MRD Negativity as a Benchmark: Testing Approaches, Treatment Implications, and the Evolving Role of Response Depth

This episode, titled 'MRD Negativity as a Benchmark: Testing Approaches, Treatment Implications, and the Evolving Role of Response Depth,' features multiple myeloma experts discussing the following critical questions:

1. Are depth of response and MRD negativity rates becoming the primary benchmarks by which you assess frontline regimen performance?
2. In terms of obtaining samples to test for MRD negativity, how are you approaching this (marrow sample vs blood sample), and how are the results impacting your treatment decisions?

Led by the moderator, the panelists examined the growing role of MRD negativity in frontline treatment decision-making, with consensus that while MRD testing is being incorporated more frequently into clinical practice, it has not yet reached the status of an all-or-none benchmark. The discussion also addressed the practical aspects of MRD sample collection, with the panelists noting that bone marrow samples remain the current standard at most institutions, while acknowledging that important unanswered questions remain around how to act on MRD results in real time, including what to do when a patient transitions from MRD negative to MRD positive, and whether achieving MRD negativity should influence transplant decisions in eligible patients.

Throughout the conversation, the experts provide a comprehensive reflection on the field and the factors that may shape how clinicians approach care moving forward.

In the next episode, ‘Navigating Costs in NDMM: Key Considerations and What Influences Decision-Making,’ panelists will continue their discussion on newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, highlighting the costs of treatment while outlining ways to mitigate that burden on patients.