Activity of pomalidomide in patients with immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis

Blood. 2012 Jun 7;119(23):5397-404. doi: 10.1182/blood-2012-02-413161. Epub 2012 Apr 4.

Abstract

Immunoglobulin light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare, incurable plasma cell disorder. Its therapy has benefited immensely from the expanding drug armamentarium available for multiple myeloma. Pomalidomide in combination with weekly dexamethasone (Pom/dex) is active among patients with relapsed myeloma. In the present study, we explored the Pom/dex combination in patients with previously treated AL. Patients were eligible for this prospective phase 2 trial if they had had at least one prior regimen and if they had reasonably preserved organ function. Patients were treated with oral Pom/dex. Thirty-three patients were enrolled. The median age was 66 years. Median time from diagnosis to on-study was 37 months. Eighty-two percent had cardiac involvement. The confirmed hematologic response rate was 48%, with a median time to response of 1.9 months. Organ improvement was documented in 5 patients. The median overall and progression-free survival rates were 28 and 14 months, respectively; the 1-year overall and progression-free survival rates were 76% and 59%, respectively. There was a discordance between the hematologic response and the N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide response. The most common grade 3-5 adverse events, regardless of attribution, were neutropenia and fatigue. We conclude that pomalidomide appears to be a valuable drug covering an unmet clinical need in patients with previously treated AL. The trial is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00558896.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Amyloidosis / drug therapy*
  • Amyloidosis / metabolism
  • Amyloidosis / pathology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Dexamethasone / adverse effects
  • Dexamethasone / therapeutic use*
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Drug Therapy, Combination / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Hematologic Tests
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Light Chains / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Plasma Cells / drug effects*
  • Plasma Cells / metabolism
  • Plasma Cells / pathology
  • Thalidomide / adverse effects
  • Thalidomide / analogs & derivatives*
  • Thalidomide / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Immunoglobulin Light Chains
  • Thalidomide
  • Dexamethasone
  • pomalidomide

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00558896