Multiple Myeloma

The addition of daratumumab to bortezomib, melphalan, and prednisone (VMP) reduced the risk of progression or death by 50% compared with VMP alone for transplant-ineligible patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

Cristina Gasparetto, MD, associate professor, head of the myeloma program, Duke University Medical Center, discusses a phase 1b study to assess the combination of selinexor and daratumumab (Darzalex) in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma previously exposed to proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory drugs during the 2017 ASH Annual Meeting. Selinexor is an interesting new drug that inhibits Exportin 1 (XPO1), which reactivates some of the tumor suppressor proteins. In the phase 1b portion of the study, investigators aimed to identify the optimal dose of selinexor in combination with daratumumab. Gasparetto says the study included a small number of patients, but demonstrated very encouraging data.

A novel approach demonstrated durable responses in the treatment of patients with smoldering multiple myeloma, according to results from a single-arm, phase II trial.

Treatment with the BCMA-directed CAR T-cell therapy bb2121 induced complete remissions for 56% of patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Key opinion leaders share their insight on the pivotal and highly anticipated abstracts across hematologic malignancies, including lymphoma, leukemia, and multiple myeloma, ahead of 2017 ASH Annual Meeting and exactly how these findings could be implemented in and affect clinical practice.

The FDA has lifted partial clinical holds placed on the phase I CheckMate-039 and phase II CA204142 trials exploring nivolumab-based regimens in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.