A Prospective Pilot Study of Ixazomib, Lenalidomide, and Dexamethasone for Patients with Newly Diagnosed or Relapsed/Refractory POEMS Syndrome

• Published in: Blood 2019-11, Vol.134 (Supplement_1), p.1846-1846
• Main Authors: Dispenzieri, Angela, Mauermann, Michelle, Laplant, Betsy, Lacy, Martha Q., Go, Ronald S., Kapoor, Prashant, Hwa, Yi L., Fonder, Amie, Hobbs, Miriam A., Buadi, Francis K., Hayman, Suzanne R., Leung, Nelson, Lust, John A., Dingli, David, Gonsalves, Wilson I, Kourelis, Taxiarchis, Warsame, Rahma M, Rajkumar, S.Vincent, Kumar, Shaji K., Gertz, Morie A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0006-4971; 1528-0020
• DOI: 10.1182/blood-2019-127366

Background: POEMS syndrome is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome caused by an underlying plasma cell disorder. The combination of a proteasome inhibitor, an IMiD and corticosteroid is known to be highly effective among patients with myeloma. Methods: We conducted a pilot using a 28-day oral regimen of ixazomib (4 mg days 1, 8, 15), lenalidomide (25 mg days 1-21), and dexamethasone (20 mg days 1, 8, 15, 22). Aspirin and acyclovir were used for prophylaxis. Eligibility included a diagnosis of POEMS syndrome, a plasma VEGF 2x normal, a PS < 3. There were two groups [gp] (intended enrollment 15 per gp): Gp 1, 3 cycles for pts destined for high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant; Gp 2, 13 cycles for patients (pts) who had relapsed or refractory disease. Primary endpoint was VEGF complete response (CR=normalization) after 3 cycles. Secondary endpoints included safety, hematologic response, and overall survival at 3 and 12 months. Other domains including PET response (50% reduction in sum of SUVmax from baseline), clinical responses including neurologic response were also studied. Neurologic assessments were done using the modified neurological impairment score (mNiS+7POEMS), the overall neuropathy limitation scale, and the polyneuropathy disability score. To date, 13 pts enrolled since 10/31/2016-4 to Gp 1 and 9 to Gp 2. 11 pts were analyzed (2 dropped out before receiving any therapy). Data were frozen as of 07/15/2019. Results: Median age was 55; 73% were male. Of the evaluable patients, three were newly diagnosed (Gp 1), and 8 had relapsed or refractory disease (Gp 2). 72% met primary endpoint of VEGF CR (Table). At 3 months, the following improvements were seen: VEGF, 10/11; hematologic, 1/3; PET 1/3; neurologic impairment score, 3/11. By 12-months according to the modified nerve impairment scale, 3/6 had achieved objective improvement and 2/6 stable disease. With a median follow-up of 16 months, 2 patients have died of progressive disease and another patient progressed on therapy (Gp 2) with an extravascular leak progression. 27% of patients had grade 3+hematologic AE; 81% had grade 3-4 non-hematologic AE. These included: rash, respiratory infection, diarrhea, and hypotension in 2 each; atrial fibrillation, edema, dyspnea, and thromboembolism in 1 each. 5 pts had non-objective worsening of their neuropathy. Conclusions: These preliminary results suggest that Ixa-Len-Dex is an effective and tolerable regimen for patients with POEMS syndrome. Longer foll