Cereblon expression is a prognostic marker in newly diagnosed POEMS syndrome treated with lenalidomide plus dexamethasone.

Abstract

POEMS syndrome is a rare plasma cell disorder. Lenalidomide has recently emerged as a therapeutic option for POEMS syndrome. Cereblon has been identified as the direct target of lenalidomide, and high cereblon expression is associated with better response and outcome to lenalidomide therapy in multiple myeloma patients. Here, we analyzed the predictive value of cereblon, IKZF1, and IKZF3 in CD138+ selected plasma cells from forty-one newly diagnosed POEMS syndrome patients treated with lenalidomide in combination with dexamethasone at both gene and protein levels. We found that patients with high cereblon expression tended to achieve better hematologic response compared to those with low expression (p = 0.024 for gene expression; p = 0.01 for protein expression). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed high cereblon mRNA expression as an independent prognostic marker for longer progression-free survival (hazard ratio 0.542; 95% CI 0.337-0.871; p = 0.011). In conclusion, our results emphasized the role of cereblon mRNA expression as a unique biomarker for predicting the clinical response and outcome of lenalidomide-based therapy in newly diagnosed POEMS syndrome patients.

• Authors: Qian-Qian Cai, Xue-Min Gao, Jing Le, Hao Zhao, Hao Cai, Xin-Xin Cao, Jian Li
• Journal: Annals of hematology (Ann Hematol) Vol. 100 Issue 6 Pg. 1547-1552 (Jun 2021) ISSN: 1432-0584 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 33839882 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Phase II, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Biomarkers, Tumor
• CRBN protein, human
• Immunologic Factors
• RNA, Messenger
• Dexamethasone
• Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
• Lenalidomide

Topics

• Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing (genetics)
• Adult
• Aged
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (therapeutic use)
• Biomarkers, Tumor (genetics)
• Dexamethasone (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Gene Expression (drug effects)
• Humans
• Immunologic Factors (therapeutic use)
• Lenalidomide (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• POEMS Syndrome (diagnosis, drug therapy, genetics)
• Prognosis
• Prospective Studies
• RNA, Messenger (genetics)
• Treatment Outcome
• Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases (genetics)
• Up-Regulation (drug effects)
• Young Adult