Keith Stewart, MB, ChB:The typical follow-up for a patient, particularly an older patient who is going to receive daratumumab, is standard. It’s usually at least monthly, but perhaps a little more frequently the first couple of months. We would be looking for very deep responses with this regimen, particularly looking to see if MRD [minimal residual disease] negativity can be obtained, which is the case in about 25% of patients in the MAIA study who underwent this regimen became MRD negative. That could be tested 2 ways: either by flow cytometry or by sending out the test for next-generation sequencing.
For the patients who progress after a daratumumab-containing regimen, this is an area where we really don’t have a lot of good data. Obviously, the drug has been stopped; it could be restarted. There’s lots of evidence to use daratumumab in combination with either bortezomib, lenalidomide, or pomalidomide at first relapse.
Other alternatives might be switching to a different monoclonal antibody. We just don’t have good data yet on use of drugs like elotuzumab in this setting, or using a nonmonoclonal antibodycontaining regimen such as carfilzomib in combination with lenalidomide and pomalidomide, or reusing bortezomib again as a second line.
Although daratumumab is a very potent and effective drug in combination, 1 has to remember it does require a weekly intravenous infusion, and that may not be suitable for all older patients when an oral-based regimen might be appropriate.
The company that’s developed daratumumab is now significantly engaged in trying to make a more convenient schedule, particularly exploring the use of subcutaneous daratumumab. While this is still in the clinical trial phase, I think it will certainly make life a lot easier, particularly for older patients who can come in just for a subcutaneous injection as opposed to intravenous delivery.
For these transplant-ineligible patients, if we look at what’s on the horizon, I certainly think we’re quite eager to see the results of that elotuzumab-based phase lll clinical trials, which should report out soon. We’re also interested in how ixazomib with lenalidomide-dexamethasone, and perhaps even in a 4-drug cocktail with lenalidomide, dexamethasone, and daratumumab will perform. The early results look very promising for basically an all-oral regimen with the exception of daratumumab. These are 2 of the new advances in up-front treatment that we’re quite excited to see: ixazomib-elotuzumab with and without daratumumab.
Transcript edited for clarity.
Case: 83-Year-Old Man With NDMM Ineligible for Transplant
History and Presentation:
Diagnostic Workup:
Treatment:
Patient was started on D-Rd
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