Assessment of Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) After Antineoplastic Treatment in Patients With AL Amyloidosis
Assessment of Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) After Antineoplastic Treatment in Patients With AL Amyloidosis
In this study, the investigators seek to evaluate bone marrow and blood samples and treatment
 responses to see if Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) can be used as a predictive method of
 response to treatment in amyloidosis.
In this study, the investigators seek to evaluate bone marrow and blood samples and treatment
 responses to see if Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) (as described below), can be used as a
 predictive method of response to treatment in amyloidosis.

 Minimal residual disease (MRD) is a concept that has gained significant value as a prognostic
 predictor and has become an emerging constituent of complete response (CR) reassessment in
 multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Studies in MM have demonstrated that up to 30% of patients
 achieving a CR after high-dose therapy will still have detectable MRD in the bone marrow as
 measured by standard-sensitivity flow cytometry or by molecular assays. Virtually every study
 examining MRD in MM has reported that among patients achieving a CR, those who were MRD
 negative (MRD-) had a significantly superior progression-free survival, with some studies
 reporting superior overall survival.

 As amyloidosis is a disease that is very similar to multiple myeloma, the investigators wish
 to evaluate the concept in this disease.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Biopsy-proven systemic AL amyloidosis defined as

 -  At least one + Congo Red stain

 -  Proof of a clonal plasma cell dyscrasia by:

 -  Immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) of the urine or serum

 -  Light chain restriction based on Immunohistochemistry (IHC) in bone marrow plasma
 cells or in the amyloid tissue

 -  Must be scheduled to undergo antineoplastic therapy (this may include high dose
 melphalan and Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation) for AL Amyloidosis (Part II
 enrollments only)

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Co-existing Multiple Myeloma

 -  Prior antineoplastic treatment for AL amyloidosis at time of enrollment.

 -  Prior negative bone marrow biopsy showing no identifiable clone