Multiple Myeloma

On September 26, 2019, the FDA approved daratumumab (Darzalex; Janssen) in combination with bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone for the treatment of newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma who are eligible for autologous stem-cell transplant (ASCT). The FDA granted this application priority review.

Navigating patients through the complexities of multiple myeloma can be very challenging – yet very rewarding.

A maintenance regimen of lenalidomide (Revli-mid) and elotuzumab (Empliciti) after autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) improved the quality of responses achieved with induction therapy in patients with multiple myeloma.

On February 22, 2017, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved lenalidomide (Revlimid; Celgene), an oral IMiD, for maintenance therapy after autologous HSCT in patients with multiple myeloma.

Although chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies directed against the CD19 protein garnered much attention at ASH 2017, CAR T cells targeting B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA), a protein expressed nearly universally on multiple myeloma cells, were found to be remarkably effective in patients with heavily pretreated multiple myeloma.

Recent advances in the treatment of multiple myeloma have dramatically altered the trajectory of disease, as providers now have several efficacious agents in various drug classes at their disposal.

Despite major and continuing treatment interventions, myeloma remains incurable for most patients, and relapse is an expected part of the disease course. At the National Comprehensive Cancer Network 12th Annual Congress: Hematologic Malignancies, Natalie S. Callander, MD, outlined issues in the management of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM).

Daratumumab (Darzalex), in combination with pomalidomide (Pomalyst) and dexamethasone, for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least 2 previous therapies, including lenalidomide (Revlimid) and a proteasome inhibitor, was approved by the FDA on June 16, 2017.

The following are a selection of key clinical trials that are currently recruiting patients for inclusion in investigations of new therapies and new regimens of available therapies for patients with multiple myeloma. Each clinical trial description includes the NLM Identifier to be used as a reference with ClinicalTrials.gov. The information below can help oncology practice managers and providers direct their eligible patients to one of these clinical trials.

A report on the second most common blood cancer and the progress being made in raising awareness of this disease.