Blood levels of immune cells predict survival in myeloma patients: results of an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group phase 3 trial for newly diagnosed multiple …

NE Kay, TL Leong, N Bone, DH Vesole… - Blood, The Journal …, 2001 - ashpublications.org
NE Kay, TL Leong, N Bone, DH Vesole, PR Greipp, B Van Ness, MM Oken, RA Kyle
Blood, The Journal of the American Society of Hematology, 2001ashpublications.org
Previously, it was reported that patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who have higher
baseline levels of blood CD4+ or CD19+ cells have longer survival. This article extends the
analysis of immune cell levels and survival in a large cohort (N= 504) of patients with MM
entered on Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) phase 3 trial (9486). Newly
diagnosed patients with MM received 2 cycles of vincristine, bischloroethylnitrosourea,
melphalan, cytoxan, prednisone (VBMCP) and were treated on one of 3 randomized arms …
Abstract
Previously, it was reported that patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who have higher baseline levels of blood CD4+or CD19+ cells have longer survival. This article extends the analysis of immune cell levels and survival in a large cohort (N = 504) of patients with MM entered on Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) phase 3 trial (9486). Newly diagnosed patients with MM received 2 cycles of vincristine, bischloroethylnitrosourea, melphalan, cytoxan, prednisone (VBMCP) and were treated on one of 3 randomized arms: VBMCP with either interferon or high-dose cyclophosphamide, or VBMCP alone. Blood immune cell levels were studied at trial entry (baseline), after 2 cycles of chemotherapy, after 2 years of therapy, and at relapse. Baseline CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD19+, and CD4+ subset cell levels were all positively associated with survival (P = .0087 toP < .0001). A multivariate analysis incorporating CD4+ and CD19+ cell levels defined 3 separate groups of patients with MM to survival outcome. Higher CD19+ blood levels were positively associated with MM-patient survival at entry to the study, at year 2, and at relapse (P < .0001 at all 3 timepoints). Patients with MM had evidence of immune cell reconstitution after 2 years of therapy, but the rate and extent of recovery was greater for CD8+, which was greater than CD4+, which was greater than CD19+. This latter data affirms the positive relationship between the quantitative status of the blood immune system in MM and survival. In addition, the importance of the CD19+ blood cells to survival is evident throughout the course of MM. Therapeutic efforts to maintain an intact immune system may be crucial in maximizing chemotherapeutic and/or immunotherapy efforts in this disease.
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