Multiple Myeloma

Combining the CD38-targeted antibody daratumumab with lenalidomide and dexamethasone reduced the risk of disease progression by 63% versus lenalidomide and dexamethasone alone in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, according to findings from the phase III POLLUX (MMY3003) trial.

Adding daratumumab to bortezomib and dexamethasone reduced the risk of progression or death by 61%, and doubled response rates compared with the standard 2-drug regimen alone for patients with recurrent or refractory multiple myeloma.

Antonio Palumbo, MD, chief, Myeloma Unit, Department of Oncology, Section of Hematology, University of Torino, Italy, discusses the phase III results of the CASTOR trial, which was a randomized controlled study examining the efficacy of daratumumab (Darzalex), bortezomib (Velcade), and dexamethasone versus bortezomib and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

Michele Cavo, MD, professor, Seràgnoli Institute of Hematology Bologna University School of Medicine, discusses the results of the phase III EMN02/HO95 MM trial, which compared the efficacy of upfront autologous stem cell transplantation versus novel agent-based therapy for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma.

A regimen consisting of carfilzomib, pomalidomide, and dexamethasone merits further investigation for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma whose disease progresses while on lenalidomide in the earlier stages of disease.

The anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody isatuximab showed promising signs of activity as a single-agent for patients with heavily pretreated relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Carfilzomib (Kyprolis) has received a positive recommendation from the EMA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use for use in combination with dexamethasone alone as a treatment for patients with multiple myeloma following at least 1 prior therapy.

The European Commission has granted conditional marketing approval to daratumumab (Darzalex) for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma previously treated with a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory agent who progressed on their last therapy.

Adding daratumumab (Darzalex) to lenalidomide and dexamethasone reduced the risk of disease progression by 63% in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma in the phase III POLLUX trial.

Early findings from a phase III clinical trial suggest that patients with multiple myeloma who receive upfront autologous stem cell transplant survive longer without disease progression than those who receive chemotherapy alone.

The European Commission approved elotuzumab (Empliciti) for use in combination with lenalidomide (Revlimid) and dexamethasone for patients with multiple myeloma following progression on at least 1 prior therapy.

Kenneth Anderson, MD, PhD, discusses the role of APRIL/BCMA and what potential the targeted agent BION-1301 may have in blocking multiple myeloma cell proliferation, as well as reducing drug resistance and immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment.

Leonie de Best, MSc2, chief operating officer, SkylineDX, discusses the HOVON-87/NMSG-18 study, which demonstrated the validation of the EMC92/SKY92 signature for elderly patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.