Dr. Kumar on the Challenges of Selecting Therapy in Heavily Pretreated Multiple Myeloma

Shaji K. Kumar, MD, a consultant in the Division of Hematology and a professor of medicine with Mayo Clinic, discusses the challenges of selecting therapy for patients with heavily pretreated multiple myeloma.

Treatment selection for patients with multiple myeloma who experience multiple relapses can be challenging because they are likely refractory to proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory agents, and monoclonal antibodies, says Kumar. Although retreatment with these therapies may offer patients some benefit, the durability of response is not sustained, Kumar explains.

As such, novel therapies with unique mechanisms of action that can be utilized in combination strategies are needed, Kumar says. Therapies that have recently been FDA approved for single-agent use could have utility in combination regimens with retreatment agents to extend the durability of responses, concludes Kumar.