Podcasts about Multiple myeloma

Dr. John Sweetenham and Dr. Marc Braunstein highlight top research on hematologic malignancies from the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting, including abstracts on newly diagnosed chronic phase CML, relapsed B-cell lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. Transcript Dr. John Sweetenham: Hello, and welcome to the ASCO Daily News Podcast. I'm your host, Dr. John Sweetenham. On today's episode, we'll be discussing promising advances in newly diagnosed chronic phase CML, relapsed B-cell lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and other hematologic malignancies that were presented at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting. Joining me for this discussion is Dr. Marc Braunstein, a hematologist and oncologist at the NYU Perlmutter Cancer Center. Our full disclosures are available in the transcript of this episode.  Marc, there were some great studies in the heme space at this year's Annual Meeting, and it's great to have you back on the podcast to highlight some of these advances. Dr. Marc Braunstein: Yes, I agree, John, and thank you so much for inviting me again. It's great to be here.  Dr. John Sweetenham: Let's start out with Abstract 6501. This was a study that reported on the primary endpoint results of the phase 3B ASC4START trial, which assessed asciminib versus nilotinib in newly diagnosed chronic phase CML. And the primary endpoint of this, as you know, was time to treatment discontinuation because of adverse events. Can you give us your insights into this study? Dr. Marc Braunstein: Absolutely. So, like you mentioned, you know, asciminib is an allosteric inhibitor of the BCR-ABL kinase that has activity in CML, and that includes patients with the T315I mutation that confers resistance to first- and second-generation TKIs. So, the ASC4FIRST study, which was published last year in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed superior efficacy of asciminib compared to investigator-selected first- or second-generation TKIs, actually leading to the FDA approval of asciminib in first-line CML. So, the authors of that study presented data at this year's ASCO meeting from the phase 3 ASC4START comparing safety and time to discontinuation due to adverse events of asciminib versus nilotinib, a second-generation TKI. So, 568 patients with newly diagnosed CML were randomized one-to-one to once-daily asciminib or twice-daily nilotinib. So, at a median follow-up of 9.7 months, about 11% in the asciminib group and 17% in the nilotinib group discontinued treatment, with significantly fewer discontinuations with asciminib due to adverse events. There was also a secondary endpoint of major molecular response, which was also better with asciminib. For example, the MR 4.5, which is a deep response, was 2.5% versus 0.4% favoring asciminib by week 12. So, I think in conclusion, these results build on the ASC4FIRST study, making the case for the superior safety and efficacy of asciminib versus other first- or second-generation TKIs in newly diagnosed CML. Dr. John Sweetenham: Thanks, Marc. Do you think this is going to change practice? Dr. Marc Braunstein: I think so. I think there are still some questions to be answered, such as what resistance mutations occur after first-line treatment with asciminib. But I think the sum of these studies really make the case for using asciminib upfront in CML. Dr. John Sweetenham: Okay, great. Thank you. And let's move on to our second abstract. This was Abstract 7015 and was reported from Mass General Hospital. And this was a study in patients with relapsed and refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and reported the 2-year results of the so-called STARGLO study. This is a comparison of glofitamab, a T-cell engaging bispecific antibody, with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin in this group of patients. Can you tell us a little bit about your impressions of this study? Dr. Marc Braunstein: Absolutely. So just for background, the treatment landscape for relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma is expanding, now with two bispecific antibodies targeting CD20 that are approved after two or more lines of therapy. Among these, glofitamab was approved in 2023 based on phase 2 data showing an objective response rate of 52%, with 39% complete responses in relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma patients after a median of three prior lines of therapy. Distinguishing glofitamab from epcoritamab, the other approved bispecific, glofitamab was given for 12 cycles and then stopped. Additionally, when combined with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin in the phase 3 STARGLO study, there was significantly improved overall survival compared to rituximab plus gemcitabine and oxaliplatin in transplant-ineligible relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma patients at a median follow-up of 11 months.  The authors of that study published last year in Lancet now present at ASCO this year the 2-year follow-up of the STARGLO study. Two hundred and seventy-four patients with a median of one prior line of therapy were randomized two-to-one to glofitamab plus GemOx versus rituximab plus GemOx, with the primary endpoint of overall survival. Here, the median overall survival was not reached versus 13.5 months, with a median PFS also significantly improved at about 14 months versus 4 months in the control. CRS of note in the glofitamab arm was mostly grade 1 or 2, with only about 2.3% grade 3 events. And three of the four patients had grade 1 or 2 neurotoxicity. So, John, putting this into context, I think it's encouraging that we now have randomized data showing the superiority of a bispecific plus chemotherapy over rituximab plus chemotherapy in transplant-ineligible patients. And while only 8% of the patients in the STARGLO study had prior anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy, I think this regimen could be considered in those patients who are ineligible for transplant or CAR T-cell therapy. Dr. John Sweetenham: Yeah, I agree. I think a couple of other compelling numbers to me were the fact that around 55% of these patients were alive at 2 years in the group who'd received glofitamab, and that almost 90% of those having that arm of the study who had a CR at the end of treatment were alive at 12 months. So, clearly, it's an active agent and also a kind of great off-the-shelf fixed-duration alternative in these relapsed and refractory patients. Dr. Marc Braunstein: I agree, and I would also note that the phase 3 SKYGLO study is looking at glofitamab plus Pola-R-CHP versus Pola-R-CHP alone. So, we may even be using these eventually in the first-line setting. Dr. John Sweetenham: Absolutely. Let's stay on the theme of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and look at one other abstract in that space, which was Abstract 7000. This was a study from the HOVON group in the Netherlands, which looked at the prospective validation of end-of-treatment circulating tumor DNA in the context of a national randomized trial. What are your thoughts on this? Dr. Marc Braunstein: So, non-invasive liquid biopsies to detect and monitor cancers via circulating tumor-derived DNA or ctDNA, you know, is really emerging as a valuable tool in both solid and liquid tumors to understand disease biology, and also for drug development. So, to date, the most established application of ctDNA in lymphoma, I would say, is really for monitoring of minimal residual disease. So, in this correlative study by Steven Wang and colleagues in the HOVON group, they evaluated the prognostic significance of MRD status as assessed by ctDNA following first-line treatment with curative intent with either R-CHOP or dose-adjusted R-EPOCH. At the end of treatment, encouragingly, 76% of patients were MRD-negative, and 24% were MRD-positive. Now, of note, MRD-positive status at the end of treatment predicted inferior progression-free survival at 2 years, with only 28% of patients who are MRD-positive being progression-free versus 88% who are MRD-negative. And in fact, all the patients who failed to achieve a complete response after first-line treatment and were MRD-positive ultimately relapsed. So, circulating tumor cells are rarely found in large B-cell lymphomas, and so this study really builds on accumulating data that ctDNA has clinical value to detect residual disease with a non-invasive approach. So, there are many implications of how we could potentially use this to detect early signs of relapse, to potentially escalate treatment for consolidation if patients remain MRD-positive. So, I think this will eventually become utilized in clinical practice. Dr. John Sweetenham: Yeah, I agree. I think it's interesting that it provided an independent assessment of response, which was independent, in fact, of the results of PET-CT scanning and so on, which I think was very interesting to me. And the authors of the abstract actually commented in their presentation that they think this should be integrated as part of the standard response assessment now for patients with large B-cell lymphoma. Would you agree with that? Dr. Marc Braunstein: I would. For one thing, it allows repeated sampling. It's a non-invasive approach; it doesn't necessarily require a bone marrow biopsy, and it may have more sensitivity than conventional response measures. So, I think having a standardized system to assess ctDNA will be helpful, and definitely, I think this will be a valuable biomarker of disease response. Dr. John Sweetenham: Okay, great. Thanks. We're going to change gear again now, and we're going to highlight two abstracts in the multiple myeloma space. The first one of these is Abstract 7507. And this abstract reported on the long-term results of the CARTITUDE study for patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. What are your comments on this presentation? Dr. Marc Braunstein: So, this study actually got a lot of press, and I've already had multiple patients asking me about CAR T-cells as a result. Just as some background, CAR T-cells targeting BCMA, which is pretty much universally expressed on malignant plasma cells in myeloma, have really shown remarkable responses, especially in heavily pretreated patients, showing superior progression-free survival in both later and earlier phases of the disease, including in randomized studies in patients with second-line or beyond. So, the CARTITUDE-1 was really the original Phase 1/2 study of ciltacabtagene autoleucel, one of the two approved anti-BCMA CAR T-cell products, which was investigated in patients with a median of six to seven prior lines of therapy. So, these were patients who were pretty heavily pretreated. So, in the study presented by Voorhees at this year's ASCO meeting, this was the long-term follow-up at a median of 5 years from the one-time CAR infusion in these patients with a median of five prior lines of therapy. And remarkably, of the 97 patients, 33% remained progression-free at 5 years plus, without needing any further myeloma treatment during that time. And among those 33% of patients, 23% had high-risk cytogenetics, which we know are notoriously difficult to achieve responses in. What was interesting that they presented as correlative studies was there were some biomarkers that were distinguishing the patients who had the long PFS, including enrichment of more naive T-cells in the product, lower neutrophil-to-T-cell ratio, higher hemoglobin and platelets at baseline, and higher CAR T-cell levels relative to soluble BCMA levels. And the fact that they reported a median overall survival of 61 months in these really heavily pretreated patients, I think these data are impressive. I think we're going to continue to be using CAR T even earlier in the disease status than fifth or sixth line, as it was studied in CARTITUDE-1. There are even ongoing studies looking at first-line treatment with CAR T-cells. Dr. John Sweetenham: So, do you think that those 33% of patients who are disease-free at 5 years, do you think any of those are cured?  Dr. Marc Braunstein: That was one of the headlines in the press. I think if we're going to discuss things like "operational cures," where we're transforming myeloma into really a chronic disease, where patients can live practically a normal life expectancy, I think the measure of 5 years, especially in this population that was explored in CARTITUDE-1, I think we can call that close to a cure. Dr. John Sweetenham: Okay. Well, thank you. Exciting data, for sure. We're going to conclude today with another abstract in the multiple myeloma space. And this was Abstract 7500, which looked at an MRD, minimal residual disease-driven strategy following induction and transplant-eligible newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients and reported on the primary endpoints of the phase 3 MIDAS trial. Can you walk us through this one, Marc? Dr. Marc Braunstein: Absolutely. It is a bit more complicated than the prior one we discussed because this is a randomized study with four arms. So, I'll start by saying that anti-CD38-based quadruplet regimens continue to show superior outcomes in both transplant-eligible and -ineligible newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients. The MIDAS study mentioned is an open-label phase 3 trial with four arms in transplant-eligible newly diagnosed myeloma patients.  And initially, these patients were all treated with quadruplet therapy with the anti-CD38 antibody isatuximab combined with carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone in 718 newly diagnosed myeloma patients. So, they received the quadruplet regimen for six cycles and then were randomized based on their MRD status at 10 to the negative fifth following six cycles of induction. And that first randomization, if they were MRD-negative, was to either consolidation with six more cycles of the quadruplet regimen or transplant, autologous transplant, plus two cycles additionally of the quadruplet regimen. And both arms were followed by lenalidomide maintenance. The primary endpoint was MRD negativity at 10 to the negative sixth prior to entering the lenalidomide maintenance component. And in addition, the patients who were MRD-positive after induction were randomized to transplant plus two cycles of consolidation or a tandem autologous transplant. So, the median follow-up of the study was about 16 months, and the pre-maintenance rate of MRD negativity was high, between 84 to 86% between the two arms who were MRD-negative, which was not significantly different. And as far as the 233 patients who were MRD-positive, the pre-maintenance MRD negativity was also not significantly different at 40% for those who received autologous transplant, and 32% who received a tandem transplant. So, there's a lot of debate in the myeloma field about the evolving role of autologous transplant and whether transplant still plays a significant role in patients who are either MRD-negative after induction or who have deep remissions and are of standard risk. So, I think these data suggest that patients who are MRD-negative after induction with a quadruplet regimen studied here, which was Isa-KRd, plus consolidation, may possibly be able to forego consolidation with autologous transplant. And likewise, for those patients who are MRD-positive after induction, tandem transplant didn't seem to provide much of a benefit compared to single transplant, which is consistent with prior studies such as the StaMINA study. Dr. John Sweetenham: So, where do you think this leaves us, Marc? Are we going to need more studies before we have any definitive guidance on whether an autologous transplant is still appropriate for those patients who are MRD-negative? Dr. Marc Braunstein: Well, as clinicians, we want to do what's best for our patient. And in myeloma, the best we can do is to get as deep remissions as possible, meaning MRD negativity. And so, I think it's clear from the MIDAS study and others that quadruplet regimens provide the deepest remissions when given upfront. We can debate the role of autologous transplant. I think certainly the role of tandem autologous transplant is fading. But as far as a single autologous transplant as consolidation, I think it's reasonable as a goal to try to achieve MRD negativity after the transplant, especially for patients who remain MRD-positive after induction. Dr. John Sweetenham: Okay, great. Marc, thanks as always for sharing your insights on the heme malignancies studies from the ASCO meeting this year and for joining us on the ASCO Daily News Podcast. Always appreciate hearing your thoughtful and balanced input on these. Dr. Marc Braunstein: My pleasure. Thank you, John. Dr. John Sweetenham: And thank you to our listeners for joining us today. You'll find links to the abstracts discussed today in the transcript of this episode. Finally, if you value the insights that you hear on the ASCO Daily News Podcast, please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.   Disclaimer: The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. This is not a substitute for professional medical care and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions.  Guests on this podcast express their own opinions, experience, and conclusions. Guest statements on the podcast do not express the opinions of ASCO. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity, or therapy should not be construed as an ASCO endorsement.   Find out more about today's guest:  Dr. John Sweetenham Dr. Marc Braunstein   @docbraunstein     Follow ASCO on social media:   @ASCO on Twitter  ASCO on Bluesky  ASCO on Facebook   ASCO on LinkedIn     Disclosures:  Dr. John Sweetenham:  Consulting or Advisory Role: EMA Wellness  Dr. Marc Braunstein:  Consulting or Advisory Role: Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Celgene, Adaptive Biotechnologies, GlaxoSmithKline, ADC Therapeutics, Janssen Oncology, Abbvie, Guidepoint Global, Epizyme, Sanofi, CTI BioPharma Corp  Speakers' Bureau: Janssen Oncology  Research Funding (Institution): Janssen, Celgene/BMS

Featuring perspectives from Prof Meletios-Athanasios (Thanos) C Dimopoulos and Dr Robert Z Orlowski, including the following topics: Introduction: ASCO 2025 Preview (0:00) Anti-CD38 Antibodies (10:12) Belantamab Mafodotin (29:45) CAR T-Cell Therapy (40:57) Bispecific Antibodies (47:33) Other Novel Agents (56:46) CME information and select publications

Prof Meletios-Athanasios (Thanos) C Dimopoulos from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and Alexandra Hospital in Athens, Greece, and Dr Robert Z Orlowski from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, provide their perspectives on relevant new clinical data in multiple myeloma and their application to disease treatment. CME information and select publications here.

Year in Review: Clinical Investigator Perspectives on the Most Relevant New Datasets and Advances in Multiple Myeloma | Faculty Presentation 1: Current and Emerging Therapeutic Approaches for Multiple Myeloma (MM) — Robert Z Orlowski, MD, PhD CME information and select publications

Year in Review: Clinical Investigator Perspectives on the Most Relevant New Datasets and Advances in Multiple Myeloma | Faculty Presentation 2: Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell Therapy, Bispecific Antibodies and Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) — Meletios-Athanasios (Thanos) C Dimopoulos, MD CME information and select publications  

In this special episode, Dr. Shaji Kumar from the Mayo Clinic speaks with Blood editor Dr. Laurie Sehn on a paper recently published in Blood, "Eliminating the Need for Sequential Confirmation of Response in Multiple Myeloma". The findings demonstrate eliminating the need for sequential confirmation of response in multiple myeloma. The study, involving 583 episodes of progression, found that simultaneous confirmation of disease progression using two different markers (e.g., serum protein electrophoresis and serum free light chain assay) was 98% accurate, compared to 82% for sequential confirmation. This suggests that simultaneous confirmation could improve clinical trial accuracy and reduce false censoring. The International Myeloma Working Group is set to revise its response criteria to incorporate these findings, potentially simplifying disease assessment and reducing the need for multiple blood draws.

Chief Medical Officer at Central DuPage Hospital Dr. Thomas Moran joins Bob Sirott to discuss alternatives to aspirin for blood clot prevention, new research for colorectal cancer treatment, and the progress to a potential cure for Multiple Myeloma. He also talks about a possible key to healthy aging that focuses on taurine and coffee’s health […]

Rafael Fonseca is a distinguished Haematologist at Mayo Clinic, specialising in multiple myeloma and related plasma cell disorders. He earned his medical degree at Universidad Anáhuac in Mexico, and went on to complete his residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Miami, Florida, USA followed by a Hematology and Oncology fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, USA.     Timestamps  01:44 – Quickfire questions  07:25 – CAR-T cell therapy  10:48 – Anti-CD38 antibodies  13:31 – Minimal residual disease  14:30 – Bispecific antibodies  15:31 – Antibody-drug conjugates  19:04 – ASCO 2025  21:24 – Genetic discoveries  26:28 – Fonseca's three wishes 

Dr. John Sweetenham shares highlights from Day 5 of the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting, including data from large trials in advanced malignant melanoma and mCSPC plus a new approach to first-line treatment for patients with multiple myeloma who are not transplant eligible. Transcript Hello, I'm Dr. John Sweetenham, the host of the ASCO Daily News Podcast, with my takeaways on selected abstracts from Day 5 of the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting. My disclosures are available in the transcript of this episode. The selected abstracts from this final day of ASCO25 include important new data from large, randomized trials in patients with advanced malignant melanoma and patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer, as well as a new approach to the first-line treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who are not transplant eligible.  Starting with LBA9500, this study was conducted in patients with completely resected stage III or IV malignant melanoma and compared the combination of relatlimab plus nivolumab versus nivolumab alone in this population. The study, named the RELATIVITY-098 trial, was presented by Dr. Georgina Long from the University of Sydney, Australia. In her introduction to the study, Dr. Long explained that the current standard of care for adjuvant therapy of resected stage III/IV melanoma is with PD-1 monotherapy with nivolumab, but that about 50% of patients will suffer from a subsequent relapse. In the first-line setting in patients with advanced or unresectable melanoma, the combination of nivolumab with the LAG-3 inhibitor, relatlimab, has been previously shown to improve progression-free survival in the RELATIVITY-047 trial. The current study evaluated this same combination in the adjuvant setting. More than 1,000 patients from 24 countries were randomized to receive either nivolumab alone (546 patients) or the combination of nivolumab with relatlimab (547 patients). Both treatments were given for a maximum of 1 year or until progression of disease, unacceptable toxicity, withdrawal, or death. Various biomarker studies were also undertaken including LAG-3 and PD-1 expression on CD8-positive T cells. The primary endpoint of the study was relapse-free survival, and Dr. Long reported that this was the same in both arms of the study. For example, at 24 months, the relapse-free survival was 64% in the monotherapy arm compared with 62% in the combination arm. The hazard ratio was 1.01 and the P value was 0.928. Metastasis-free survival was also identical in both arms. No benefit was observed for the combination in any of the prespecified subgroups. No new toxicity signals emerged compared with the RELATIVITY-047 trial. Interestingly, the baseline surface expression of LAG-3 and co-expression of LAG-3 and PD-1 on CD8 T cells in the 098 adjuvant trial were lower than in the 047 advanced disease trial, perhaps explaining why the combination did not confer benefit over nivo alone in the adjuvant setting. This is an important result, demonstrating that results from one clinical setting cannot always be extrapolated to another. Although the combination has gained some use in the adjuvant setting, this study clearly demonstrates that more drug in this situation is no better and that monotherapy remains the current standard of care. Results from the AMPLITUDE trial for patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer with alterations in homologous recombination repair (HRR) genes, in LBA5006, were presented today by Dr. Gerhardt Attard from University College London, UK. This international, multicenter study evaluated the combination of the selective PARP inhibitor, niraparib, in combination with abiraterone acetate and prednisone. The same combination has been previously shown to improve outcomes in castration-resistant metastatic prostate cancer harboring BRCA mutations in the MAGNITUDE study. The current trial included patients with castration-sensitive disease with HRR mutations including BRCA1/2. Six hundred and ninety-six patients were randomized between niraparib, abiraterone, and prednisone plus androgen deprivation therapy, or the same combination with placebo instead of niraparib. Permitted prior therapies included no more than 6 months of prior androgen deprivation therapy and the use of docetaxel, or prior palliative radiation therapy. The primary endpoint of the study was radiographic relapse-free survival. Dr. Attard reported that the risk for radiographic progression-free survival in the whole population was significantly reduced by 37% with niraparib and abiraterone acetate plus prednisone compared with the placebo arm. The radiographic progression-free survival risk reduction with niraparib in the prespecified BRCA1/2 subgroup was 48% and reached statistical significance compared with the placebo arm. The secondary endpoint of time to symptomatic progression was also improved with niraparib in the HRR population and the BRCA1/2 subgroup. There was a trend for overall survival favoring the niraparib combination. However, the overall survival data were immature at this first interim analysis and did not yet reach statistical significance. No new safety concerns emerged with the toxicity data consistent with the MAGNITUDE study. Less than 5% more of the patients on the experimental arm discontinued treatment in comparison to the control arm. The authors conclude that the AMPLITUDE study results support the use of niraparib, abiraterone, and prednisone as a new treatment option for patients with metastatic castration- sensitive prostate cancer and BRCA and homologous recombination repair gene alterations. The results certainly support this conclusion and are potentially practice-changing. Turning to hematologic malignancies, my final selection from today's presentations is Abstract 7504, presented by Dr. Hang Quach from St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, and describes a novel combination of elranatamab, daratumumab, and lenalidomide in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are not transplant-eligible – the so-called MagnetisMM-6 trial part 1. Elranatamab is a novel bispecific T-cell engaging antibody directed against BCMA and CD3, which has previously been approved for certain patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. In the present study, this was combined with lenalidomide and daratumumab in newly diagnosed patients. The report today describes the dose-finding phase of this study, which was part 1, specifically addressing so-called dose level ‘G', comprising elranatamab 76mg subcutaneously every 4 weeks plus daratumumab 1800mg subcutaneously and lenalidomide 25mg given orally. Thirty-seven patients were entered at this dose level, of whom 32 were on treatment at the time of analysis. Early response data show an overall response rate of 97.3%. With median follow up of 7.9 months, the current CR rate is 27% with a VGPR rate of almost 68%. The most frequent toxicities were hematologic, with neutropenia observed in 75%. Some cytokine release syndrome was observed in about 60% of patients, but none was greater than grade 2. The authors conclude that this combination is active in untreated multiple myeloma, with manageable toxicity and evidence of responses which appear to deepen over time. The dose-finding component of this trial is continuing and will subsequently progress into a phase 3 trial based on the data from the current study. This will compare daratumumab plus lenalidomide with the same combination plus elranatamab in previously untreated patients. That concludes our special coverage from the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting. Thanks for listening and we hope you have enjoyed listening to our top takeaways from ASCO25. If you value the insights that you hear on the ASCO Daily News Podcast, please remember to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Disclaimer:  The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. This is not a substitute for professional medical care and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions. Guests on this podcast express their own opinions, experience, and conclusions. Guest statements on the podcast do not express the opinions of ASCO. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity, or therapy should not be construed as an ASCO endorsement.  Find out more about today's speaker:    Dr. John Sweetenham    Follow ASCO on social media:     @ASCO on Twitter    @ASCO on Bluesky    ASCO on Facebook    ASCO on LinkedIn     Disclosures:   Dr. John Sweetenham:    No relationships to disclose

Featuring perspectives from Dr Natalie S Callander and Dr Thomas Martin, including the following topics: Introduction (0:00) Current and Emerging Therapeutic Approaches for Multiple Myeloma — Dr Callander (4:42) CAR T-Cell Therapy, Bispecific Antibodies and Antibody-Drug Conjugates — Dr Martin (31:16) CME information and select publications

Clinical investigators discuss available data guiding the management of multiple myeloma.  CME information and select publications here.

Featuring a slide presentation and related discussion from Dr Rafael Fonseca, including the following topics: Recent updates from ASH 2024 on the up-front use of anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies for multiple myeloma (MM) (0:00) Updated data with belantamab mafodotin for the management of MM (12:39) Updated findings with chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy for the management of MM (17:52) ASH 2024 updates with other novel agents and strategies for the management of MM (21:32) CME information and select publications

Featuring an interview with Dr Rafael Fonseca, including the following topics: Safe management of bispecific antibodies and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy for patients with multiple myeloma (MM) (0:00) Sequencing bispecific antibodies and CAR T-cell therapy (10:40) Available data with and potential future clinical integration of belantamab mafodotin in the management of MM (16:03) Optimizing maintenance therapy for patients with MM (31:11) Novel management strategies for smoldering myeloma (36:29) Role of anti-CD38 antibodies in the up-front management of MM (41:41) Available data with cereblon E3 ligase modulatory drugs for MM (47:45) CME information and select publications

Dr Rafael Fonseca from Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, discusses datasets from the 2024 ASH meeting on the management of newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. CME information and select publications here.

Have you ever wondered how emotional intelligence, empathy, and the power of storytelling can help you overcome life's biggest challenges? In this inspiring episode, I sit down with Ray Hartjen — a writer, musician, marketer, and cancer patient advocate — who shares his compelling cancer survivor story and journey through multiple myeloma.With over five decades of experience navigating career transformations, from investment banking to pharmaceuticals, consumer electronics to SaaS software, Ray's story is a masterclass in emotional resilience, adaptability, and purpose-driven living. His multiple myeloma diagnosis became a powerful catalyst for personal growth, sparking a deeper passion for storytelling, advocacy, and empathy in leadership.

This content has been developed for healthcare professionals only. Patients who seek health information should consult with their physician or relevant patient advocacy groups.For the full presentation, downloadable Practice Aids, slides, and complete CME/AAPA information, and to apply for credit, please visit us at PeerView.com/MBK865. CME/AAPA credit will be available until April 20, 2026.Starting With a Frontline “Four” in Multiple Myeloma: Case-Based Guidance for Achieving Durable Remissions With Innovative CD38 Antibody Strategies In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, and HealthTree Foundation for Multiple Myeloma. PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.SupportThis activity is supported by educational grants from Janssen Biotech, Inc., administered by Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC (which are both Johnson & Johnson companies) and Sanofi.Disclosure information is available at the beginning of the video presentation.

This content has been developed for healthcare professionals only. Patients who seek health information should consult with their physician or relevant patient advocacy groups.For the full presentation, downloadable Practice Aids, slides, and complete CME/AAPA information, and to apply for credit, please visit us at PeerView.com/MBK865. CME/AAPA credit will be available until April 20, 2026.Starting With a Frontline “Four” in Multiple Myeloma: Case-Based Guidance for Achieving Durable Remissions With Innovative CD38 Antibody Strategies In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, and HealthTree Foundation for Multiple Myeloma. PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.SupportThis activity is supported by educational grants from Janssen Biotech, Inc., administered by Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC (which are both Johnson & Johnson companies) and Sanofi.Disclosure information is available at the beginning of the video presentation.

This content has been developed for healthcare professionals only. Patients who seek health information should consult with their physician or relevant patient advocacy groups.For the full presentation, downloadable Practice Aids, slides, and complete CME/AAPA information, and to apply for credit, please visit us at PeerView.com/MBK865. CME/AAPA credit will be available until April 20, 2026.Starting With a Frontline “Four” in Multiple Myeloma: Case-Based Guidance for Achieving Durable Remissions With Innovative CD38 Antibody Strategies In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, and HealthTree Foundation for Multiple Myeloma. PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.SupportThis activity is supported by educational grants from Janssen Biotech, Inc., administered by Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC (which are both Johnson & Johnson companies) and Sanofi.Disclosure information is available at the beginning of the video presentation.

This content has been developed for healthcare professionals only. Patients who seek health information should consult with their physician or relevant patient advocacy groups.For the full presentation, downloadable Practice Aids, slides, and complete CME/AAPA information, and to apply for credit, please visit us at PeerView.com/MBK865. CME/AAPA credit will be available until April 20, 2026.Starting With a Frontline “Four” in Multiple Myeloma: Case-Based Guidance for Achieving Durable Remissions With Innovative CD38 Antibody Strategies In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, and HealthTree Foundation for Multiple Myeloma. PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.SupportThis activity is supported by educational grants from Janssen Biotech, Inc., administered by Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC (which are both Johnson & Johnson companies) and Sanofi.Disclosure information is available at the beginning of the video presentation.

- Overview of Diverse Populations Living with Multiple Myeloma - How Race May Impact Your Access to the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma - Social Determinants of Health, Including Languages Spoken & Health Literacy - Current Standard of Care - New & Emerging Treatments - The Role of Transplantation - Preventing & Managing Treatment Side Effects, Symptoms, Discomfort & Pain - Reducing Complications of Bone Disease - How to Find Your Best Care Team - Talking with Your Treatment Team about Quality-of-Life Concerns - The Increasing Role of Telehealth/Telemedicine Appointments - How Telehealth May Help in Advancing Your Health Equity - Lifestyle, Physical Activity & Balance Concerns, with Practical Tips - Food Insecurity and Food Deserts: Tips to Increase Your Access to Health Promoting Nutrition - Nutrition & Hydration Concerns & Tips - Guidelines to Prepare for Telehealth/Telemedicine Appointments, Including Technology, Prepared List of Questions, Follow-Up Care and Discussion of OpenNotes - How to Cope with Health Care Disparities - Questions for Our Panel of Experts

- Overview of Diverse Populations Living with Multiple Myeloma - How Race May Impact Your Access to the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma - Social Determinants of Health, Including Languages Spoken & Health Literacy - Current Standard of Care - New & Emerging Treatments - The Role of Transplantation - Preventing & Managing Treatment Side Effects, Symptoms, Discomfort & Pain - Reducing Complications of Bone Disease - How to Find Your Best Care Team - Talking with Your Treatment Team about Quality-of-Life Concerns - The Increasing Role of Telehealth/Telemedicine Appointments - How Telehealth May Help in Advancing Your Health Equity - Lifestyle, Physical Activity & Balance Concerns, with Practical Tips - Food Insecurity and Food Deserts: Tips to Increase Your Access to Health Promoting Nutrition - Nutrition & Hydration Concerns & Tips - Guidelines to Prepare for Telehealth/Telemedicine Appointments, Including Technology, Prepared List of Questions, Follow-Up Care and Discussion of OpenNotes - How to Cope with Health Care Disparities - Questions for Our Panel of Experts

This week, Jonathan is joined by Shaji Kumar, an expert in hematology and oncology, particularly multiple myeloma, who has made significant contributions to both clinical and translational science. Timestamps:  (00:00) – Introduction   (02:23) – Drug combinations and myeloma biology  (08:34) – Treating newly diagnosed multiple myeloma  (17:24) – Quadruplet regimens   (23:09) – Clinical trials for plasma cell malignancies  (28:04) – The bone marrow microenvironment in multiple myeloma  (30:29) – “Blind men and an elephant”  (33:58) – Kumar's three wishes for healthcare   

The fight against relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma is evolving rapidly, with groundbreaking research and clinical trials paving the way for innovative treatments. But as new therapies emerge, addressing healthcare disparities and improving access to these life-changing advancements has never been more critical. In this episode, Dr. Rahul Banerjee, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and co-chair of i3 Health's Multiple Myeloma Task Force activity, shares his expert perspective on the latest developments in CAR T-cell therapy and bispecific antibodies. He also highlights ongoing efforts to make these cutting-edge treatments more practical and accessible for patients, ensuring no one is left behind in the fight against this challenging disease. Don't miss this engaging discussion packed with actionable insights for healthcare professionals. After listening, take the next step by exploring the full Task Force activity and related resources to deepen your understanding and make a difference in your practice. Click below to access these valuable resources: Accredited CME/NCPD Podcast: bit.ly/3B4gSB1 Position Statement in Blood Cancer Journal: www.nature.com/articles/s41408-024-01129-0 Live Task Force Recording: www.youtube.com/live/TILCPB6w3Ig?…=1Z8m4dA2qwLJd6rN

- Overview of the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma - Deciding to Become a Caregiver - Your Important Role in Decision Making - Challenges in Communicating with the Health Care Team - Your Role in Adherence: Weekends, Holidays & Vacations - Coping with Each Day, on Special Occasions, Anniversaries & Birthdays - Managing Family, Friends, & Traditions - Long-Distance Caregiving - The Benefits of Telehealth/Telemedicine Appointments, Including Technology, Prepared List of Questions & Discussion of OpenNotes - Self-Care Tips for Managing Lifestyle, Nutrition, Hydration, & Stress - Relaxation Exercises for Caregivers - Questions for Our Panel of Experts

- Overview of the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma - Deciding to Become a Caregiver - Your Important Role in Decision Making - Challenges in Communicating with the Health Care Team - Your Role in Adherence: Weekends, Holidays & Vacations - Coping with Each Day, on Special Occasions, Anniversaries & Birthdays - Managing Family, Friends, & Traditions - Long-Distance Caregiving - The Benefits of Telehealth/Telemedicine Appointments, Including Technology, Prepared List of Questions & Discussion of OpenNotes - Self-Care Tips for Managing Lifestyle, Nutrition, Hydration, & Stress - Relaxation Exercises for Caregivers - Questions for Our Panel of Experts

Talk Money with Jim ShoemakerJoin as Jim Shoemaker, Jered Haddad, and Kim Lane with upcoming news about how to become involved during Multiple Myeloma Action Month. Cullen West and Scott Jordan will share the importance of “Special Needs Planning.”                                 "Helping You Make the Most of Your Money”Jim Shoemaker, CFP, ChFC, is an investment advisor representative offering advisory services through Cetera Investment Advisers, a registered investment adviser. Securities offered through Cetera Advisor Networks, member FINRA/SIPC. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity. Shoemaker Financial is independently owned and operated. 2176 West St, Ste. 100, Germantown, TN 38138

- Discussion of the Progress in the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma - Current Standard of Care, Including Clinical Trial Updates - New & Emerging Treatments - The Role of Transplantation - Preventing & Managing Treatment Side Effects, Symptoms, Discomfort & Pain - Reducing Complications of Bone Disease - Talking with Your Treatment Team About Quality-of-Life Concerns - The Increasing Role of Telehealth & Telemedicine Appointments, Lifestyle, Physical Activity & Balance Concerns, with Practical Tips - Nutrition & Hydration Concerns & Tips - Guidelines to Prepare for Telehealth/Telemedicine Appointments, Including Technology, Prepared List of Questions, Follow-Up Care & Discussion of OpenNotes - Questions for Our Panel of Experts

BUFFALO, NY - April 2, 2025 – A new #research paper was #published in Oncotarget, Volume 16, on March 21, 2025, titled “NSD2-epigenomic reprogramming and maintenance of plasma cell phenotype in t(4;14) myeloma." Researchers Andrea Gunnell, Scott T. Kimber, Richard Houlston, and Martin Kaiser from The Institute of Cancer Research, London, studied how a gene called NSD2 affects the behavior of multiple myeloma (MM) cells. Their findings reveal that NSD2 plays a key role in helping cancer cells retain their identity as plasma cells—white blood cells that normally help the immune system fight infections. This discovery could shape future treatment strategies for patients with a high-risk form of MM known as t(4;14) myeloma. Multiple myeloma is a type of blood cancer that begins in plasma cells found in the bone marrow. About 20% of patients have a genetic change called t(4;14), which makes the NSD2 gene highly active. The research team compared two types of myeloma cells: one with high NSD2 activity and one where NSD2 was turned off. They found that when NSD2 is active, it changes how DNA is folded and how genes are switched on or off, especially genes that help the cells act like plasma cells. When NSD2 was turned off, important markers like CD38 were reduced, and other genes normally silent in plasma cells were activated. The study indicated that NSD2 does not directly affect the main genes responsible for plasma cell creation. Instead, it influences many other genes that help maintain the cancer cell's identity, which contributes to cancer growth and survival. The researchers also observed physical changes in the cancer cells. Cells with active NSD2 looked and behaved more like typical plasma cells, while cells without NSD2 appeared more immature and lost important surface markers. These changes were linked to differences in how the DNA was organized inside the cells. These findings are especially important as new drugs are being developed to block NSD2. The study suggests that turning off NSD2 could change how MM cells respond to existing treatments. For example, if NSD2 is blocked and CD38 levels drop, the change might affect therapies that target CD38. However, the rise of other immune-related genes might make certain immunotherapies more effective. “Identifying the biological consequences of NSD2 over-expression in MM is not only relevant to informing new therapeutic interventions through indirect targeting of downstream effectors, but also to anticipate possible consequences of targeting NSD2 directly.” In summary, this study shows how NSD2 helps myeloma cells keep their cancerous identity by reorganizing the DNA and influencing gene activity. Understanding this role could help researchers design better treatment approaches and possibly overcome resistance to current therapies in t(4;14) myeloma. DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28706 Correspondence to - Andrea Gunnell - andrea.gunnell@icr.ac.uk Video short - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hibkjUpRq7I Subscribe for free publication alerts from Oncotarget - https://www.oncotarget.com/subscribe/ About Oncotarget Oncotarget (a primarily oncology-focused, peer-reviewed, open access journal) aims to maximize research impact through insightful peer-review; eliminate borders between specialties by linking different fields of oncology, cancer research and biomedical sciences; and foster application of basic and clinical science. To learn more about Oncotarget, please visit https://www.oncotarget.com and connect with us: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Oncotarget/ X - https://twitter.com/oncotarget Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/oncotargetjrnl/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OncotargetJournal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/oncotarget Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/oncotarget/ Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/user/Oncotarget/ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0gRwT6BqYWJzxzmjPJwtVh MEDIA@IMPACTJOURNALS.COM

Featuring an interview with Dr Tiffany A Richards, including the following topics: Current treatment landscape for multiple myeloma (MM) (0:00) CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T-cell therapy for the management of MM (10:22) Bispecific antibodies for relapsed/refractory MM (24:26) Case: A woman in her early 80s with relapsed MM receives teclistamab (35:56) Case: A man in his early 70s with multiregimen-refractory MM receives linvoseltamab on a clinical trial (44:06) Case: A woman in her early 60s with relapsed MM and extramedullary disease receives talquetamab (48:38) Role of nurses in transitions of care for patients with MM (53:15) Case: A man in his mid 70s with heavily pretreated MM experiences a response to teclistamab (58:56) Risk of second cancers with bispecific antibodies and other immunotherapy-based treatment approaches (1:00:55) NCPD information and select publications

Dr Tiffany Richards from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston discusses the current and emerging role of bispecific antibodies in the treatment of multiple myeloma.NCPD information and select publications here.

Dr Tiffany Richards from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston discusses the current and emerging role of bispecific antibodies in the treatment of multiple myeloma.NCPD information and select publications here.

” Talk Money with Jim Shoemaker"Join Jim Shoemaker, Bob Doll, and Scott Jordan as they give us an “Update on the Economy”. Brian McMahon, SparkCures, will help "Explore your Options for Multiple Myeloma Clinical Trials."                                       "Helping You Make the Most of Your Money”  Jim Shoemaker, CFP, ChFC, is an investment advisor representative offering advisory services through Cetera Investment Advisers, a registered investment adviser. Securities offered through Cetera Advisor Networks, member FINRA/SIPC. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity. Shoemaker Financial is independently owned and operated. 2176 West St, Ste. 100, Germantown, TN 38138 

Dr. Tania Small joined Bristol Myers Squibb as Senior Vice President, Global Medical Affairs in January 2024. Tania brings a strong scientific track record leading Medical Affairs teams in driving innovation that improves the experience and supports better outcomes of people living with cancer and rare diseases. She has successfully built and led global and regional medical organizations in Drug Development and Medical Affairs, advancing access to Oncology, Rare Disease and Hematology patients globally.Tania is a board-certified pediatric hematology, oncology, and bone marrow transplant specialist with deep experience in clinical research and drug development. She has extensive research experience in oncology, hematology, gene therapy and stem cell transplantation, receiving NIH grants for her translational research in gene therapy and regenerative medicine.Most recently, Tania served as Head of Global Medical Oncology and was the sponsor of the Global R&D Inclusion Diversity Council at GSK. Prior to GSK, Tania worked for IPSEN as Vice President, Head of Oncology and Rare Disease Global Drug Development.She is energized by revolutionizing the experience and outcomes for people with cancer, and has worked closely with the US FDA, Congress, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) to improve the diversity of enrollment in oncology clinical trials and elderly programs."I'm passionate about partnering to create programs that treat the person - not just the disease. Producing groundbreaking solutions that can change the trajectory of serious diseases and help write the next chapter of patient-driven science is what motivates me every day."Tania received her medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She has a long-standing affiliation with the Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York Presbyterian/Columbia University where she completed her residency and hematology/oncology fellowship with an academic research appointment in heme and bone marrow transplant.Currently, Tania serves on the ASCO Membership Advisory Committee and is a Board Member of Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs (ACMA).

March marks Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month, a crucial time to highlight advances in the treatment of this complex blood cancer. Multiple myeloma is the leading indication of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in hematologic malignancies, with high-dose therapy followed by ASCT representing a potentially curative treatment modality for eligible patients. Dr. Hamza Hashmi, Assistant Attending in the Myeloma & Cell Therapy Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, is currently serving as chair of i3 Health CME/NCPD activity, Cracking the Code to Successful Stem Cell Mobilization in Multiple Myeloma. In this interview, Dr. Hashmi shares additional insights into the evolving role of transplantation in this disease and the importance of education and advocacy during Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month. Click the link for the full activity! https://bit.ly/4hyVwLn

This week, Jonathan is joined by Xavier Leleu, world-renowned expert in multiple myeloma, Waldenström's macroglobulinemia, and amyloidosis. The pair discuss groundbreaking advances in clinical trials and the future of myeloma immunotherapy.   Timestamps:  (00:00)-Introduction  (00:59)-Clinical trial breakthroughs in transplant-ineligible myeloma  (03:38)-Minimal residual disease: a key endpoint   (05:21)-Rethinking therapeutic strategies in myeloma   (10:58)-Challenges in late-line myeloma therapies   (13:54)-T-cell-engaging bispecific antibodies   (17:41)-Waldenström's macroglobulinemia and amyloidosis  (21:50)-What's next in multiple myeloma treatment?  (24:43)-Xavier's three wishes for healthcare   

Today's guest is Peter Coolbaugh, an avid baseball fan, cat dad, and survivor of both stage 5 kidney failure and stage 3 Multiple Myeloma. He started out with back pain and it took several weeks before someone finally did bloodwork and a diagnosis could be made. Peter's story is incredible, with all he went through for over a year, from alternating days of kidney dialysis and chemotherapy, fighting two diseases at once, to a stem cell transplant and subsequent skin cancer. In remission now, Peter has a new lease on life. What a story of perseverance and resilience!Resources:Peter's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100017601829006Peter's Caringbridge: https://www.caringbridge.org/site/894cf0d2-19e4-39c0-9a8d-16e13bc4adb4Follow:Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/melissagrosbollMy website: https://melissagrosboll.comEmail me: drmelissagrosboll@gmail.com

This content has been developed for healthcare professionals only. Patients who seek health information should consult with their physician or relevant patient advocacy groups.For the full presentation, downloadable Practice Aids, slides, and complete CME/NCPD/AAPA/IPCE information, and to apply for credit, please visit us at PeerView.com/ESB865. CME/NCPD/AAPA/IPCE credit will be available until February 23, 2026.Restoring Remission in RRMM: Present and Future of Sequential Immunotherapy With GPRC5D-Targeting Options In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, and HealthTree Foundation for Multiple Myeloma. PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.SupportThis activity is supported by an educational grant from Janssen Biotech, Inc., administered by Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC. Both are Johnson & Johnson companies.Disclosure information is available at the beginning of the video presentation.

We are so honored to welcome back Dr. S. Vincent Rajkumar, Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He is also Editor-In-Chief of Blood Cancer Journal and the Chairperson of the Board of the International Myeloma Foundation. This week's episode will be focusing on additional pearls for the treatment of Multiple Myeloma including options for refractory disease, as well as advice for trainees.

Featuring an interview with Dr Surbhi Sidana, including the following topics: Long-term outcomes for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM) (0:00) Clinical considerations in the selection of patients for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy (3:34) Practical challenges for patients receiving CAR T-cell therapy (8:34) Selection among available CAR T-cell therapies (12:18) Prevention, management and supportive care involved in the management of toxicities associated with CAR T-cell therapy (16:34) Secondary cancers associated with CAR T-cell therapy (21:25) Bridging therapy considerations for patients receiving CAR T-cell treatment (25:15) Utility of antibody-drug conjugates and bispecific antibodies for MM (27:49) Case: A man in his early 40s experiences rapid progression on induction therapy for MM (31:59) Case: A man in his early 50s with heavily pretreated MM receives multiple CAR T-cell therapies (41:47) CME information and select publications

Dr Surbhi Sidana from Stanford University in California discusses recent updates on chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for the treatment of multiple myeloma. CME information and select publications here.

Featuring a slide presentation and related discussion from Dr Surbhi Sidana, including the following topics: Key clinical data of FDA-approved chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies (0:00) Real-world evidence evaluating utility of CAR T-cell therapies in the clinic (8:08) Impact of prior BCMA-targeted treatment on CAR T-cell therapy efficacy (12:55) Investigational CAR T-cell therapies in clinical development (15:08) Incidence and management of toxicities associated with CAR T-cell therapy (18:21) CME information and select publications

Dr Surbhi Sidana from Stanford University in California discusses recent updates on chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for the treatment of multiple myeloma. CME information and select publications here.

On this episode Lara and Vyanka talk to Prof Guy Pratt from The University of Birmingham all about the diagnosis of, management of and advances in plasma cell disorders like MGUS and multiple myeloma. This is ImmunoTea: Your Immunology Podcast, presented by Dr Lara Dungan and Dr Vyanka Redenbaugh. This is the show where we tell you all about the most exciting research going on in the world of immunology. So grab a cup of tea, sit down and relax and we'll fill you in. Contact us at ImmunoTeaPodcast@gmail.com or @ImmunoTea on twitter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 184: Multiple Myeloma BasicsSub-Interns and future Drs. Di Tran and Jessica Avila explain the symptoms, work up and treatment of multiple myeloma. Written by Di Tran, MSIV, Ross University School of Medicine; Xiyuan Yang, MSIV, American University of the Caribbean. Comments by Jessica Avila, MSIV, American University of the Caribbean. Edits by Hector Arreaza, MD.You are listening to Rio Bravo qWeek Podcast, your weekly dose of knowledge brought to you by the Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program from Bakersfield, California, a UCLA-affiliated program sponsored by Clinica Sierra Vista, Let Us Be Your Healthcare Home. This podcast was created for educational purposes only. Visit your primary care provider for additional medical advice.Di: Hi everyone, this is Di Tran, 4th year medical student from Ross university.  It's a pleasure to be back.  To be honest, this project is a part of teamwork of two medical students, myself and another 4th year, her name is XiYuan.  She came from the AUC. Unfortunately, due to personal matters she was unable to make it to the recording today which makes me feel really sad. Jessica: My name is Jessica Avila, MSIV, American University of the Caribbean.Di: The topic we will present today is Multiple Myeloma. Multiple myeloma is typically a rare disease and it's actually a type of blood cancer that affects plasma cells in the bone marrow.Jessica: Let's start with a case: A 66-year-old male comes to his family doctor for an annual health checkup. He is not in any acute distress but he reports that he has been feeling tired and weaker than usual for the last 3 months. He also noticed that he tends to bruise easily. He has a history of arthritis and chronic joint pain, but he thinks his back pain has gotten worse in the last couple of months. Upon checking his lab values, his family doctor found that he has a calcium level of 10.8 and a creatinine level of 1.2, which has increased from his baseline. Given all that information, what do you think his family doctor is suspecting? And what kind of tests she can order for further evaluation?Di: Those symptoms sound awfully familiar – are we talking about the CRAB? You know, the diagnostic criteria for Multiple Myeloma.Jessica: Exactly! Those are called “myeloma-defining events.” Do you remember what those are?Di: CRAB criteria comes in 4 flavors.  It's HYPERCALCEMIA with >1mg/dL, RENAL INSUFFICIENCY with serum creatinine >2mg/dL, ANEMIA with hemoglobin value 10% plasma cells, PLUS any one or more of the CRAB features, we can make the official diagnosis of multiple myeloma. Di:  Before we go deeper, let's back up a little bit and do a little background.  So, what do we know about the immunoglobulins, also known as antibodies? Back from years of studying from medical school, we know that the plasma cells are the ones that producing the antibodies that help fight infections.  There  are various kinds that come with various functions.  Each antibody is made up of 2 heavy chains and 2 light chains.  For heavy chains, we have A, D, E, G, M and for light chains we have Kappa and Lambda.Jessica: Usually, the 5 possible types of immunoglobulins for heavy chains would be written as IgG, IgA, IgD, IgE, and IgM.  And the most common type in the bloodstream is nonetheless the IgG. Di: What is multiple myeloma? In myeloma, all the abnormal plasma cells make the same type of antibody, the monoclonal antibody.  The cause of myeloma is unknown, but there are lots of studies and evidence that show a number of potential etiologies, including viral, genetic, and exposure to toxic chemicals, especially the Agent Orange, which is a chemical used as herbicide and defoliant. It was used as a chemical warfare by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1971.Jessica: We need to order some specific blood tests to see if there is elevated monoclonal proteins in the blood or urine. So, to begin with we'll need to take a very thorough history and physical exam. Next, we'll do labs, such as CBC, basic metabolic panel, calcium, serum beta-2 microglobulin, LDH, total protein, and some not so common tests: serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP), immunofixation of blood or urine (IFE), quantitative immunoglobulins (QIg), serum free light chain assay, and serum heavy/light chain ratio assay.If any of the results is abnormal, we should consider referring our patient to an oncologist.Di: Interesting! I read that Multiple Myeloma symptoms vary in different patients.  In fact, about 10-20% of patients with newly diagnosed myeloma do not have any symptoms at all.   Otherwise, classic symptomatic presentations are weakness, fatigue, increased bruising under the skin, reduced urine output, weakened bones that is likely prone to fractures, etc. And if multiple myeloma is highly suspected, a Bone Marrow biopsy should be done with testing for flow cytometry and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Actually, if any of the “Biomarkers of malignancy (SLIM)” is met we can also diagnose multiple myeloma even without the CRAB criteria. Jessica: The diagnosis is made if one or more of the following is found: >= 60% of clonal plasma cells on bone marrow biopsy, > 1 lytic bone lesion on MRI that is at least 5mm in size, or a biopsy confirmed plasmacytoma. Di: Imaging comes in at the final step especially if we able to find one or more sites of osteolytic bone destruction > 5mm on an MRI scan.Jessica: What if the bone marrow biopsy returns > 10% of monoclonal plasma cells, but our patient doesn't have either the CRAB or the Biomarker criteria? Di: That's actually a very good question, since Multiple Myeloma is part of a spectrum of plasma cell disorders. That's when smoldering myeloma comes into play. It is a precursor of active multiple myeloma. Smoldering myeloma is further categorized as high-risk or low-risk based on specific criteria.A less severe form is called Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance, or simply MGUS, with < 10% bone marrow involvement. Those are diagnoses we give once we rule out actual multiple myeloma, which are defined by the amount of M-protein in the serum.Jessica:  When to get started on treatment? Multiple Myeloma is on a spectrum of plasma cells proliferative disorders, starting from MGUS to Smoldering Myeloma, to Multiple Myeloma and to  Plasma Cell Leukemia.  Close supervision/active watching is enough for MGUS and low risk Smoldering Myeloma. But once it has progressed to high-risk smoldering myeloma or to active Multiple Myeloma, chemotherapy is usually required. Some situations may require emergent treatment to improve renal function, reduce hypercalcemia, and to prevent potential infections.Di: As of 2024, treatment of Multiple Myeloma comprises the Standard-of-Care approved by the FDA. In fact, the quadruple therapy is a combination of 4 different class of drugs that include a monoclonal antibody, a proteasome inhibitor, an immunomodulatory drug, and a steroid. Jessica: They are Darzalex (daratumumab), Velcade (bortezomib), Revlimid (lenalidomide) and dexamethasone.  Other treatment plans for Multiple Myeloma include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy (for plasmacytomas) and stem cell transplants. The patient will also be on prophylaxis acyclovir and Bactrim while on chemotherapy. Sometimes anticoagulants are also considered because the chemo increases the risk of venous thromboembolic events.Di: Although the disease is incurable, but with the advancing of novel therapies and clinical trials patients with multiple myeloma are able to live longer.  Problem is the majority of patients diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma are older adults (>65), the risk of falling is adding to multiple complications of the disease itself, such as bone density loss, pain, neurological compromises, distress and weakness.  Palliative care may come in help at any point in time throughout the course of treatment but is most often needed at the very end of the course. Jessica, can you give us a conclusion for this episode?Jessica: Multiple Myeloma may not be the most common cancer, but we have to be aware of the symptoms and keep it in our differential diagnosis for patients with bone pain, easy bruising, persistent severe headaches, unexplained renal dysfunction, and remember the CRAB: HyperCalcemia, Renal impairment, Anemia and Bone lesions.Even without trying, every night you go to bed a little wiser. Thanks for listening to Rio Bravo qWeek Podcast. We want to hear from you, send us an email at RioBravoqWeek@clinicasierravista.org, or visit our website riobravofmrp.org/qweek. See you next week! _____________________References:International Myeloma Foundation. (n.d.). International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) criteria for the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. https://www.myeloma.org/international-myeloma-working-group-imwg-criteria-diagnosis-multiple-myeloma Laubach, J. P. (2024, August 28). Patient education: Multiple myeloma symptoms, diagnosis, and staging (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/multiple-myeloma-symptoms-diagnosis-and-staging-beyond-the-basics.University of California San Francisco. (n.d.). About multiple myeloma. UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. https://cancer.ucsf.edu/research/multiple-myeloma/about Theme song, Works All The Time by Dominik Schwarzer, YouTube ID: CUBDNERZU8HXUHBS, purchased from https://www.premiumbeat.com/.

In this episode of Life Stories: People Helping People, I speak with Ray Hartjen, author of Me, Myself, and My Multiple Myeloma. Ray shares his deeply personal journey of living with multiple myeloma, a rare form of blood cancer. Through his book, he offers insight into the emotional, physical, and mental challenges he has faced while maintaining resilience and hope. We discuss his writing process, the lessons he has learned, and the importance of storytelling in navigating life's most difficult moments. Ray's story is one of courage, perspective, and finding meaning in adversity. You can find out more about Ray and his books at https://rayhartjen.com/ Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1718977880777072342a16683

Dr Saad Zafar Usmani from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York discusses available data guiding treatment decision-making for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. CME information and select publications here.

Featuring an interview with Dr Saad Zafar Usmani, including the following topics: Optimizing treatment intervention for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) (0:00) Role of anti-CD38 antibodies in induction and maintenance therapy for patients with newly diagnosed disease (4:22) Case: A woman in her late 70s with revised International Staging System (R-ISS) Stage II IgG kappa myeloma who received D-Rd followed by maintenance daratumumab (14:02) Case: A man in his early 60s with double-hit myeloma who received D-KRd and carfilzomib maintenance therapy (26:10) Case: A man in his early 70s with R-ISS Stage III IgG kappa myeloma and translocation (4;14) who deferred transplant (33:24) Future directions in the management of MM (40:37) CME information and select publications  

Multiple myeloma is a type of blood cancer that affects plasma cells in the bone marrow. And it most commonly impacts older adults, with higher prevalence among men and African Americans. What are the symptoms and signs that are often subtle or overlooked, leading to delays in diagnosis? What treatment options are available for those diagnosed? In this episode spoke with Jens Hillengass, MD, PhD, chief of the Myeloma and Amyloidosis Service and vice chair of research of the Department of Medicine at Roswell Park Cancer Institute about the importance of early detection, healthy lifestyle strategies, and recent advances in research that offer hope. We then sat down with Jacqueline Henry, BSN, RN, nurse manager for the lymphoma and myeloma department at Roswell Park, about what quality of life looks like for patients, treatment goals, and how to find hope after diagnosis.

Featuring a slide presentation and related discussion from Dr Saad Zafar Usmani, including the following topics: Evolution of therapeutic decision-making for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) (0:00) Quadruplet therapy for transplant-eligible patients with newly diagnosed MM (6:26) Daratumumab with lenalidomide as maintenance therapy after transplant in newly diagnosed MM (16:16) Therapeutic options for transplant-ineligible patients with MM (19:51) CME information and select publications

HOPA Pharmacy Outcomes & Practice-Based Collaboration Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MXNVRBR Dexamethasone Dosing Intensity in Multiple Myeloma: https://doi.org/10.1182/blood.2024025939 Talquetamab + Teclistamab: https://doi.org/10.1182/blood.2024025939 postMONARCH: https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO-24-02086