast majority of them. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2021 ;2348:157-166

Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.

Despite substantial advancements have been achieved in the identification of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) molecules, many challenges still remain into their functional characterization. Loss-of-function approaches are needed to study oncogenic lncRNAs, which appear more difficult to knock down by RNA interference as compared to mRNAs. In this chapter, we present a protocol based on the use of a novel class of antisense oligonucleotides, named locked nucleic acid (LNA) GapmeRs, to inhibit the oncogenic lncRNA NEAT1 in multiple myeloma cells. Read More

Ann Biol Clin (Paris) 2021 Jun 21. Epub 2021 Jun 21.

Hematobiology Department, Aziza Othmana Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.

Radiol Med 2021 Jun 22. Epub 2021 Jun 22.

Department of Radiology, Peking University Third Hospital, 49 North Garden Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the feasibility of predicting high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities (HRCAs) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) using a spinal MRI-based radiomics method.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed the radiomic features of 248 lesions (HRCA [n = 111] and non-HRCA [n = 137]) using T1WI, T2WI, and fat suppression T2WI. To construct the radiomics model, the top nine most frequent radiomic features were selected using logistic regression (LR) machine-learning processes. Read More

Cureus 2021 May 18;13(5):e15102. Epub 2021 May 18.

Department of Radiology, Teine Keijinkai Medical Center, Sapporo, JPN.

Light chain deposition disease (LCDD) is characterized by the deposition of monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains in the kidney, which can cause end-stage kidney disease if not treated. While kidney biopsy is required for definitive diagnosis, choosing an appropriate biopsy method may be problematic when examining patients with atrophic kidneys. A 66-year-old Japanese man was referred to our institution with a three-month history of leg edema. Read More

Cancer Res 2021 Jun 22. Epub 2021 Jun 22.

Experimental Oncology and Hematology, Department of Oncology and Hematology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen.

The HIV-protease inhibitor nelfinavir has shown broad anti-cancer activity in various preclinical and clinical contexts. In patients with advanced, proteasome inhibitor (PI)-refractory multiple myeloma (MM), nelfinavir-based therapy resulted in 65% partial response or better, suggesting that this may be a highly active chemotherapeutic option in this setting. The broad anti-cancer mechanism of action of nelfinavir implies that it interferes with fundamental aspects of cancer cell biology. Read More

Mol Cancer Ther 2021 Jun 22. Epub 2021 Jun 22.

Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a human gammaherpesvirus associated with the development of hematopoietic cancers of B-lymphocyte origin, including AIDS-related non-Hodgkin lymphoma (AIDS-NHL). Primary infection of B-cells with EBV results in their polyclonal activation and immortalization. The transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1), also known as CD71, is important for iron uptake and regulation of cellular proliferation. Read More

Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk 2021 May 24. Epub 2021 May 24.

Hospital Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France.

Background: The Collaboration to Collect Autologous Transplant Outcomes in Lymphoma and Myeloma (CALM) study has provided an opportunity to evaluate the real-world outcomes of patients with myeloma. The aim of this study was to compare the outcome according to the different subtypes of myeloma using CALM data.

Patients: This study compared overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and complete remission (CR) and the impact of novel versus non-novel drug containing induction regimens prior to autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) of 2802 patients with "usual" and "rare" myelomas. Read More

J Orthop Surg Res 2021 Jun 22;16(1):400. Epub 2021 Jun 22.

Department of Spinal Surgery, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, 100029, China.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety between denosumab and zoledronic acid for advanced cancer with bone metastasis.

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane library databases were searched for randomized controlled trials up to December 2020 that compared denosumab and zoledronic acid in the treatment of advanced cancer with bone metastasis. The following clinical outcomes were extracted for analysis: time to first skeletal-related event, time to first-and-subsequent skeletal-related events, overall survival, and disease progression. Read More

Diving Hyperb Med 2021 Jun;51(2):216-219

University of Health Sciences, Kartal Dr Lütfi Kirdar City Hospital, Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Istanbul, Turkey.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a potentially life-threatening muco-cutaneous disease, largely caused by an idiosyncratic reaction to medication or infectious disease, and is characterised by acute necrosis of the epidermis. No definitive consensus regarding the treatment of TEN has been agreed. A 60-year-old woman, diagnosed with multiple myeloma three months prior, was admitted with signs of TEN to the intensive care burns unit. Read More

Hematol Oncol Stem Cell Ther 2021 Jun 10. Epub 2021 Jun 10.

Department of Hematology and Oncology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.

Priapism is defined as a persistent penile erection lasting more than 4 h. We searched the literature for reviews, case reports, and series for patients with lymphoproliferative disorders who developed priapism. The search involved all the lymphoproliferative disorders included in the revised 2016 World Health Organization classification of lymphoid neoplasms including chronic lymphocytic leukemia, multiple myeloma, Waldenström macroglobulinemia, and lymphomas. Read More

Future Oncol 2021 Jun 22. Epub 2021 Jun 22.

Department of Hematology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, DK-9000, Denmark.

To estimate current real-world costs of drugs and supportive care for the treatment of multiple myeloma in a tax-based health system. Forty-one patients were included from a personalized medicine study (2016-2019). Detailed information was collected from patient journals and hospital registries to estimate the total and mean costs using inverse probability weighting of censored data. Read More

Cureus 2021 May 18;13(5):e15098. Epub 2021 May 18.

Critical Care, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA.

Daratumumab (dara) belongs to a class of monoclonal antibodies that target CD38 receptors expressed on multiple myeloma (MM) cells. It was first approved for MM treatment in 2015. The efficacy and safety of dara have been reported in many studies. Read More

Cureus 2021 May 18;13(5):e15089. Epub 2021 May 18.

Infectious Diseases, Aster Medcity, Kochi, IND.

Infections remain one of the major complications in patients with multiple myeloma, having a significant impact on morbidity and mortality. The increased risk of infection in these patients are a result of various factors contributing to the impairment of immune system caused by the disease and the chemotherapy regimens given during the treatment phases. Here we report a rare case of pneumococcal bacteraemia and cryptococcal meningitis dual infection in a patient with underlying multiple myeloma who had a favourable clinical outcome. Read More

Pathology 2021 Jun 18. Epub 2021 Jun 18.

Department of Diagnostic Genomics, ACT Pathology, Canberra Health Services, Canberra, ACT, Australia; Department of Haematology, ACT Pathology, Canberra Health Services, Canberra, ACT, Australia; Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia. Electronic address:

J Transl Med 2021 Jun 21;19(1):265. Epub 2021 Jun 21.

INSERM UMR1098, Right, EFSBFC, UFC, Laboratoire de Thérapeutique Immuno-Moléculaire Et Cellulaire Des Cancers, 8 rue du Dr Jean François Xavier Girod, 25020, Besançon, France.

Background: Genetically engineered chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T lymphocytes are promising therapeutic tools for cancer. Four CAR T cell drugs, including tisagenlecleucel (tisa-cel) and axicabtagene-ciloleucel (axi-cel), all targeting CD19, are currently approved for treating B cell malignancies. Flow cytometry (FC) remains the standard for monitoring CAR T cells using a recombinant biotinylated target protein. Read More

Future Oncol 2021 Jun 22. Epub 2021 Jun 22.

Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

NKTR-255 is an investigational polyethylene glycol-modified recombinant human IL-15 (rhIL-15) receptor agonist, designed to improve the immunotherapeutic and anti-cancer benefit observed with rhIL-15 while circumventing the toxicities associated with this therapy. In preclinical studies, NKTR-255 has demonstrated enhanced proliferation and function of CD8 T cells and natural killer cells, as well as enhanced anti-tumor activity and survival both as monotherapy and in combination with monoclonal antibodies in multiple cancer models. Here, we describe the rationale and design of the first-in-human Phase I, dose-escalation and dose-expansion study of NKTR-255 alone and in combination with daratumumab or rituximab in adults with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that will determine the maximum tolerated dose and recommended Phase II dose for NKTR-255. Read More

Transplant Cell Ther 2021 Jun 18. Epub 2021 Jun 18.

Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Electronic address:

We report the outcomes of 117 newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients who received novel agents induction, had a poor response to induction and were mobilized using intravenous intermediate-dose cyclophosphamide (82%) or VD-PACE (18%) plus G-CSF and "on-demand" plerixafor. The median PFS and OS of the chemo-mobilized cohort were 21 months (95% CI 15-71) and 58 months (95% CI 47-80), respectively. We compared our cohort to a 117-patient cohort matched by the level of response at pretransplant evaluation. Read More

Transplant Cell Ther 2021 Jun 18. Epub 2021 Jun 18.

Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL; Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL. Electronic address:

Background: Therapeutic practices for multiple myeloma (MM) have evolved, such that novel-agent-based therapy and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (aPBSCT) is the current standard. Whether cause-specific mortality has changed with time remains unclear.

Objective: we examined late cause-specific mortality among patients with MM receiving aPBSCT from 1989-2014. Read More

Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 2021 Jun 21:e13481. Epub 2021 Jun 21.

Department of Research and Development, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation (Integraal Kankercentrum Nederland, IKNL), Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Objective: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a rare and incurable disease. Because new treatments improved survival rates, return to work (RTW) became more relevant to MM patients of working age. Also, (health care) experts may be confronted with specific obstacles in guiding MM patients' RTW. Read More

Blood Adv 2021 06;5(12):2593-2607

Center for Translational Immunology and.

Novel combination therapies have markedly improved the lifespan of patients with multiple myeloma (MM), but drug resistance and disease relapse remain major clinical problems. Dexamethasone and other glucocorticoids are a cornerstone of conventional and new combination therapies for MM, although their use is accompanied by serious side effects. We aimed to uncover drug combinations that act in synergy and, as such, allow reduced dosing while remaining effective. Read More

Lakartidningen 2021 06 18;118. Epub 2021 Jun 18.

docent, överläkare, medicinkliniken, Västmanlands sjukhus, Västerås.

Hyperammonemia-induced encephalopathy is a rare complication of untreated multiple myeloma. This case report illustrates a 78-year-old woman with multiple myeloma who developed acute delirium due to elevated level of serum ammonia in the absence of hepatic failure. One should suspect the condition when common management is ineffective. Read More

Biosci Rep 2021 Jun;41(6)

Clin Hemorheol Microcirc 2021 Jun 16. Epub 2021 Jun 16.

Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.

Background: in this study, with a re-evaluation of the hemorheological determinants previously described in MGUS subjects and in MM patients, we have detected the calculated whole blood viscosity, according whether to the hematocrit and total plasma protein concentration (de Simone formula) or to the haematocrit and plasma fibrinogen level (Merrill formula), and a marker of the erythrocyte aggregation (albumin/fibrinogen level).

Methods: data were expressed as means±standard deviation. Student's t test for unpaired data was used to compare MGUS subjects and MM patients. Read More

Leuk Lymphoma 2021 Jun 21:1-8. Epub 2021 Jun 21.

Department of Hematology/Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.

The BOSTON trial showed that use of once-weekly selinexor, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (SVd) prolonged progression-free survival compared to twice-weekly bortezomib and dexamethasone (Vd) in patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) multiple myeloma (MM). In this study, we constructed a Markov model to assess the cost-effectiveness of SVd versus Vd in R/R MM. We calculated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of each treatment strategy from a US payer perspective, using a lifetime horizon and a willingness-to-pay threshold of $150,000 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). Read More

ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2021 Jun 15;4(3):1050-1065. Epub 2021 Apr 15.

College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia.

Multiple myeloma remains an incurable malignancy of plasma cells. Novel therapies, notably proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory drugs, have improved the survival of multiple myeloma patients; however, patients either present with, or develop resistance to, these therapies. Resistance to traditional chemotherapeutic agents can be caused by cellular drug efflux via adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, but it is still not clear whether these transporters mediate resistance to proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory drugs in multiple myeloma. Read More

Bone Rep 2021 Dec 7;15:101098. Epub 2021 Jun 7.

Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.

Myeloma bone disease is a major complication in multiple myeloma affecting quality of life and survival. It is characterized by increased activity of osteoclasts, bone resorbing cells. Myeloma microenvironment promotes excessive osteoclastogenesis, a process of production of osteoclasts from their precursors, monocytes. Read More

Front Oncol 2021 3;11:692190. Epub 2021 Jun 3.

Houston Methodist Cancer Center, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, United States.

Osteolytic destruction is a hallmark of multiple myeloma and impairs myeloma patients' quality of life. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of myeloma-associated bone disease remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrate the role of myeloma cell-expressed integrin α6 in bone. Read More

Front Oncol 2021 3;11:691705. Epub 2021 Jun 3.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a lethal hematological malignancy characterized by abundant myeloid cells in the microenvironment that fuel tumor progression. But the mechanism by which myeloid cells support myeloma cells has not been fully explored. We aimed to examine their effect on bone marrow cells of MM patients by scRNA-seq transcriptome analysis and reveal a high-resolution gene profile of myeloma cells and myeloma-associated myeloid cells. Read More