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As reported in The Lancet by Meletios Dimopoulos, MD, and colleagues, the phase III CANDOR trial has shown prolonged progression-free survival with carfilzomib, dexamethasone, and daratumumab (KdD) vs carfilzomib and dexamethasone (Kd) in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma....
Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Priority Review to pembrolizumab for the second-line treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma, and also accepted a supplemental new drug application for selinexor for pretreated patients with multiple myeloma....
The addition of the CD38 antibody isatuximab-irfc to carfilzomib and dexamethasone nearly halved the risk of disease progression or death in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, the interim analysis of the phase III IKEMA trial has shown.1 “Isatuximab plus carfilzomib and...
In a pooled analysis reported in Bone Marrow Transplantation,1 Luciano J. Costa, MD, PhD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and colleagues found that autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation followed by reduced-intensity conditioning allogeneic transplantation (auto-allo) was...
Two myeloma specialists weighed in on the disappointing findings of SWOG S1211: Suzanne Lentzsch, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine at Columbia University and Director of the Multiple Myeloma and Amyloidosis Service, and Joshua Richter, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at...
The addition of elotuzumab to a standard three-drug induction regimen did not improve outcomes in patients with high-risk multiple myeloma enrolled in the randomized phase II SWOG S1211 trial, according to findings reported during the ASCO20 Virtual Scientific Program by Saad Zafar Usmani, MD,...
Philip McCarthy, MD, Professor of Oncology and Internal Medicine and Director of the Transplant and Cellular Therapy Center at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York, found the results of the DREAMM-6 study to be “exciting and promising.” He commented: “The overall response...
The antibody-drug conjugate belantamab mafodotin yielded responses as a single agent and in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone in the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, according to two reports from the DREAMM team at the ASCO20 Virtual Scientific Program.1,2 In the...
On May 1, 2020, the combination of daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj was approved for adult patients with newly diagnosed or relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. This new product allows for subcutaneous (SC) dosing of daratumumab.1,2 Daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj is for SC use only. The...
When added to bortezomib and dexamethasone in patients with multiple myeloma, selinexor significantly improved progression-free survival and response rates, with a lower incidence of peripheral neuropathy, compared with bortezomib/dexamethasone alone, according to results from the global phase III...
Philip McCarthy, MD, Professor of Oncology and Internal Medicine and Director of the Transplant and Cellular Therapy Center at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York, found the results of the DREAMM-6 study to be “exciting and promising.” He commented: “The overall response...
Treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma yielded responses with the antibody-drug conjugate belantamab mafodotin, both as a single agent and in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone. Two reports from the DREAMM team expanded on these findings at the ASCO20 Virtual Scientific...
The importance of first-line therapy in multiple myeloma is that the first therapy typically achieves the most impact, and subsequent lines of therapy tend to be less effective, explained ENDURANCE study discussant Jesús G. Berdeja, MD, Director of Myeloma Research at the Sarah Cannon Research...
No superior efficacy was shown with the combination of carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (KRd) in newly treated patients with standard- and intermediate-risk multiple myeloma who are not slated for immediate autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), compared with the standard of care: ...
The global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic forced many cancer societies, including ASCO, to cancel their in-person meetings this year and instead present the latest advancements and new approaches in oncology care via a virtual platform. For the first time in its 56-year history, the ASCO Annual...
Sarah A. Holstein, MD, PhD, of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, discusses top myeloma abstracts from the ASCO20 Virtual Scientific Program: the ENDURANCE trial on carfilzomib, lenalidomide, dexamethasone, and bortezomib; the STaMINA study on transplantation strategies; a first-in-human study on the novel CELMoD agent CC-92480 plus dexamethasone; the CARTITUDE-1 trial on CAR T-cell therapy; and a phase I study of teclistamab (Abstracts LBA3, 8506, 8500, 8505, and 100).
In a French trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Bridoux et al found adding cyclophosphamide to bortezomib/dexamethasone offered no benefit for renal recovery of patients with multiple myeloma and initial cast nephropathy not requiring dialysis. Study Details In the multicenter...
Parameswaran Hari, MD, of the Medical College of Wisconsin, discusses data from four trials and their clinical implications for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma: the KarMMa and EVOLVE studies on CAR T cell therapies; SWOG-1211 on bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamthasone with/without elotuzumab for newly diagnosed, high-risk disease; and the GMMGCONCEPT trial on isatuximab, carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone in front-line treatment (Abstracts 8503, 8504, 8507, 8508).
Paul G. Richardson, MD, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, discusses early results on a cereblon E3 ligase modulator agent combined with dexamethasone in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, with an overall response rate of 48%. The study is ongoing to further optimize dose and schedule (Abstract 8500).
Nikhil C. Munshi, MD, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, discusses initial results from the KarMMa tria, showing that idecabtagene vicleucel, a B-cell maturation antigen-targeted CAR T-cell therapy, demonstrated deep and durable responses in patients with heavily pretreated relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Efficacy and safety data support a favorable clinical benefit-risk profile across the target dose range (Abstract 8503).
Parameswaran Hari, MD, of the Medical College of Wisconsin, discusses phase III data from a 6-year follow-up of the STaMINA trial, which compared progression-free survival among 758 patients with high-risk multiple myeloma who received a second autologous transplant and lenalidomide maintenance; consolidation with lenalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone followed by lenalidomide maintenance; or lenalidomide maintenance alone (Abstract 8506).
The importance of first-line therapy in multiple myeloma is that the first therapy typically achieves the most impact, and subsequent lines of therapy tend to be less effective, explained ENDURANCE study discussant Jesús G. Berdeja, MD, Director of Myeloma Research at the Sarah Cannon Research...
For newly treated patients with standard- and intermediate-risk multiple myeloma who are not slated for immediate autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), the triplet regimen of carfilzomib/lenalidomide/dexamethasone (KRd) failed to improve progression-free survival vs the current...
The treatment approaches to multiple myeloma have significantly changed over the past decade with the introduction of many new active agents. Among them, the monoclonal antibodies have been one of the most exciting advances in myeloma, complementing their success in other hematologic cancers. In...
In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Mark Bustoros, MD, and colleagues identified genomic features of smoldering multiple myeloma associated with a higher risk of progression to multiple myeloma and found that alterations that drive disease progression are already present at the ...
Meletios A. Dimopoulos, MD, of the University of Athens, discusses phase III results from the BOSTON trial, which showed that once-weekly selinexor, bortezomib, and dexamethasone significantly improved progression-free survival and overall response rates compared with twice-weekly bortezomib and dexamethasone in patients previously treated for multiple myeloma (Abstract 8501).
The combination of carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (KRd) did not show superior efficacy in patients with newly diagnosed myeloma absent a high-risk disease prognosis, compared with the standard of care: bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (VRd). Data from a planned interim...
Shaji Kumar, MD, of the Mayo Clinic, discusses findings from the ENDURANCE trial, which showed bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone should remain the standard of care in patients with newly diagnosed standard- or intermediate-risk multiple myeloma, for whom early autologous stem cell transplant is not intended (Abstract LBA3).
In hindsight, the symptoms I began experiencing in the fall of 2013—sudden excruciating back bone pain and severe fatigue—should have tipped me off that I had a serious disease, but 7 years ago, they were easy to explain away. The bone pain was similar to what I had experienced several years...
The 2019 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition featured a cornucopia of sessions. It was impossible to attend all the lectures, symposia, oral presentations, poster presentations, and special events because many were concurrent. Below, we have selected some...
For community oncologists treating patients with multiple myeloma during the COVID-19 pandemic, what resources and clinical pearls would you suggest? Recorded April 24, 2020.
In a pooled analysis reported in the journal Bone Marrow Transplantation, Costa et al found that autologous followed by reduced-intensity conditioning allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (auto-allo) was associated with longer overall survival compared with tandem autologous...
For patients with multiple myeloma who are currently on clinical trials, what are the most pressing issues as we fight COVID-19? Recorded April 24, 2020.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, has your management strategy changed for post-transplant consolidation and maintenance therapy in patients with multiple myeloma? Recorded April 24, 2020.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, do you suggest delaying upfront autologous transplant for patients with multiple myeloma? Recorded April 24, 2020.
As a result of COVID-19, has your decision model for front-line therapy changed for patients with multiple myeloma who are either transplant-eligible or ineligible? Recorded April 24, 2020.
On May 1, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj (Darzalex Faspro) for adult patients with newly diagnosed, relapsed, or refractory multiple myeloma. This new product allows for subcutaneous dosing of daratumumab. Daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj...
In dealing with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), some oncologists are modifying conventional treatment regimens to limit patients’ visits to infusion centers and providers’ offices. The ASCO Post asked C. Ola Landgren, MD, PhD, Chief of the Myeloma Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer...
As reported by Joseph et al in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, follow-up in a large cohort of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma indicates good long-term outcomes with consecutive treatment with lenalidomide/bortezomib/dexamethasone (RVD) induction therapy and risk-adapted maintenance ...
On March 2, 2020, the CD-38-directed cytolytic antibody isatuximab-irfc (Sarclisa) was approved for use in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone for adult patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least two prior therapies including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor.1,2...
This Clinical Trials Resource Guide lists six actively recruiting clinical trials that focus on treating multiple myeloma. These studies, ranging from phase I to phase III, are evaluating the safety and efficacy of vaccines, cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and drug treatment regimens. Some studies center ...
As reported in The Lancet by Michel Attal, MD, of the Institut Universitaire du Cancer Toulouse Oncopole, France, and colleagues, the phase III ICARIA-MM trial has shown that the addition of the CD38-targeted antibody isatuximab to pomalidomide and low-dose dexamethasone significantly improved...
A case study of one patient with multiple myeloma diagnosed with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, published by Zhang et al in Blood Advances examined the efficacy of the immunosuppressant tocilizumab as a treatment for this particular patient. The report also suggested that patients with hematologic...
Findings from the phase III COLUMBA trial have shown that subcutaneous daratumumab is not inferior to intravenous daratumumab in terms of efficacy and pharmacokinetics and had an improved safety profile in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. These results were published by...
Irene M. Ghobrial, MD, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, talks about PROMISE—her screening study for people at high-risk of developing precursor conditions of multiple myeloma—and how this and other trials have been altered in the wake of the pandemic, as well as what might be considered a silver lining to the crisis. Filmed March 30, 2020.
Dr. Armitage discusses the role of CAR T-cell therapy in the management of multiple myeloma and lymphoma in a conversation with his colleagues Dr. Holstein and Dr. Lunning.
Dr. Armitage presents a case and asks Dr. Holstein to comment about her approach to treatment. The patient is be a 59-year-old man who had presented with symptomatic myeloma with bone pain and he was feeling unwell. He had bone lesions on images. He was anemic. This all happened 2 years ago. He was treated with RVD for six cycles and then an auto-transplant, followed by lenalidomide maintenance. Now, 2 years later, the patient returned to report that he had started to not feel well. He was found to have a falling hemoglobin level and a bone marrow biopsy showed 50% plasma cells. Repeat bone imaging showed new lytic lesions. How would you treat this patient?
In this episode, Dr. Armitage presents a case and asks Dr. Holstein to comment on her approach to treatment of this individual. The patient is a 65-year-old man who was referred because of a monoclonal protein found in his blood. The patient was asymptomatic. He had a normal exam. He had an IgG kappa protein of about 3.5 g. There was no protein in the urine and the bone marrow biopsy showed 17% clonal plasma cells. His renal function calcium, bone images were all normal. The patient had been told by another physician that no treatment was appropriate and he came to you wanting another opinion.
On March 2, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved isatuximab-irfc (Sarclisa) in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least two prior therapies, including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor. ...
Studies have shown that all patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma had a preceding asymptomatic expansion of clonal plasma cells, clinically recognized as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance or smoldering multiple myeloma. According to C. Ola Landgren, MD, PhD, Professor of...