MULTIPLE MYELOMA

According to an updated analysis of the POLLUX trial, progression-free survival remained superior over time in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma treated with combination therapy that included the anti-CD38 antibody daratumumab.

Andrew L. Pecora, MD, President of the Physician Services Division and Chief Innovation Officer at Hackensack Meridian Health, discusses preliminary safety and efficacy data for combined checkpoint inhibition with ipilimumab (Yervoy) and nivolumab (Opdivo) as consolidation therapy following autologous stem cell transplant in patients with multiple myeloma and non-Hodkin lymphoma.

Multiple Myeloma

Based on data from the phase III 482 study, denosumab (Xgeva) has been granted FDA approval for the prevention of skeletal-related events in patients with multiple myeloma, according to Amgen, the developer of the RANK ligand inhibitor.

Mark W. Bustoros, MD, a postdoctoral fellow at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, discusses ongoing research exploring the use of liquid biopsies in patients with smoldering multiple myeloma.

The proteasome inhibitor ixazomib has received a recommendation from the United Kingdom's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Rapid and durable responses were induced with the combination of selinexor, weekly bortezomib (Velcade), and low-dose dexamethasone (Vd), according to results of a dose escalation/expansion trial of patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) presented at the 2017 ASH Annual Meeting.

Joshua Richter, MD, Hackensack University Medical Center, discusses a tool which explored the incidence and survival impact of self-reported symptoms and psychologic distress among patients with multiple myeloma during the 2017 ASH Annual Meeting.

Daratumumab (Darzalex) in combination with VMP (bortezomib [Velcade], melphalan, and prednisone) could become a new standard of care for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are unable to undergo transplant following findings from the phase III ALCYONE study.

Following autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) for patients with multiple myeloma, maintenance therapy of elotuzumab (Empliciti) in combination with lenalidomide (Revlimid) led to an increased rate of response conversions from prior induction therapy, according to the results of a phase II study. 

In the final analysis of the phase III ASPIRE trial, an improvement in survival was confirmed with the combination of carfilzomib (Kyprolis), lenalidomide (Revlimid), and dexamethasone for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, according to findings presented at the 2017 ASH Annual Meeting.

Cristina Gasparetto, MD, associate professor, head of the myeloma program, Duke University Medical Center, discusses a phase 1b study to assess the combination of selinexor and daratumumab in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma previously exposed to proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory drugs during the 2017 ASH Annual Meeting.

In findings from the phase II CENTAURUS clinical trial, treatment with daratumumab (Darzalex) monotherapy produced lasting responses in patients with intermediate- and high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM). 

A novel approach to treatment for patients with smoldering multiple myeloma demonstrated a high rate of complete responses, according to a study presented at the 2017 ASH Annual Meeting. The single-arm, phase II trial evaluated a strategy using induction therapy with carfilzomib (Kyprolis), lenalidomide (Revlimid), and dexamethasone followed by high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation, consolidation therapy and then maintenance therapy with lenalidomide and dexamethasone.

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy with bb2121 demonstrated an objective response rate of 94% in patients with&nbsp;relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, according to findings from a dose-escalation study. The senior study author, James N. Kochenderfer, MD, presented updated findings from the study during the 2017 ASH Annual Meeting, and commented that 89% of patients had a very good partial response or better, and 56% of patients had a complete remission.&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;

Jesus Berdeja, MD, Director of Multiple Myeloma Research, Sarah Cannon Research Institute, discusses results of a study that explored bb2121, an anti-BCMA CAR T cell therapy, in heavily pretreated patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma during the 2017 ASH Annual Meeting.

Ajai Chari, MD, associate professor, Mount Sinai Hospital, discusses some of the recent clinical trial evidence for early relapsed multiple myeloma and how it can be put into practice.

The partial clinical holds placed on the&nbsp;phase I CheckMate-039 and phase II CA204142 trials in October were lifted today by the FDA. Both trials were exploring&nbsp;nivolumab-based regimens in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Dan T. Vogl, MD,&nbsp;discusses some of the novel agents being investigated alone and in combination in multiple myeloma. He also highlighted the potential with CAR T-cell therapy in the multiple myeloma paradigm.