PRESENTED at the recent 2025 COMy (Controversies in Multiple Myeloma) Congress, a new study has identified specific biomarkers that may help predict frailty and survival in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM), offering fresh insight into the biological underpinnings of poor outcomes in this population.
While frailty is known to be a predictor of adverse outcomes in NDMM, a widely accepted biomarker has been lacking. Researchers in this study explored the role of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) molecules, which are known mediators of frailty through a process known as “inflammaging”.
Using stored plasma samples from 59 NDMM patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2017, investigators measured concentrations of 39 SASP factors via Luminex assays and ELISA. They found that several SASP molecules, including TNF-RI, IL-6, IL-8, and Activin A, had a statistically significant correlation with a cumulative deficit frailty index, independent of age, disease stage, and cytogenetic risk.
Over a median follow-up of five years, these same biomarkers, along with others such as VEGF, ICAM-1, and RAGE, were associated with decreased overall survival (OS). A panel of five SASP molecules demonstrated superior predictive power for OS compared to individual factors, age, or frailty index alone.
The median patient age was 60, and 39% were considered frail. Treatments varied, including proteasome inhibitor (PI), immunomodulator (IMiD), and combination-based induction regimens.
These findings suggest that SASP profiling could serve as an objective tool for risk stratification and treatment guidance in NDMM, paving the way for more personalised care approaches.
Reference
Abdallah N et al. The SASP as frailty biomarkers in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. COMy 2025.
