Drug response prediction in high-risk multiple myeloma

A Drug Response Prediction (DRP) score was developed based on gene expression profiling (GEP) from cell lines and tumor samples. Twenty percent of high-risk patients by GEP70 treated in Total Therapy 2 and 3A have a progression-free survival (PFS) of more than 10 years. We used available GEP data from high-risk patients by GEP70 at diagnosis from Total Therapy 2 and 3A to predict the response by the DRP score of drugs used in the treatment of myeloma patients. The DRP score stratified patients further. High-risk myeloma with a predicted sensitivity to melphalan by the DRP score had a prolonged PFS, HR = 2.4 (1.2–4.9, P = 0.014) and those with predicted sensitivity to bortezomib had a HR 5.7 (1.2–27, P = 0.027). In case of predicted sensitivity to bortezomib, a better response to treatment was found (P = 0.022). This method may provide us with a tool for identifying candidates for effective personalized medicine and spare potential non-responders from suffering toxicity.