T(11;14) translocation not linked to worse outcomes in multiple myeloma

In patients with multiple myeloma (MM), the chromosome translocation t(11;14) does not seem to be associated with worse prognosis, resulting in similar treatment outcomes as other standard-risk subgroups, reports a recent study.

Drawing from a US database, the researchers conducted a retrospective observational cohort analysis of 6,138 MM patients, of whom 1,624 and 2,544 were deemed to be at high and standard risk, respectively, according to the Stratification for Myeloma and Risk-Adapted Therapy (mSMART) criteria. Meanwhile, 645 patients harboured the t(11;14) translocation.

Outcomes included time to next treatment (TTNT), defined as the time from treatment initiation to the day before the start of the next treatment or death. Patterns of first-, second-, and third-line therapy were also assessed, as was overall survival (OS).

Across all lines of treatment, median TTNT was shorter for high-risk patients than standard-risk comparators, or than patients who harboured t(11;14). No such difference was reported between the t(11;14)-positive and standard-risk groups.

In the third-line treatment setting, the median TTNT in high-risk patients was 8.6 months. In comparison, t(11;14)-positive and standard-risk showed median TTNT of 13.3 and 12.4 months, respectively.

Similarly, high-risk patients had the poorest median OS across all lines of treatment, while the difference between t(11;14)-positive and standard-risk patients was small (first-line treatment: 48.9 vs 74.0 and 77.0 months, respectively).

“Novel therapeutics targeted to defined subgroups offer an opportunity for more personalized medicine in MM based on genomic profiles to optimize patient outcomes,” the researchers said. “This is true not just in high-risk populations but also in other defined subgroups, such as patients with t(11;14)-positive MM, a population for whom one-third also harbour additional high-risk cytogenetic features.”