Publications by authors named "Della Pepa Roberta"

Daratumumab combined with bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone (Dara-VTD) is a highly effective induction therapy for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients eligible for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). However, its impact on stem cell mobilization requires a critical evaluation. This study examines the effects of Dara-VTD on stem cell mobilization and collection outcomes.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

: In the randomized, phase-3 IKEMA trial, the triplet isatuximab, carfilzomib, and dexamethasone (IsaKd) demonstrated superior clinical benefit compared to those of carfilzomib and dexamethasone alone in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma after 1-3 prior treatments. : Our real-world, AENEID study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of IsaKd in patients who relapsed after frontline lenalidomide treatment, poorly represented in the IKEMA trial. Specifically, in the present multicenter analysis, we enrolled eighty-two patients who received, between April 2022 and September 2024 and outside of clinical trials, at least one cycle of IsaKd as a second-line treatment at the first relapse after induction therapy, autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), and lenalidomide maintenance.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) research on the impact of +1q abnormalities in real-world settings is limited. This study evaluated the prognostic and predictive significance of 1q gain [gain(1q)] and amplification [ampl(1q)] in 635 RRMM patients treated with daratumumab-, elotuzumab-, and carfilzomib-based triplet regimens. Patients with +1q abnormalities had lower deep response rates [≥ CR: 9.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This multicenter real-world analysis evaluated the efficacy of isatuximab, pomalidomide, and dexamethasone (IsaPd) in 51 patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who were refractory to daratumumab (Dara-R). The majority were under 70 years old (60.8%), predominantly female (56.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Isatuximab, a novel anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, is approved in combination with carfilzomib and dexamethasone (Isa-Kd) in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) patients. Because of its recent introduction, real-world efficacy and safety are poorly reported. In this Italian multicenter real-life observational retrospective study, efficacy and safety of the Isa-Kd regimen were evaluated in a cohort of 103 RRMM patients.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In multiple myeloma (MM) bone marrow infiltration by monoclonal plasma cells can occur in both focal and diffuse manner, making staging and prognosis rather difficult. The aim of our study was to test whether texture analysis of 18 F-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) images can predict survival in MM patients. Forty-six patients underwent 18 F-FDG-PET/CT before treatment.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Belantamab mafodotin is the first-in-class antibody-drug conjugates targeting B-cell maturation antigen to have demonstrated effectiveness in triple-class refractory multiple myeloma (TCR-MM) patients. We performed a retrospective study including 78 TCR patients, with at least four prior lines of therapy (LOTs), who received belantamab mafodotin within named patient program and expanded access program in Italy between 2020 and 2022. Median age was 65 years (range 42-86 years), ECOG performance status was ≥1 in 45% of patients.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - The ELOQUENT-3 trial found that the combination of elotuzumab, pomalidomide, and dexamethasone (EloPd) is more effective and safer than pomalidomide and dexamethasone (Pd) for treating relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) patients who have undergone at least two prior therapies.
  • - An 18-month follow-up of 319 RRMM patients treated with EloPd in Italy revealed that 66.4% experienced disease progression or death, with median progression-free survival and overall survival recorded at 7.5 and 19.2 months, respectively.
  • - While EloPd remains a viable treatment option,
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Therapeutic strategies for multiple myeloma (MM) have significantly improved, especially with the introduction of new agents, leading to better treatment outcomes.
  • BCMA is a key target for MM treatment, and innovative immune therapies like CAR-engineered T-cells and bispecific antibodies are showing promising results in clinical studies.
  • While these new therapies are groundbreaking, there are concerns regarding their practical implementation due to limitations; therefore, focusing on personalized treatment plans and optimizing therapy combinations is crucial for maximizing benefits and reducing risks for patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Daratumumab, an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, is used for treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) and light chain amyloidosis at an intravenous dosage of 16 mg/kg or at a subcutaneous fixed dose of 1800 mg. However, the subcutaneous formulation has only recently been approved in Europe, and real-life data on its safety are still few.

Objective: In this multicenter retrospective real-life experience, we provided evidence for the safety of subcutaneous daratumumab in plasma cell disorders.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - In the ELOQUENT-3 trial, the combination therapy of elotuzumab, pomalidomide, and dexamethasone (EloPd) showed better results for treating relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) compared to pomalidomide and dexamethasone alone, leading to its approval for specific patients.
  • - A real-world study of 200 RRMM cases in Italy confirmed similar effectiveness and manageable side effects for EloPd, with a 55.4% overall response rate and a median progression-free survival of 7 months, though these were lower than results from the ELOQUENT-3 trial.
  • - Factors like the number of previous
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The reliability and safety of front-line ultrasonography guided core needle biopsy (UG-CNB) performed with specific uniform approach have never been evaluated in a large series of patients with lymphadenopathies suspected of lymphoma. The aim of this study was to assess the overall accuracy of UG-CNB in the lymph node histological diagnosis, using a standard reference based on pathologist consensus, molecular biology, and/or surgery. We retrospectively checked the findings concerning the application of lymph node UG-CNB from four Italian clinical units that routinely utilized 16-gauge diameter modified Menghini needle under power-Doppler ultrasonographic guidance.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The basilic/brachial (BBV), internal jugular (IJV), and subclavian veins (SCV) are commonly used as central venous catheter (CVC) sites. A BBV approach [peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC)] is increasingly used for short- to intermediate-term CVCs for acute leukemias undergoing cytotoxic intensive regimens. In this retrospective study, the catheterization of the BBV, IJV, and SCV in patients with previously untreated acute leukemia was assessed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Belantamab-mafodotin is an innovative and selective treatment for multi-refractory/relapsed multiple myeloma (MM) patients; however, available real-life experiences on efficacy and safety are limited. In this real-world multicentric retrospective study, we enrolled 28 MM patients treated in four Hematology units of Campania region, Italy, who received a median of six treatment lines prior to belantamab-mafodotin. The overall response rate (ORR) was 40% (complete remission, CR, 11%; very good partial remission, VGPR, 11%; and partial remission, PR, 18%), with a median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of 3 and 8 months, respectively.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

We evaluated the impact of liposomal doxorubicin (NPLD) supercharge-containing therapy on interim fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (interim-FDG-PET) responses in high-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) or classical Hodgkin lymphoma (c-HL). In this phase II study (2016-2021), 81 adult patients with advanced-stage DLBCL (n = 53) and c-HL (n = 28) received front-line treatment with R-COMP-dose-intensified (DI) and MBVD-DI. R-COMP-DI consisted of 70 mg/m of NPLD plus standard rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone for three cycles (followed by three cycles with NPLD de-escalated at 50 mg/m ); MBVD-DI consisted of 35 mg/m of NPLD plus standard bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine for two cycles (followed by four cycles with NPLD de-escalated at 25 mg/m ).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) use for detecting lymphoma in the spleen was questioned because of the risk of its inadequate diagnostic accuracy. The aim of the present study was to validate CEUS exam for the identification of spleen involvement by lymphoma in patients at risk. A total of 260 nodules from the spleens of 77 patients with lymph node biopsy-proven non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL; n = 44) or Hodgkin lymphoma (HL; n = 33) at staging (n = 56) or follow-up (n = 21) were collected in a hematology Italian center and retrospectively analyzed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Fine-needle cytology (FNC) is a useful diagnostic tool in the first line evaluation of lymphadenopathy of unknown aetiology. Nevertheless, considering the large number of conditions presenting as lymphadenopathy, lymph node cytology represents a challenging scenario. Recently, an expert panel published the proposal of the Sydney system for performing classification and reporting of lymph node cytopathology; the aim of the present study was to evaluate the applicability of this system.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is a rare variant of HL that accounts for 5% of all HL cases. The expression of CD20 on neoplastic lymphocytes provides a suitable target for novel treatments based on Rituximab. Due to its rarity, consolidated and widely accepted treatment guidelines are still lacking for this disease.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This letter to the editor remarks on the article by Cheng et al., which reported results of a retrospective study that assessed 5‐year progression‐free and overall survival (OS) of 98 patients with hepatitis B surface antigen–seropositive patients receiving R‐CHOP‐21 as remission induction for diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF