Multiple Myeloma

Patients with relapsed/refractory myeloma from lower socioeconomic groups face worse quality of life, even in countries with universal health care, according to Francesco Sparano, MSc, of the Italian-based GIMEMA Foundation.

Long-term CARTITUDE-1 data show ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel) may offer lasting remission and survival in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, according to Sundar Jagannath, MBBS, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Panelists discuss how minimal residual disease (MRD) status can guide post-transplant treatment decisions, particularly for high-risk patients who don’t achieve MRD negativity and patients considering discontinuation of long-term maintenance therapy.

Panelists discuss how quadruplet regimens show improved efficacy over triplet regimens without significantly increased safety concerns, with anti-CD38 antibodies being well tolerated and NCCN guidelines now recommending 4-drug regimens for transplant-eligible patients.

Coverage from IVBM Princeton, held May 8, 2025.

Surbhi Sidana, MD, MBBS, director of the Myeloma Disease Focused Group at Stanford University, provides a reintroduction to CARTITUDE-4 and insight on how this phase 3 investigation builds on previous findings of CAR T vs standard-of-care findings in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM)

CEPHEUS trial lead investigator Saad Z. Usmani, MD, MBA, FACP, FASCO, explains how the trial both builds on current knowledge of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma and how transplant-ineligible status may affect therapeutic decision-making.

Panelists discuss how treatment strategies differ between transplant-eligible and transplant-ineligible multiple myeloma patients, with transplant eligibility determined by functional status rather than age alone, and how quadruple therapy regimens are increasingly used for transplant-eligible patients to achieve deep, durable responses.

Panelists discuss how autologous stem cell transplant remains essential in frontline multiple myeloma management despite improved quadruple therapy outcomes, emphasizing that current evidence still supports transplantation for eligible patients rather than deferring it.

Mansi Shah, MD, discusses the role of stem cell transplant in multiple myeloma (MM) and the logistical barriers to wider adoption of bispecific therapies.

A meta-analysis suggests allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) should not be recommended following first-line autologous stem cell transplant (auto-SCT).

Novel therapies for multiple myeloma (MM), including chimeric antigen receptor T-cell and bispecific antibodies, extend lives but raise concerns about treatment costs and adherence, and they haven't replaced stem cell transplantation, Harsh Parmar, MD, of Hackensack University Medical Center, explains.

Pieter Sonneveld, MD, PhD, professor of hematology and chair of the Erasmus MC Cancer Institute in Rotterdam, Netherlands, discussed the continued use of subcutaneous daratumumab following initial treatment, as well as the changing landscape of multiple myeloma treatment.

Pieter Sonneveld, MD, PhD, chair of the Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, discussed the findings of a study modeling long-term progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) treated with a daratumumab quadruplet regimen.

Because clinical trials do not mimic the real-world application of multiple myeloma treatments, Ajai Chari, MD, discussed the variety of patient factors clinicians should consider in their practice.

When it comes to treating multiple myeloma (MM), Ajai Chari, MD, argued that more is not always better. More intense treatment regimens, or those with more drugs, don't necessarily guarantee better outcomes.

Addressing the accessibility and high costs of chimeric antibody receptor (CAR) T-cell and bispecific therapies is crucial for maximizing their impact in multiple myeloma (MM).

Several studies have been conducted, but questions remain about where such therapies will fit into multiple myeloma treatment strategies.

The study highlights the importance of including patient self-assessment—and not just clinician assessment—when planning treatment in multiple myeloma.

For higher-risk multiple myeloma (MM), successful patient selection and monitoring strategies are vital for the management of adverse events and the disease itself.

Ajai Chari, MD, stresses the importance of making bispecific therapies more accessible at the community level to improve outcomes in multiple myeloma.

Ajai Chari, MD, University of California San Francisco, explores the challenges that accompany integrating chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies into multiple myeloma treatment.

Patients who did not complete a distress screener were also less likely to receive autologous stem cell transplants.

More cost-effectiveness studies evaluating bispecific antibody or chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies are necessary for enhancing care in myeloma and lymphoma.