Dr. Kumar on Understanding the Safety Profiles of Combination Therapies in Multiple Myeloma

Shaji K. Kumar, MD, a consultant in the Division of Hematology and a professor of medicine with Mayo Clinic, discusses the importance of understanding the safety profiles of combination therapies in multiple myeloma.

When utilizing combination therapies in multiple myeloma, it’s critical to understand safety in addition to efficacy. Also, it’s of paramount importance to conduct detailed analyses that illustrate all quality-of-life factors. By doing so, patients can better understand the potential effects of certain therapies on their day-to-day lives, Kumar says.

In general, patients with newly diagnosed disease are recommended for triplet regimens, says Kumar. Although additional data are needed, more quadruplet regimens may be utilized in this setting. When treating patients with relapsed/refractory myeloma, it’s important to select the optimal therapy based on what the patient previously received, Kumar concludes.