MULTIPLE MYELOMA

The therapeutic armamentarium for multiple myeloma is ever expanding, according to Sundar Jagannath, MD.

Substantial changes were made to the latest version of the NCCN guideline for multiple myeloma to address the multitude of newly approved agents for patients with this disease.

Daratumumab (Darzalex), when added to the standard two-drug regimen of bortezomib and dexamethasone, reduced the risk of progression or death by 61% compared with the standard regimen alone for patients with recurrent or refractory multiple myeloma.

A regimen consisting of carfilzomib (Kyprolis), pomalidomide (Pomalyst), and dexamethasone (KPd) merits further investigation for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma whose disease progresses while on lenalidomide (Revlimid) in the earlier stages of disease.

The anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody isatuximab (SAR650984) showed promising signs of activity as a single-agent for patients with heavily pretreated relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, according to updated findings from a phase II study presented at the 2016 ASCO Annual Meeting.

The role of APRIL/BCMA in multiple myeloma and the targeted agent BION-1301 is discussed by Kenneth Anderson, MD, PhD.

The high level of efficacy observed with the combination of bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone in the phase III SWOG S0777 study significantly changed the frontline treatment paradigm for patients with multiple myeloma.

The all-oral triplet of ixazomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone improved progression-free survival by 5.9 months compared with lenalidomide and dexamethasone alone for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Sagar Lonial, MD, discusses an ongoing phase III trial investigating if any interventions would change the natural history of smoldering myeloma.

Adding plitidepsin (Aplidin) to dexamethasone reduced the risk of disease progression by 35% versus dexamethasone alone in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma enrolled in the phase III ADMYRE trial.

John Leonard, MD, discusses the inefficacy of early treatment and treatment options for patients with follicular lymphoma. Leonard says the relapse rate for patients with follicular lymphoma is around 80%.

Sagar Lonial, MD, professor, School of Medicine, executive vice chair, Department of Hematology & Medical Oncology, chief medical officer, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, discusses whether or not to treat patients with smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM), or asymptomatic myeloma.

Captisol-enabled (CE) melphalan (Evomela) has been approved by the FDA as a high-dose conditioning treatment for patients with multiple myeloma prior to autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT).

For the first time, scientists have identified a "feed-forward loop" consisting of a gene, micro-RNA, and transcription factor implicated in both multiple myeloma and Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, according to an article published this month in the Blood Cancer Journal.

Branagan said in his study, which gave patients with myeloma a high-dose flu vaccine followed by a booster dose 30 days later, 66% of patients saw total serum protection from the ailment. he said previous efforts to vaccinate patients with myeloma has resulted in a 20% total serum protection.

Saad Usmani, MD, discusses newly approved treatments, as well as these combination therapies currently in clinical trials.

Data from the trial shows induction therapy with a triplet of bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone improved both progression-free survival and overall survival over lenalidomide and dexamethasone alone in patients with untreated multiple myeloma.

Claire Harrison, MD, discusses ruxolitinib continuing to show a benefit for patients with advanced myelofibrosis over the course of a 5 year study.

S. Vincent Rajkumar, MD, discusses bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone coming out on top in a recent phase III trial over lenalidomide and dexamethasone alone.

Saad Z. Usmani, MD, discusses the combination of carfilzomib and filanesib as a treatment for multiple myeloma.

The SWOG S0777 trial data shows induction therapy with a triplet of bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone improved both progression-free survival and overall survival over lenalidomide and dexamethasone alone in patients with untreated multiple myeloma.

A triplet of elotuzumab, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone produced sustained improvements in both progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, according to a 3-year analysis of the phase III ELOQUENT-2 trial.

Adding the monoclonal antibody daratumumab to standard multiple myeloma regimens showcased responses in 81% of patients with relapsed or refractory myeloma that were

An oral treatment combination of ixazomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone showed a 5.9-month improvement in progression-free survival in comparison to lenalidomide and dexamethasone alone for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Gene therapy has potential to deliver lasting remissions in patients with advanced B-cell malignancies who have undergone allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant, according to research presented by James N. Kochenderfer, MD.

Data shows ruxolitinib continues to work in patients with advanced myelofibrosis by maintaining spleen size reduction and overall survival improvements over the course of a 5 year study, according to data presented during the 57th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology.

Daratumumab demonstrated a 31% overall response rate as monotherapy for patients with heavily pretreated multiple myeloma, according to a combined analysis of two pivotal studies presented at the 2015 ASH Annual Meeting.

Carfilzomib has been found to reduce the risk of progression and death by 47% in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma when compared to bortezomib, according to the the phase III ENDEAVOR trial.

The triple combination of ixazomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone, all taken orally, showed encouraging early response rates in elderly patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, according to phase II data presented at the 2015 ASH Annual Meeting.

A combination of the oral proteasome inhibitor ixazomib (Ninlaro), lenalidomide (Revlimid) and dexamethasone has been approved by the FDA a full 4 months ahead of schedule for patients with multiple myeloma with at least 1 prior surgery.