Lenalidomide Maintenance and Measurable Residual Disease in a Real-World Multiple Myeloma Transplanted Population Receiving Different Treatment Strategies Guided by Access to Novel Drugs in Brazil

Simple Summary Lenalidomide maintenance (M-Len) after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) improved survival outcomes in multiple myeloma (MM). The present work found that M-Len and measurable residual disease detected by next-generation flow cytometry (NGF) were independent prognostic factors that could be used to discriminate patients at an earlier risk of relapse in a real-world study from Brazil. Despite recent advances in multiple myeloma (MM), the incorporation of novel agents and measurable residual disease (MRD) monitoring in low-income countries remains a challenge. Although lenalidomide maintenance (M-Len) after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) has been associated with improved outcomes and MRD has refined the prognosis of complete response (CR) cases, until now, there have been no data on the benefits of these approaches in Latin America. Here, we evaluate the benefits of M-Len and MRD using next-generation flow cytometry (NGF-MRD) at Day + 100 post-ASCT (n = 53). After ASCT, responses were evaluated based on the International Myeloma Working Group criteria and NGF-MRD. MRD was positive in 60% of patients with a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 31 months vs. not reached (NR) for MRD-negative cases (p = 0.05). The patients who received M-Len continuously had a significantly better PFS and overall survival (OS) than those without M-Len (median PFS: NR vs. 29 months, p = 0.007), with progression in 11% vs. 54% of cases after a median follow-up of 34 months, respectively. In a multivariate analysis, MRD status and M-Len therapy emerged as independent predictors of PFS (median PFS of M-Len/MRD- vs. no M-Len/MRD+ of NR vs. 35 months, respectively; p = 0.01). In summary, M-Len was associated with improved survival outcomes in our real-world MM cohort in Brazil, with MRD emerging as a useful reproducible tool to identify patients at an earlier risk of relapse. The inequity in drug access remains a hurdle in countries with financial constraints, with a negative impact on MM survival.

Automated summary

Lenalidomide maintenance and measurable residual disease (MRD) detected by next-generation flow cytometry were independent prognostic factors for relapse risk in multiple myeloma patients in Brazil. The use of lenalidomide maintenance and MRD monitoring remains a challenge in low-income countries. This study demonstrates the benefits of lenalidomide maintenance and MRD monitoring in improving survival outcomes and identifying early relapse risk in multiple myeloma patients.