10 important updates in multiple myeloma
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March is Myeloma Awareness Month.
The observance is intended to increase awareness about the prevalence of multiple myeloma, its symptoms and the importance of early detection.
An estimated 32,270 cases of multiple myeloma will be diagnosed in the United States this year, and approximately 12,830 people will die of the disease, according to American Cancer Society.
The International Myeloma Foundation is focusing on the theme of resilience and encourages use of the social media hashtag #IAmResilient2020.
“Each and every member of the myeloma community and the International Myeloma Foundation make an impact,” Susan Durie, the foundation’s president and CEO, said in a press release. “That’s why in 2020 the [foundation] is focusing on resilience. So many [patients with myeloma], their family members and caregivers face each day with strength and hope to help bring us closer to a cure.”
In conjunction with Myeloma Awareness Month, HemOnc Today and Healio present the following important updates in research and treatment.
• Approximately one-quarter of patients with triple-class refractory multiple myeloma responded to treatment with melflufen (Oncopeptides), a peptide-drug conjugate. Read more.
• Patients with multiple myeloma who received lenalidomide (Revlimid, Celgene)-based regimens appeared to have considerable risk for venous thromboembolism, regardless of adequate thromboprophylaxis. Read more.
• The FDA approved isatuximab-irfc (Sarclisa, Sanofi) in combination with pomalidomide (Pomalyst, Celgene) and dexamethasone for the treatment of adults with multiple myeloma who received at least two previous therapies, including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor. Read more.
• The addition of selinexor (Xpovio, Karyopharm Therapeutics) to bortezomib (Velcade, Takeda) and dexamethasone significantly extended PFS among patients with multiple myeloma who received one to three prior lines of therapy. Read more.
• Results of several studies presented at ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition support the potential use of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for treatment of multiple myeloma. Read more.
• Time to relapse appeared prognostic for survival among individuals with multiple myeloma who underwent CD34 positive-selected allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Read more.
• Expression of the KANK1 gene appeared associated with higher risk for multiple myeloma among African Americans. Read more.
• Response-adapted intensification treatment with a bortezomib-based regimen improved PFS among patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who achieved minimal or partial response to immunomodulatory induction therapy. Read more.
• Early treatment with lenalidomide for smoldering multiple myeloma appeared to delay progression to symptomatic multiple myeloma compared with observation alone. Read more.
• The combination of ixazomib (Ninlaro, Takeda), lenalidomide and dexamethasone appeared highly effective for patients with high-risk smoldering myeloma. Read more.