Association between allostatic load, symptom burden and mortality in E1A11 trial for myeloma.
Authors: Obeng-Gyasi Samilia , Graham Noah , Kumar Shaji , Lee Ju-Whei , Cella David , Zhao Fengmin , Ip Edward , O'Connell Nathaniel , Hong Fangxin , Peipert John , Gareen Ilana F. , Gray Robert James , Wagner Lynne I. , Carlos Ruth 
Published: June 2021

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Background: Allostatic load (AL) conceptualizes the effects of chronic psychosocial adversity on physiologic dysregulation. To date, studies have shown an association between elevated AL and higher disease-specific and overall mortality among cancer patients; however, none have focused on multiple myeloma (MM) patients. We aim to understand the relationship between baseline AL, symptom burden, and mortality among patients enrolled in the E1A11 therapeutic trial in MM. Methods: ECOG-ACRIN E1A11 was a phase III RCT comparing induction with Bortezomib (Arm A) versus Carfilzomib (Arm B) in conjunction with Lenalidomide +Dexamethasone. AL included 7 biomarkers: BMI, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, C-reactive protein, white blood cell count, albumin and creatinine clearance. AL7 was a composite summary score with a point was assigned for each biomarker value in the highest quartile, except for albumin and creatinine clearance, where a point was assigned for values in the lowest quartile. Endpoints included symptom burden at baseline and ̃1 month, non-completion of induction therapy, and overall survival (OS). Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Multiple Myeloma (FACT-MM) items assessed patient-reported symptom burden, including fatigue (item HI7), pain (GP4), and bother by side effects of treatment (GP5) on a 5-point Likert scale. Multivariable logistic regressions assessed the effect of AL7 (ranging 0-7) on high-pain, -fatigue, and -bother (QOL score > = 3 vs < 3), and non-completion of induction therapy. The effect of AL7 on OS was assessed using multivariable Cox regression. Regression covariates included study arm, age, sex, race, ECOG performance status, and the target symptom burden score at baseline. Results: The study cohort included 1087 patients. Mean baseline AL7 was 1.8 (±1.4). In adjusted analysis, a unit increase in AL7 was associated with a greater odds of high pain (OR 1.15, 95%CI [1.04-1.27]) and high fatigue (OR 1.19, 95%CI [1.07-1.32]) at baseline, which did not persist at ̃1 month (pain OR 0.96, 95%CI [0.84-1.10]; fatigue OR 1.03, 95%CI [0.91-1.16]). There was no association between AL7 and high side effect bother at baseline (OR 1.06, 95% CI [0.83-1.35]) or at ̃1 month (OR 1.06, 95%CI [0.90-1.24]). There was no association between AL7 and induction non-completion (OR 1.07, 95%CI [0.96-1.18]). Notably, each unit increase in AL7 was associated with higher mortality (HR 1.26, 95%CI [1.14-1.39]). Conclusions: Despite its association with fatigue and pain at baseline, AL7 was not associated with these symptoms at ̃1 month nor induction non-completion. However, elevated baseline AL7 was associated with poorer OS. AL composite score at baseline, which we interpret as a measure of physiological dysregulation associated with adverse social factors, may have implications on clinical outcomes within clinical trials despite presumed equal treatment access.