Dr. Dorritie on Determining Transplant Eligibility in Multiple Myeloma

Kathleen ​A. Dorritie, MD, hematologist/medical oncologist​, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Hillman Cancer Center​, discusses transplant eligibility in multiple myeloma.

Transplant eligibility criteria are continually evolving and var​y based on geographic location. For example, in Europe, age may have a more significant role in determining whether a patient is eligible for transplant, Dorritie says.

Further, it’s important to be aware of the patient's comorbidities because ​transplants are known to be quite toxic. As such, patients who have ​an extensive history of cardiac or renal disease are not eligible ​for transplant, Dorritie adds.

Notably, trials such as the ​phase 3 MAIA trial, which evaluated ​the combination of daratumumab (Darzalex), lenalidomide (Revlimid), and dexamethasone vs lenalidomide/dexamethasone alone in patients with transplant-ineligible multiple myeloma, will help to determine whether transplant should be included in the treatment paradigm for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, Dorritie concludes.