Moshe Y. Levy M.D.

Auner, H.W., Gavriatopoulou, M., Delimpasi, S., Simonova, M., Spicka, I., Pour, L., Dimopoulos, M.A., Kriachok, I., Pylypenko, H., Leleu, X., Doronin, V., Usenko, G., Hajek, R., Benjamin, R., Dolai, T.K., Sinha, D.K., Venner, C.P., Garg, M., Stevens, D.A., Quach, H., Jagannath, S., Moreau, P., Levy, M., Badros, A., Anderson, L.D., Jr., Bahlis, N.J., Facon, T., Mateos, M.V., Cavo, M., Chai, Y., Arazy, M., Shah, J., Shacham, S., Kauffman, M.G., Richardson, P.G. and Grosicki, S. (2021). “Effect of age and frailty on the efficacy and tolerability of once-weekly selinexor, bortezomib, and dexamethasone in previously treated multiple myeloma.” Am J Hematol 96(6): 708-718.

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Elderly and frail patients with multiple myeloma (MM) are more vulnerable to the toxicity of combination therapies, often resulting in treatment modifications and suboptimal outcomes. The phase 3 BOSTON study showed that once-weekly selinexor and bortezomib with low-dose dexamethasone (XVd) improved PFS and ORR compared with standard twice-weekly bortezomib and moderate-dose dexamethasone (Vd) in patients with previously treated MM. This is a retrospective subgroup analysis of the multicenter, prospective, randomized BOSTON trial. Post hoc analyses were performed to compare XVd versus Vd safety and efficacy according to age and frailty status (<65 and ≥65 years, nonfrail and frail). Patients ≥65 years with XVd had higher ORR (OR 1.77, p = .024), ≥VGPR (OR, 1.68, p = .027), PFS (HR 0.55, p = .002), and improved OS (HR 0.63, p = .030), compared with Vd. In frail patients, XVd was associated with a trend towards better PFS (HR 0.69, p = .08) and OS (HR 0.62, p = .062). Significant improvements were also observed in patients <65 (ORR and TTNT) and nonfrail patients (PFS, ORR, ≥VGPR, and TTNT). Patients treated with XVd had a lower incidence of grade ≥ 2 peripheral neuropathy in ≥65 year-old (22% vs. 37%; p = .0060) and frail patients (15% vs. 44%; p = .0002). Grade ≥3 TEAEs were not observed more often in older compared to younger patients, nor in frail compared to nonfrail patients. XVd is safe and effective in patients <65 and ≥65 and in nonfrail and frail patients with previously treated MM.

Mateos, M.V., Gavriatopoulou, M., Facon, T., Auner, H.W., Leleu, X., Hájek, R., Dimopoulos, M.A., Delimpasi, S., Simonova, M., Špička, I., Pour, L., Kriachok, I., Pylypenko, H., Doronin, V., Usenko, G., Benjamin, R., Dolai, T.K., Sinha, D.K., Venner, C.P., Garg, M., Stevens, D.A., Quach, H., Jagannath, S., Moreau, P., Levy, M., Badros, A.Z., Anderson, L.D., Jr., Bahlis, N.J., Cavo, M., Chai, Y., Jeha, J., Arazy, M., Shah, J., Shacham, S., Kauffman, M.G., Richardson, P.G. and Grosicki, S. (2021). “Effect of prior treatments on selinexor, bortezomib, and dexamethasone in previously treated multiple myeloma.” J Hematol Oncol 14(1): 59.

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Therapeutic regimens for previously treated multiple myeloma (MM) may not provide prolonged disease control and are often complicated by significant adverse events, including peripheral neuropathy. In patients with previously treated MM in the Phase 3 BOSTON study, once weekly selinexor, once weekly bortezomib, and 40 mg dexamethasone (XVd) demonstrated a significantly longer median progression-free survival (PFS), higher response rates, deeper responses, a trend to improved survival, and reduced incidence and severity of bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy when compared with standard twice weekly bortezomib and 80 mg dexamethasone (Vd). The pre-specified analyses described here evaluated the influence of the number of prior lines of therapy, prior treatment with lenalidomide, prior proteasome inhibitor (PI) therapy, prior immunomodulatory drug therapy, and prior autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) on the efficacy and safety of XVd compared with Vd. In this 1:1 randomized study, enrolled patients were assigned to receive once weekly oral selinexor (100 mg) with once weekly subcutaneous bortezomib (1.3 mg/m(2)) and 40 mg per week dexamethasone (XVd) versus standard twice weekly bortezomib and 80 mg per week dexamethasone (Vd). XVd significantly improved PFS, overall response rate, time-to-next-treatment, and showed reduced all grade and grade ≥ 2 peripheral neuropathy compared with Vd regardless of prior treatments, but the benefits of XVd over Vd were more pronounced in patients treated earlier in their disease course who had either received only one prior therapy, had never been treated with a PI, or had prior ASCT. Treatment with XVd improved outcomes as compared to Vd regardless of prior therapies as well as manageable and generally reversible adverse events. XVd was associated with clinical benefit and reduced peripheral neuropathy compared to standard Vd in previously treated MM. These results suggest that the once weekly XVd regimen may be optimally administered to patients earlier in their course of disease, as their first bortezomib-containing regimen, and in those relapsing after ASCT.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03110562). Registered 12 April 2017. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03110562 .

Auner, H.W., Gavriatopoulou, M., Delimpasi, S., Simonova, M., Spicka, I., Pour, L., Dimopoulos, M.A., Kriachok, I., Pylypenko, H., Leleu, X., Doronin, V., Usenko, G., Hajek, R., Benjamin, R., Dolai, T.K., Sinha, D.K., Venner, C.P., Garg, M., Stevens, D.A., Quach, H., Jagannath, S., Moreau, P., Levy, M., Badros, A., Anderson, L.D., Jr., Bahlis, N.J., Facon, T., Mateos, M.V., Cavo, M., Chai, Y., Arazy, M., Shah, J., Shacham, S., Kauffman, M.G., Richardson, P.G. and Grosicki, S. (2021). “Effect of age and frailty on the efficacy and tolerability of once-weekly selinexor, bortezomib, and dexamethasone in previously treated multiple myeloma.” Am J Hematol 96(6): 708-718.

Full text of this article.

Elderly and frail patients with multiple myeloma (MM) are more vulnerable to the toxicity of combination therapies, often resulting in treatment modifications and suboptimal outcomes. The phase 3 BOSTON study showed that once-weekly selinexor and bortezomib with low-dose dexamethasone (XVd) improved PFS and ORR compared with standard twice-weekly bortezomib and moderate-dose dexamethasone (Vd) in patients with previously treated MM. This is a retrospective subgroup analysis of the multicenter, prospective, randomized BOSTON trial. Post hoc analyses were performed to compare XVd versus Vd safety and efficacy according to age and frailty status (<65 and ≥65 years, nonfrail and frail). Patients ≥65 years with XVd had higher ORR (OR 1.77, p = .024), ≥VGPR (OR, 1.68, p = .027), PFS (HR 0.55, p = .002), and improved OS (HR 0.63, p = .030), compared with Vd. In frail patients, XVd was associated with a trend towards better PFS (HR 0.69, p = .08) and OS (HR 0.62, p = .062). Significant improvements were also observed in patients <65 (ORR and TTNT) and nonfrail patients (PFS, ORR, ≥VGPR, and TTNT). Patients treated with XVd had a lower incidence of grade ≥ 2 peripheral neuropathy in ≥65 year-old (22% vs. 37%; p = .0060) and frail patients (15% vs. 44%; p = .0002). Grade ≥3 TEAEs were not observed more often in older compared to younger patients, nor in frail compared to nonfrail patients. XVd is safe and effective in patients <65 and ≥65 and in nonfrail and frail patients with previously treated MM.

Auner, H.W., Gavriatopoulou, M., Delimpasi, S., Simonova, M., Spicka, I., Pour, L., Dimopoulos, M.A., Kriachok, I., Pylypenko, H., Leleu, X., Doronin, V., Usenko, G., Hajek, R., Benjamin, R., Dolai, T.K., Sinha, D.K., Venner, C.P., Garg, M., Stevens, D.A., Quach, H., Jagannath, S., Moreau, P., Levy, M., Badros, A., Anderson, L.D., Jr., Bahlis, N.J., Facon, T., Mateos, M.V., Cavo, M., Chai, Y., Arazy, M., Shah, J., Shacham, S., Kauffman, M.G., Richardson, P.G. and Grosicki, S. (2021). “Effect of Age and Frailty on the Efficacy and Tolerability of Once-Weekly Selinexor, Bortezomib, and Dexamethasone in Previously Treated Multiple Myeloma.” Am J Hematol Mar 23. [Epub ahead of print].

Full text of this article.

Elderly and frail patients with multiple myeloma (MM) are more vulnerable to the toxicity of combination therapies, often resulting in treatment modifications and suboptimal outcomes. The phase 3 BOSTON study showed that once-weekly selinexor and bortezomib with low-dose dexamethasone (XVd) improved PFS and ORR compared with standard twice-weekly bortezomib and moderate-dose dexamethasone (Vd) in patients with previously treated MM. This is a retrospective subgroup analyses of the multicenter, prospective, randomised BOSTON trial. Post hoc analyses were performed to compare XVd versus Vd safety and efficacy according to age and frailty status (<65 and ≥65 years, nonfrail and frail). Patients ≥65 years with XVd had higher ORR (OR 1.77, P=0.024), ≥VGPR (OR, 1.68, P=0.027), PFS (HR 0.55, P=0.002), and improved OS (HR 0.63, P=0.030), compared with Vd. In frail patients, XVd was associated with a trend towards better PFS (HR 0.69, P=0.08) and OS (HR 0.62, P=0.062). Significant improvements were also observed in patients <65 (ORR and TTNT) and nonfrail patients (PFS, ORR, ≥VGPR, and TTNT). Patients treated with XVd had lower incidence of grade ≥2 peripheral neuropathy in ≥65 (22% vs 37%; P=0.0060) and frail patients (15% vs 44%; P=0.0002). Grade ≥3 TEAEs were not observed more often in older compared to younger patients, nor in frail compared to nonfrail patients. XVd is safe and effective in patients <65 and ≥65 and in nonfrail and frail patients with previously treated MM.

Grosicki, S., Simonova, M., Spicka, I., Pour, L., Kriachok, I., Gavriatopoulou, M., Pylypenko, H., Auner, H.W., Leleu, X., Doronin, V., Usenko, G., Bahlis, N.J., Hajek, R., Benjamin, R., Dolai, T.K., Sinha, D.K., Venner, C.P., Garg, M., Gironella, M., Jurczyszyn, A., Robak, P., Galli, M., Wallington-Beddoe, C., Radinoff, A., Salogub, G., Stevens, D.A., Basu, S., Liberati, A.M., Quach, H., Goranova-Marinova, V.S., Bila, J., Katodritou, E., Oliynyk, H., Korenkova, S., Kumar, J., Jagannath, S., Moreau, P., Levy, M., White, D., Gatt, M.E., Facon, T., Mateos, M.V., Cavo, M., Reece, D., Anderson, L.D., Jr., Saint-Martin, J.R., Jeha, J., Joshi, A.A., Chai, Y., Li, L., Peddagali, V., Arazy, M., Shah, J., Shacham, S., Kauffman, M.G., Dimopoulos, M.A., Richardson, P.G. and Delimpasi, S. (2020). “Once-per-week selinexor, bortezomib, and dexamethasone versus twice-per-week bortezomib and dexamethasone in patients with multiple myeloma (BOSTON): a randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial.” Lancet 396(10262): 1563-1573.

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BACKGROUND: Selinexor combined with dexamethasone has shown activity in patients with heavily pre-treated multiple myeloma. In a phase 1b/2 study, the combination of oral selinexor with bortezomib (a proteasome inhibitor) and dexamethasone induced high response rates with low rates of peripheral neuropathy, the main dose-limiting toxicity of bortezomib. We aimed to evaluate the clinical benefit of weekly selinexor, bortezomib, and dexamethasone versus standard bortezomib and dexamethasone in patients with previously treated multiple myeloma. METHODS: This phase 3, randomised, open-label trial was done at 123 sites in 21 countries. Patients aged 18 years or older, who had multiple myeloma, and who had previously been treated with one to three lines of therapy, including proteasome inhibitors, were randomly allocated (1:1) to receive selinexor (100 mg once per week), bortezomib (1·3 mg/m(2) once per week), and dexamethasone (20 mg twice per week), or bortezomib (1·3 mg/m(2) twice per week for the first 24 weeks and once per week thereafter) and dexamethasone (20 mg four times per week for the first 24 weeks and twice per week thereafter). Randomisation was done using interactive response technology and stratified by previous proteasome inhibitor therapy, lines of treatment, and multiple myeloma stage. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival in the intention-to-treat population. Patients who received at least one dose of study treatment were included in the safety population. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03110562. The trial is ongoing, with 55 patients remaining on randomised therapy as of Feb 20, 2020. FINDINGS: Of 457 patients screened for eligibility, 402 were randomly allocated-195 (49%) to the selinexor, bortezomib, and dexamethasone group and 207 (51%) to the bortezomib and dexamethasone group-and the first dose of study medication was given between June 6, 2017, and Feb 5, 2019. Median follow-up durations were 13·2 months [IQR 6·2-19·8] for the selinexor, bortezomib, and dexamethasone group and 16·5 months [9·4-19·8] for the bortezomib and dexamethasone group. Median progression-free survival was 13·93 months (95% CI 11·73-not evaluable) with selinexor, bortezomib, and dexamethasone and 9·46 months (8·11-10·78) with bortezomib and dexamethasone (hazard ratio 0·70 [95% CI 0·53-0·93], p=0·0075). The most frequent grade 3-4 adverse events were thrombocytopenia (77 [39%] of 195 patients in the selinexor, bortezomib, and dexamethasone group vs 35 [17%] of 204 in the bortezomib and dexamethasone group), fatigue (26 [13%] vs two [1%]), anaemia (31 [16%] vs 20 [10%]), and pneumonia (22 [11%] vs 22 [11%]). Peripheral neuropathy of grade 2 or above was less frequent with selinexor, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (41 [21%] patients) than with bortezomib and dexamethasone (70 [34%] patients; odds ratio 0·50 [95% CI 0·32-0·79], p=0·0013). 47 (24%) patients in the selinexor, bortezomib, and dexamethasone group and 62 (30%) in the bortezomib and dexamethasone group died. INTERPRETATION: A once-per-week regimen of selinexor, bortezomib, and dexamethasone is a novel, effective, and convenient treatment option for patients with multiple myeloma who have received one to three previous lines of therapy.