Current Leading Therapies for Multiple Myeloma

Video

Nina Shah, MD, discusses the potential therapies that could emerge in 2022 for multiple myeloma.

Nina Shah, MD: Today as we go from 2021 to 2022, I would say the leading therapies for induction therapy for transplant-eligible patients are RVd [lenalidomide (Revlimid), bortezomib (Velcade), and dexamethasone] or daratumumab [Darzalex]–RVd based on the GRIFFIN trial [NCT02874742]. That’s becoming a newer and more used regimen, [although] KRd [carfilzomib (Kyprolis), lenalidomide, and dexamethasone] is still a potential for that. I do think transplant still has a role. This has been supported by the IFM trial [NCT01191060] and more recently, by the FORTE trial [NCT02203643]. For maintenance therapy. The jury’s still out. Lenalidomide does give overall survival advantage but perhaps giving carfilzomib in combination with lenalidomide gives you a longer PFS [progression-free survival] as per the FORTE trial and may be particularly better for high-risk patients.

In the relapsed or refractory setting, [specifically] in the early relapse setting, daratumumab in combination with carfilzomib or isatuximab [Sarclisa] in combination with carfilzomib is a very effective treatment and should be considered in the second line. You can also consider things like daratumumab, pomalidomide [Pomalyst], and dexamethasone. In the late line, we are on the horizon to now embrace the BCMA [B-cell maturation antigen] therapies. Hopefully we’re going to have another CAR T-cell therapy available as well as, in the near future, bispecific T-cell engagers.

Recent Videos
“Every patient [with multiple myeloma] should be offered CAR T before they’re offered a bispecific, with some rare exceptions,” said Barry Paul, MD.
Barry Paul, MD, listed cilta-cel, anito-cel, and arlo-cel as 3 of the CAR T-cell therapies with the most promising efficacy in patients with multiple myeloma.
Elucidating nonresponses to bispecific T-cell engagers may be an important research consideration in the multiple myeloma field.
Fixed treatment durations with bispecific antibodies followed by observation may help in mitigating infection-related AEs, according to Shebli Atrash, MD.
Shebli Atrash, MD, stated that MRD should be considered carefully as an end point, given potential recurrence despite MRD negativity.
The National ICE-T Conference may inspire future collaboration between community and academic oncologists in the management of different cancers.
Long-term toxicities like infections and secondary primary malignancies remain a concern when sequencing novel agents for those with multiple myeloma.
Management of adverse effects and access to cellular therapies among community oncologists represented key points of discussion in multiple myeloma.
“If you have a [patient in the] fourth or fifth line, [JNJ-5322] could be a valid drug of choice,” said Rakesh Popat, BSc, MBBS, MRCP, FRCPath, PhD.
Earlier treatment with daratumumab may be better tolerated for patients with pretreated MRD-negative multiple myeloma.
Related Content