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Jean-Luc Harousseau

Publications and source records attributed to Jean-Luc Harousseau.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Single versus double autologous stem-cell transplantation for multiple myeloma.

BACKGROUND: We conducted a randomized trial of the treatment of multiple myeloma with high-dose chemotherapy followed by either one or two successive autologous stem-cell transplantations. METHODS: At the time of diagnosis, 399 previously untreated patients under the age of 60 years were randomly assigned to receive a single or double transplant. RESULTS: A complete or a very good partial response was achieved by 42 percent of patients in the single-transplant group and 50 percent of patients in the double-transplant group (P=0.10). The probability of surviving event-free for seven years after the diagnosis was 10 percent in the single-transplant group and 20 percent in the double-transplant group (P=0.03). The estimated overall seven-year survival rate was 21 percent in the single-transplant group and 42 percent in the double-transplant group (P=0.01). Among patients who did not have a very good partial response within three months after one transplantation, the probability of surviving seven years was 11 percent in the single-transplant group and 43 percent in the double-transplant group (P<0.001). Four factors were significantly related to survival: base-line serum levels of beta2-microglobulin (P<0.01) and lactate dehydrogenase (P<0.01), age (P<0.05), and treatment group (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: As compared with a single autologous stem-cell transplantation after high-dose chemotherapy, double transplantation improves overall survival among patients with myeloma, especially those who do not have a very good partial response after undergoing one transplantation.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

CD20 is associated with a small mature plasma cell morphology and t(11;14) in multiple myeloma.

CD20 has been reinvestigated in 66 patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Twelve of the patients (18%) expressed CD20, including 5 of 50 patients at diagnosis presenting 100% CD20+ cells. Seven (58%) of 12 CD20+ patients with MM had a small mature plasma cell morphology as opposed to 4 (7%) of 54 with CD20- MM (P =.0001). Of note, 10 (83%) of 12 patients with CD20+ MM had t(11;14) as opposed to 5 of 54 (9%) CD20- patients (P <.001). All the patients with 100% CD20+ cells presented with t(11;14) and 4 of 5 with a small mature plasma cell morphology. Thus, 66% of the patients with t(11;14) expressed CD20, whereas only 4% of the 51 patients lacking such translocation expressed CD20 (P <.0001). In conclusion, CD20 expression is associated with small mature plasma cell morphology and with t(11;14) in patients with MM.

Antigens, CD20↗

Quinine as a multidrug resistance inhibitor: a phase 3 multicentric randomized study in adult de novo acute myelogenous leukemia.

Based on our previous demonstration that quinine could be used clinically to reverse P-glycoprotein-mediated resistance, we designed a multicenter, randomized trial aiming to determine whether quinine would improve the survival of adult patients (15-60 years old) with de novo acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). These patients randomly received (n = 213) or did not receive (n = 212) a 30 mg/kg/day continuous intravenous infusion of quinine in combination with induction chemotherapy combining idarubicine and cytarabine and, depending on bone marrow examination at day 20, an additional course of cytarabine and mitoxantrone. The mean steady-state quinine concentration was 7.8 mg/L and the mean multidrug resistance reversing activity of serum was 1.96. Complete remission (CR) was obtained in 344 patients (80.9%) without significant influence of quinine. Of the patients in complete remission, 82 were assigned to receive HLA-matched bone marrow transplants, whereas 262 were assigned to 2 courses of intensive consolidation chemotherapy, with or without quinine, depending on initial randomization. The 4-year actuarial overall survival (OS) of the 425 eligible patients was 42.0% +/- 2.5%, without significant influence of quinine. Of 160 patients who could be studied, 54 demonstrated rhodamine 123 efflux. In these patients, quinine significantly improved the CR rate from 12 of 25 (48.0%) to 24 of 29 (82.8%) (P =.01). However, there was no significant difference in OS. Neither mdr1 gene nor P-glycoprotein expression influenced the outcome. We conclude that quinine does not improve the survival of adult patients with de novo AML, even though it improves CR rate in a small subgroup of patients defined by rhodamine 123 efflux.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Prognosis of inv(16)/t(16;16) acute myeloid leukemia (AML): a survey of 110 cases from the French AML Intergroup.

Acute myeloid leukemias (AMLs) carrying inv(16)/t(16;16) chromosomal abnormalities are associated with a good prognosis. However, studies of this AML subtype have been hampered by the few number of patients reported, frequently collectively considered with those with AML carrying the t(8;21) translocation. We performed a retrospective study in 110 patients with inv(16)/t(16;16) AML (median age, 34 years) prospectively enrolled in 6 trials conducted in France between 1987 and 1998, with the aim to investigate prognostic factors for complete remission (CR) achievement and outcome of CR patients in this AML subtype. CR rate was 93%. Bad-prognosis factors for CR achievement were higher white blood cell count (WBC) and lower platelet count (optimal cutpoints at 120 and 30 x 109/L, respectively). At 3 years, estimated overall survival, disease-free survival (DFS), and cumulative incidence of relapse were 58%, 48%, and 42%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, (1) advanced age (optimal cutpoint, 35 years) was the only factor for shorter DFS and (2) advanced age and low platelet count were the 2 factors for shorter survival of CR patients. Outcome of CR patients (1) was not influenced by WBC and cytogenetic findings and (2) was similar among patients allocated to receive allogeneic transplantation, high-dose, or intermediate-dose cytarabine. Interestingly, advanced age was associated with a trend for more frequent additional chromosome abnormalities and predictive of higher cumulative incidence of relapse rather than death in first CR. These results markedly contrast with those reported in patients with t(8;21) AML in whom WBC, and not age, was the main high-risk factor for relapse, DFS, and survival.

Adolescent↗

Gene expression profiling of multiple myeloma reveals molecular portraits in relation to the pathogenesis of the disease.

Although multiple myeloma (MM) is a unique entity, a marked heterogeneity is actually observed among the patients, which has been first related to immunoglobulin (Ig) types and light chain subtypes and more recently to chromosomal abnormalities. To further investigate this genetic heterogeneity, we analyzed gene expression profiles of 92 primary tumors according to their Ig types and light chain subtypes with DNA microarrays. Several clusters of genes involved in various biologic functions such as immune response, cell cycle control, signaling, apoptosis, cell adhesion, and structure significantly discriminated IgA- from IgG-MM. Genes associated with inhibition of differentiation and apoptosis induction were up-regulated while genes associated with immune response, cell cycle control, and apoptosis were down-regulated in IgA-MM. According to the expression of the 61 most discriminating genes, BJ-MM represented a separate subgroup that did not express either the genes characteristic of IgG-MM or those of IgA-MM at a high level. This suggests that transcriptional programs associated to the switch could be maintained up to plasma cell differentiation. Several genes whose products are known to stimulate bone remodeling discriminate between kappa- and lambda-MM. One of these genes, Mip-1alpha, was overexpressed in the kappa subgroup. In addition, we established a strong association (P =.0001) between kappa subgroup expressing high levels of Mip-1alpha and active myeloma bone disease. This study shows that DNA microarrays enable us to perform a molecular dissection of the bioclinical diversity of MM and provide new molecular tools to investigate the pathogenesis of malignant plasma cells.

Adult↗

A phase I study of AMGN-0007, a recombinant osteoprotegerin construct, in patients with multiple myeloma or breast carcinoma related bone metastases.

BACKGROUND: Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a decoy receptor for OPG ligand (OPGL), or receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL). RANKL/RANK interaction is important in terminal differentiation and activation of osteoclasts. In binding to RANKL, OPG blocks differentiation and activation of osteoclasts. AMGN-0007 is a recombinant OPG construct developed as a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of bone disease. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, active-controlled, single-dose, dose escalation study was conducted to determine the safety and effect on bone resorption of AMGN-0007 in patients with multiple myeloma (n = 28) or breast carcinoma (n = 26) with radiologically confirmed lytic bone lesions. Patients were randomized (3:1 ratio) to receive a single dose of either AMGN-0007 (subcutaneously [SC]) or pamidronate (90 mg intravenously) and were followed for 56 days. Medications or other diseases affecting bone metabolism and chemotherapy within 28 days of dosing were exclusion criteria. Biologic activity of AMGN-0007 was assessed by measurement of the surrogate marker of bone resorption, urinary N-telopeptide of collagen (NTX). RESULTS: AMGN-0007 caused a rapid, sustained, dose-dependent decrease in NTX/creatinine levels, which was at least comparable to the profile observed with pamidronate. Four serious adverse events were reported, three in breast carcinoma patients: a fracture in the left femur (pamidronate, considered unrelated), extreme fatigue (0.3 mg/kg AMGN-0007, considered unrelated), and congestive heart failure (1.0 mg/kg AMGN-0007, considered by the investigator to be probably related to doxorubicin and radiation therapy); one event occurred in a multiple myeloma patient: Herpes zoster (pamidronate, considered unrelated). Two multiple myeloma patients (1.0 mg/kg AMGN-0007) had albumin-adjusted serum calcium levels of 1.9 mmol/L on Day 8 but without clinical symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: A single SC dose of AMGN-0007 suppressed bone resorption as indicated by a rapid, sustained, and profound decrease of urinary NTX/creatinine in multiple myeloma and breast carcinoma patients. Changes were comparable to those with pamidronate. AMGN-0007 was well tolerated.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

[Intensive treatment of multiple myeloma].

High dose therapy with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) has been extensively used in the past 15 years in multiple myeloma. The IFM 90 trial has shown that autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is superior to conventional chemotherapy in terms of response rate, event free survival, overall survival. Several other randomized studies confirm that ASCT yields superior complete remission and event free survival rates. However, the benefit for overall survival is not always significant because some patients may receive high dose therapy at the time of relapse. While ASCT appears to be the treatment of choice for younger patients, a number of questions have been addressed in the past few years (optimal conditioning regimen, best source of stem cells, impact of tandem autotransplants, role of maintenance therapy, results of transplantation in patients over 65 years of age or with renal failure). These issues are addressed in this review. Analysis of large cohorts of patients indicate that a low beta 2 microglobulin level and the absence of chromosome 13 abnormalities are associated with a better outcome. However in patients with a high beta 2 microglobulin level and chromosome 13 abnormalities, the prognosis is poor even after tandem transplantations. Allogeneic BMT is offered to a minority of younger patients with an HLA identical sibling. Initial series have shown a high-toxic death rate and no survival advantage compared to ASCT. Yet, allogeneic BMT is possibly the only curative therapy. Reports of CR achieved after infusion of donor lymphoid cells in patients relapsing after allogeneic BMT support the concept of a graft versus myeloma effect. Therefore, the objectives of current studies are to reduce transplant related mortality by using earlier BMT, better selection of patients, better graft-versus host prophylaxis or non myeloablative conditioning regimens.

Aged↗

Translocation t(11;14)(q13;q32) is the hallmark of IgM, IgE, and nonsecretory multiple myeloma variants.

In an attempt to address the issue of cytogenetic features of multiple myeloma (MM) variants, we have analyzed a series of 8 IgM, 9 IgD, 2 IgE, and 14 nonsecretory (NS) MM cases using fluorescence in situ hybridization. A very high incidence (83%) of t(11;14)(q13;q32) was detected in the IgM (7 of 8), IgE (2 of 2), and NS (11 of 14) MM cases, but not in the IgD cases (2 of 9). Of note, no t(4;14) was observed in this cohort of patients. This increased incidence of t(11;14) was associated with 2 dominant features in these variants, namely, a "lymphoplasmacytic" presentation mainly in IgM MM and a lower secreting capacity in the others, 2 features previously associated with t(11;14). Of major interest, t(11;14) was never observed in Waldenström macroglobulinemia or in IgG/IgA "lymphoplasmacytic" lymphomas. Thus, for unknown reasons, t(11;14) is the hallmark of IgM, IgE, and NS MM, (but not IgD MM), with a 5-fold increase of its incidence compared to that of IgG and IgA MM.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11↗

Recurrent 14q32 translocations determine the prognosis of multiple myeloma, especially in patients receiving intensive chemotherapy.

Recently, we have described the biological correlations associated with the main translocations involving the 14q32 chromosomal region, that is, t(14q32), in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). We have now extended the analysis to the prognostic value of these chromosomal rearrangements in 168 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed MM receiving intensive chemotherapy within clinical trials of the Intergroupe Francophone du Myelome (IFM). Patients with t(4;14) displayed a poor outcome (short event-free survival and short overall survival), whereas those with t(11;14) displayed long survival. On the other hand, patients with neither t(4;14) nor t(11;14) presented an intermediate outcome. Importantly, chromosome 13 abnormalities (C13As) significantly influence the prognosis of this latter group. In contrast, C13As affected the outcome of the other patients to a much lesser extent, either because of an almost constant association (in the t(4;14) group) or because of a lack of any significant prognostic impact (in the t(11;14) group; only one event occurred in the 10 patients with t(11;14) and C13As). Considering that t(4;14) and t(11;14) (1) are the only (so far recognized) true, recurrent t(14q32)'s, (2) are linked to specific immunoglobulin isotypes, and (3) display specific outcomes, they represent distinct entities corresponding to a specific oncogenesis and prognosis. These data emphasized the interest in analyzing these two translocations by fluorescence in situ hybridization in prospective therapeutic trials in order to consider these translocations as distinct entities.

Adult↗

Antisense strategy shows that Mcl-1 rather than Bcl-2 or Bcl-x(L) is an essential survival protein of human myeloma cells.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell malignancy that occurs mainly in bone marrow. As MM cells proliferate slowly, it would seem essential to find means of preventing their growth and accumulation inside bone marrow. The present study used an antisense strategy to elucidate the respective roles of Bcl-2, Bcl-x(L), and Mcl-1 proteins in myeloma cell survival. Each antisense oligonucleotide (ASO; Bcl-2, Bcl-x(L), or Mcl-1 ASO) introduced into human myeloma cell lines by electroporation induced a marked reduction in the level of the corresponding protein. Mcl-1 ASO triggers an important decrease of viability in all myeloma cell lines tested and in 2 primary myeloma cells, whereas neither Bcl-2 nor Bcl-x(L) ASO affected the viability of myeloma cells. The decrease of cell viability induced by Mcl-1 ASO treatment was associated with an induction of apoptosis that occurred through the disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential Delta Psi m and the activation of executioner caspase-3. Furthermore, we have shown that interleukin 6 cannot prevent the Mcl-1 ASO-induced apoptosis. Finally, although Bcl-2 ASO treatment alone has no effect, it can sensitize myeloma cell lines to dexamethasone (Dex), whereas Bcl-x(L) ASO in combination with Dex still had no effect. As MM remains an incurable disease despite intensive chemotherapy, these results suggest that Mcl-1 antisense strategy rather than Bcl-2 antisense strategy could be of considerable importance in the treatment of MM.

Aged↗

A white blood cell index as the main prognostic factor in t(8;21) acute myeloid leukemia (AML): a survey of 161 cases from the French AML Intergroup.

While the t(8;21) translocation is one of the most recurrent chromosomal abnormalities in acute myeloid leukemia, prognostic studies have been hampered by the relatively few number of patients reported. We thus performed a large retrospective study in 161 adults and children with t(8;21) acute myeloid leukemia, all prospectively enrolled in 6 different trials conducted in France between 1987 and 1998 (median follow-up 4.9 years). Prognostic studies were performed in the 154 patients who achieved a complete remission. Individual data were registered, including sex, age, blood and marrow counts, extramedullary disease, and cytogenetics. The value of allogeneic stem cell transplantation versus chemotherapy as postremission therapy was evaluated according to the intent-to-treat principle. Estimated 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival were 52% and 59%, respectively. Outcome was not significantly better in patients from the stem cell transplantation group (estimated 5-year DFS and survival, 56% vs 52% and 67% vs 57%; P =.55 and.64, respectively). White blood cell count (WBC) was the only identified prognostic factor. To further take into account the spontaneous differentiation potential of the leukemic clone, a WBC index was derived as the product of WBC by the ratio of marrow blast. This WBC index was a more powerful factor than the original WBC, allowing us to distinguish 3 subgroups of patients with different outcomes (low index, < 2.5; intermediate index, 2.5-20; high index, 20 or more). In multivariate analysis, the WBC index was the only prognostic factor for DFS (P =.003), complete remission duration (P =.002), and overall survival (P =.04).

Acute Disease↗

Induction of leukemia-specific cytotoxic response by cross-presentation of late-apoptotic leukemic blasts by autologous dendritic cells of nonleukemic origin.

Acute myeloid leukemias (AMLs) are monoclonal proliferations of undifferentiated myeloid progenitors in blood and bone marrow. Long-term remissions are achieved in <50% of patients. There is hope that activation of specific antileukemic immune responses could efficiently eliminate minimal residual disease at the end of chemotherapy and decrease the frequency of relapses. It was demonstrated that AML leukemic blasts can acquire the morphology and phenotype of dendritic cells (DCs), i.e., differentiate into leukemic DCs. However, this method has limitations as a potential immunotherapy. The alternative approach for the induction of leukemia-specific cytotoxicity we explored in this study consisted of using DCs of nonleukemic origin, pulsed with autologous apoptotic leukemic blasts. We show that mature pulsed nonleukemic DCs were successfully generated from remission samples of all tested patients with minimal interindividual differences. Mature pulsed DCs were used as antigen-presenting cells for leukemia-specific CTL induction. Specific cytotoxic activity against autologous AML blasts was demonstrated. Tumor lysis was autologous blast specific, with no killing activity against allogeneic leukemic cells or autologous mature unpulsed DCs and was MHC class I and class II restricted. In one patient, autologous CTLs stimulated by leukemic DCs or pulsed nonleukemic DCs showed similar significant cytotoxic activity against autologous AML cells. These findings demonstrate the induction of leukemia-specific cytotoxic response by nonleukemic mature DCs cross-presenting apoptotic leukemic blasts and offer a complementary approach to the use of leukemic DCs. We believe that this strategy permits the generation of DC vaccines for the majority of patients with hematological malignancies.

Acute Disease↗

Oncogenesis of multiple myeloma: 14q32 and 13q chromosomal abnormalities are not randomly distributed, but correlate with natural history, immunological features, and clinical presentation.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma-cell malignancy characterized by marked epidemiological, biological, and clinical heterogeneity. The goal of this study was to find a genetic basis for this heterogeneity. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, we analyzed a prospective cohort of 901 patients with various plasma-cell disorders--monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance, smoldering MM, MM, and primary plasma-cell leukemia--for genetic abnormalities involving the 13q14 and 14q32 chromosomal regions; the patients were consecutively enrolled in the Intergroupe Francophone du Myélome clinical trials, We performed statistical analyses comparing these chromosomal abnormalities in terms of immunological (ie, immunoglobulin types and light-chain subtypes) and clinical status and, to some extent, prognostic features. It was found that 14q32 translocations and del(13) are the most frequent chromosomal abnormalities, observed in 75% and 45% of the patients, respectively, and are not randomly distributed, but interconnected. Second, correlations between them allowed us to define 4 major genetic categories of patients: (1) patients lacking any 14q32 abnormality (25%) and generally also lacking del(13); (2) patients presenting either t(4;14) or t(14;16), almost always associated with a del(13) (15% of patients); (3) patients with other 14q32 abnormalities and presenting del(13) (25%); and (4) patients with other 14q32 abnormalities but not presenting del(13) (35%). Third, we show that this genetic stratification is highly correlated with immunological status and clinical presentation and with some major prognostic factors. For the first time, this study gives genetic support to the heterogeneity observed in patients with MM and demonstrates that the 14q32 and 13q chromosomal abnormalities are not randomly distributed. The strong correlations we found might be the basis for a novel genetic classification of MM, as has been previously demonstrated for leukemias and lymphomas. Furthermore, our study supports different models for MM oncogenesis.

Adult↗

Comparison of 200 mg/m(2) melphalan and 8 Gy total body irradiation plus 140 mg/m(2) melphalan as conditioning regimens for peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: final analysis of the Intergroupe Francophone du Myélome 9502 randomized trial.

High-dose therapy has become a common treatment for myeloma. The objective of this study (Intergroupe Francophone du Myélome [IFM] 9502 trial) was to compare in a prospective and randomized trial the 2 most widely used conditioning regimens before autologous stem cell transplantation in newly diagnosed symptomatic patients younger than 65 years old: 8 Gy total body irradiation plus 140 mg/m(2) melphalan (arm A) versus 200 mg/m(2) melphalan (arm B). A total of 282 evaluable patients were compared--140 in arm A and 142 in arm B. Baseline characteristics and disease response to 4 cycles of the VAD regimen performed before randomization and autologous stem cell transplantation were identical in the 2 treatment arms. In arm B, hematologic recovery was significantly faster for both the duration of neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, transfusion requirements were also significantly lower, and the median duration of hospitalization was significantly shorter. In arm A, the incidence of severe mucositis was significantly increased. The median duration of event-free survival was similar in both arms (21 vs 20.5 months, P =.6), but the 45-month survival was 65.8% in arm B versus 45.5% in arm A (P =.05). This difference might be attributed in part to better salvage regimens after relapse in arm B compared with arm A. We conclude that 200 mg/m(2) melphalan is a less toxic and at least as effective conditioning regimen when compared with 8 Gy total body irradiation with 140 mg/m(2) melphalan. This regimen should be considered as the standard of care before autologous stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma.

Adult↗

The role of stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma.

High-dose therapy with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) has been extensively used in the past 15 years in multiple myeloma. The IFM 90 trial has shown that autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is superior to conventional chemotherapy in terms of response rate, event free survival, overall survival. Several other randomized studies confirm that ASCT yields superior complete remission and event free survival rates. However, the benefit for overall survival is not always significant because some patients may receive high-dose therapy at the time of relapse. While ASCT appears to be the treatment of choice for younger patients, a number of questions have been addressed in the past few years (optimal conditioning regimen, best source of stem cells, impact of tandem autotransplants, role of maintenance therapy, results of transplantation in patients over 65 years of age or with renal failure). These issues are addressed in this review. Analysis of large cohorts of patients indicate that a low beta2 microglobulin level and the absence of chromosome 13 abnormalities are associated with a better outcome. However patients with a high-beta2 microglobulin level and chromosome 13 abnormalities, the prognosis is poor even after tandem transplantations. Allogeneic BMT is offered to a minority of younger patients with an HLA identical sibling. Initial series have shown a high-toxic death rate and no survival advantage compared to ASCT. However, allogeneic BMT is possibly the only curative therapy. Reports of CR achieved after infusion of donor lymphoid cells in patients relapsing after allogeneic BMT support the concept of graft versus myeloma effect. Therefore, the objectives of current studies is to reduce transplant related mortality by using earlier BMT, better selection of patients, better graft-versus host prophylaxis or non myeloablative conditioning regimens.

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation↗