Nelfinavir and lenalidomide/dexamethasone in patients with lenalidomide-refractory multiple myeloma. A phase I/II Trial (SAKK 39/10)

Blood Cancer J. 2019 Aug 27;9(9):70. doi: 10.1038/s41408-019-0228-2.

Abstract

The antiretroviral agent nelfinavir has antimyeloma activity and can overcome resistance to bortezomib. Our phase I/II trial investigated whether adding nelfinavir to lenalidomide-dexamethasone can overcome lenalidomide resistance in lenalidomide-refractory multiple myeloma (MM). Twenty-nine patients were included (high-risk cytogenetic aberrations 31%; ≥2 prior therapy lines 93%; lenalidomide-bortezomib double-refractory 34%). Twenty-four patients (83%) had prior bortezomib and 10 (34%) were lenalidomide-bortezomib double-refractory. They received four cycles of nelfinavir 2500 mg/day with standard-dose lenalidomide (25 mg days 1-21) and dexamethasone (40/20 mg days 1, 8, 15, 22). Minor response or better was achieved in 16 patients (55%; 95% CI 36-74%), including 40% of those who were lenalidomide-bortezomib double-refractory, and partial response or better in nine patients (31%; 95% CI 15-51%). Median progression-free survival was 3.4 (95% CI 2.0-4.9) months and median overall survival 21.6 (13.0-50.1) months. Lenalidomide-related pneumonitis, pneumonia, and neutropenic fever occurred, but there were no unexpected adverse events. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells showed a 45% (95% CI 40-51%) reduction in total proteasome activity from baseline and significant induction of unfolded protein response and autophagy. Thus, nelfinavir-lenalidomide-dexamethasone is an active oral combination in lenalidomide-refractory MM.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase I
  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Dexamethasone / pharmacology
  • Dexamethasone / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • HIV Protease Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • HIV Protease Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Lenalidomide / pharmacology
  • Lenalidomide / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Myeloma / drug therapy*
  • Multiple Myeloma / pathology
  • Nelfinavir / pharmacology
  • Nelfinavir / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • HIV Protease Inhibitors
  • Dexamethasone
  • Lenalidomide
  • Nelfinavir