Study of the Efficacy and Safety of RsqVD Combination Therapy for Patients With Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma

This study aims to evaluate the overall response rate after 4 cycles and the best response to induction therapy with combination of lenalidomide, subcutaneous bortezomib, and dexamethasone (RsqVD) in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Participants must have a diagnosis of symptomatic MM, according to International Myeloma Foundation 2003 Diagnostic Criteria:

   * Clonal plasma cells \> 10% on bone marrow biopsy
   * A monoclonal protein (paraprotein) in either serum or urine ( except in the cases of non-secretory myeloma).

   If no monoclonal protein is detected (non-secretory disease), then ≥ 30% monoclonal bone marrow plasma cells and/or a biopsy-proven plasmacytoma required.
   * Evidence of end-organ damage felt related to the plasma cell disorder related organ or tissue impairment (ROTI), commonly referred to by the acronym 'CRAB':

     * Hypercalcaemia: serum calcium (corrected for albumin) \> 10.5mg/sL/\>2.65mmol/L or upper limit of normal
     * Renal insufficiency defined as serum creatinine \> 2mg/sL/177μmol/L
     * Anaemia: Normochromic, normocytic with a haemoglobin value \> 2g/dL below the lower limit of normal or a haemoglobin \< 10g/dL
     * Bone lesions (lytic lesions, severe osteopenia or pathologic fractures) as shown by CT scan and/or skeletal survey
2. Patient has received no prior treatment with any systemic therapy for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

   * Prior treatment of hypercalcaemia or spinal cord compression with corticosteroids does not disqualify the patient (the dose should not exceed the equivalent of 160 mg of dexamethasone in a 2 week period)
   * Bisphosphonates are permitted
   * Patients treated with local radiotherapy with or without concomitant exposure to steroids, for pain control or management of cord/nerve root compression, are eligible. Two weeks must have lapsed since last date of radiotherapy, which is recommended to be a limited field. Patients who require concurrent radiotherapy should have entry to the protocol deferred until the radiotherapy is completed and 2 weeks have passed since the last date of therapy.
3. Voluntary written informed consent before performance of any study-related procedure not part of normal medical care, with the understanding that consent may be withdrawn by the subject at any time without prejudice to future medical care
4. Age ≥ 18 years at the time of signing Informed Consent
5. Females of reproductive potential must adhere to the scheduled pregnancy testing as required in the Lenalidomide Pregnancy Prevention Risk Management Plan. Females of childbearing potential (FCBP) must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test with a sensitivity of at least 50 mlU/mL 10 to14 days prior to therapy and repeated again within 24 hours prior to prescribing lenalidomide for Cycle 1 (prescriptions must be filled within 7 days as required by Lenalidomide Pregnancy Prevention Risk Management Plan) and must either commit to complete abstinence from heterosexual contact or begin TWO acceptable methods of birth control, one highly effective method and one additional effective (barrier) method, AT THE SAME TIME, at least 28 days before she starts taking lenalidomide. FCBP must also agree to ongoing pregnancy testing. Men must practice complete abstinence or agree to use a condom during sexual contact with a FCBP even if they have had a successful vasectomy. All study participants must be registered into the mandatory Lenalidomide Pregnancy Prevention Risk Management Plan, and be willing and able to comply with the requirements of the Lenalidomide Pregnancy Prevention Risk Management Plan.\*A female of childbearing potential is a sexually mature female who: 1) has not undergone a hysterectomy (the surgical removal of the uterus) or bilateral oophorectomy (the surgical removal of both ovaries) or 2) has not been naturally postmenopausal (amenorrhea following cancer therapy does not rule out childbearing potential) for at least 24 consecutive months (i.e. has had menses at any time during the preceding 24 consecutive months)
6. All necessary baseline studies for determining eligibility must be obtained within 21 days prior to enrolment
7. Subject has an ECOG performance status of \< 2 or Karnofsky performance status of ≥ 60 (Appendix E).
8. Subject must be able to adhere to the study visit schedule and other protocol requirements.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patient has ≥ Grade 2 peripheral neuropathy on clinical examination within 14 days before enrolment
2. Renal insufficiency (serum creatinine levels \> 2.5 mg/dL/221μmol/L, calculated creatinine clearance with Cockcroft-Gault formula (see Appendix G) \< 45 ml/min)
3. Subjects with evidence of mucosal or internal bleeding and/or platelet refractory (i.e. unable to maintain a platelet count 50,000 cells/mm3)
4. Subjects with an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \< 1000 cells/mm3. Growth factors may not be used to meet ANC eligibility criteria
5. Subjects with a haemoglobin \< 8.0 g/dL
6. AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT) \> 2 x ULN, bilirubin levels 1.5 ULN
7. Concomitant therapy medications that include corticosteroids (except as indicated in inclusion criteria)
8. Myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to enrolment or has New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III or IV heart failure (Appendix G), uncontrolled angina, severe uncontrolled ventricular arrhythmias, or electrocardiographic evidence of acute ischemia or active conduction system abnormalities
9. Clinically relevant active infection requiring treatment (antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals)
10. Any serious co-morbid condition, including laboratory abnormalities, that in the opinion of the Investigator places the subject at unacceptable risk if he/she were to participate in the study.
11. Female subject is pregnant or breast-feeding
12. Serious psychiatric illness or addiction likely to interfere with participation in this clinical study
13. Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
14. Contraindication to any required concomitant drugs or supportive therapies including hypersensitivity to all anticoagulation and antiplatelet options or hypersensitivity to acyclovir or similar anti-viral drug. History of allergic reaction/hypersensitivity attributed to compounds containing boron, mannitol, polysorbate 80 or sodium citrate dehydrate
15. POEMS syndrome (plasma cell dyscrasia with polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal protein (M-protein) and skin changes)
16. Known seropositive for or active HIV infection or active hepatitis B or C viral infection. Patients who are seropositive because of hepatitis B virus vaccine are eligible
17. Known intolerance to steroid therapy
18. Patient has hypersensitivity to bortezomib, boron, or mannitol
19. Diagnosed or treated for another malignancy within 2 years of enrolment, with the exception of complete resection of basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, an in situ malignancy, or low-risk prostate cancer after curative therapy
20. Participation in clinical trials with other anti-myeloma investigational agents not included in this trial, within 14 days of the start of this trial and throughout the duration of this trial
21. Radiation therapy within 2 weeks before randomization. Enrolment of subjects who require concurrent radiotherapy (which must be localized in its field size) should be deferred until the radiotherapy is completed and 2 weeks have elapsed since the last date of therapy.