Commentary|Podcasts|September 1, 2026

Inside Myeloma’s Evolution From Death Sentence to Cure

Author(s)Surbhi Sidana, MD, MBBS, Maggie L. Shaw

In this Director’s Cut episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Surbhi Sidana, MD, Stanford University, on the transformation of the myeloma field.

In honor of Blood Cancer Awareness Month, this special Director’s Cut episode of Managed Care Cast features a conversation with Surbhi Sidana, MD, associate professor of medicine at Stanford University, leader of the Myeloma Disease Focused Group, and associate director for clinical research in the BMT and Cell Therapy Division.

Sidana traces her path into multiple myeloma research back to a residency rotation at MD Anderson Cancer Center, a formative connection with Frederic J. Reu, MD, at Cleveland Clinic, and a fellowship at Mayo Clinic under mentors Shaji Kumar, MD; Morie A. Gertz, MD; and S. Vincent Rajkumar, MD. Seven years ago, she moved to Stanford to build a cell therapy program from the ground up—one that has since grown substantially.

The conversation covers the dramatic evolution of myeloma treatment, from a field once defined by alkylators and dismal survival to today’s era of proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs, anti-CD38 antibodies, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, and bispecific antibodies. Sidana notes that CAR T-cell therapy with ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel; Johnson & Johnson) now shows roughly a 30% cure fraction, marking a genuine shift toward curative intent in myeloma care.

Sidana also discusses her leadership of a 25-plus-site real-world CAR T-cell therapy outcomes consortium, co-led with colleagues at MD Anderson and Moffitt Cancer Center, and her role co-chairing the International Myeloma Working Group’s Quality of Life Committee, which is working to harmonize patient-reported outcome measures across clinical trials.

Much of the discussion turns to access and equity: the logistical and financial burdens patients face when relocating for CAR T-cell therapy, the potential of bispecific antibodies as a more accessible alternative, and the promise of in vivo CAR T-cell therapy to eventually bring these treatments closer to where patients live. Sidana also speaks to the importance of NIH funding and highlights the American Society of Hematology’s Fight for Hematology advocacy campaign.

She closes with advice for trainees considering careers in myeloma or hematologic malignancies: seek strong mentorship, stay flexible, embrace collaboration, and be ready to pivot when opportunity arises.