MULTIPLE MYELOMA

In updated findings from the multicenter phase I CRB-401 study that were presented at the 2018 ASCO Annual Meeting, the anti-BCMA CAR T-cell therapy bb2121 induced a median progression-free survival of 11.8 months and a median duration of response of 10.8 months for patients with relapsed/refractory heavily pretreated multiple myeloma.

Following a planned interim analysis, 2 early-phase clinical trials exploring daratumumab in combination with either a PD-1 inhibitor for multiple myeloma or a PD-L1 inhibitor for non–small cell lung cancer have been terminated, according to a statement from Genmab, the company codeveloping daratumumab with Janssen.

The use of triplet regimens for the treatment of patients with relapsed multiple myeloma has become one of the most favorable treatments recently. OPTIMISMM, a phase III trial, investigated bortezomib and dexamethasone with or without pomalidomide as another triplet regimen option for use in earlier lines of therapy, said Peter Voorhees, MD.<br /> &nbsp;

Andrew L. Pecora, MD, president of the Physician Services Division and chief innovation officer at Hackensack Meridian Health, discusses the significance of his findings when combining an anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 in patients with multiple myeloma. He sought out to find whether these 2 drugs could be combined safely after an autologous stem cell transplant.&nbsp;

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center has selected Jens Hillengass, MD, as its new Chief of Myeloma. Hillengass will continue his research on hematologic malignancies in his new position.

Ivan Borrello, MD, recently shared the treatment considerations and decisions he makes when treating patients with multiple myeloma. Borrello, an associate professor of oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and director of cell therapy, Sydney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, in Baltimore, Maryland, explained his treatment decisions based on a case scenario during a <em>Targeted Oncology</em> live case-based peer perspective presentation.

Treating High-Risk Multiple Myeloma

Daratumumab (Darzalex) in combination with&nbsp;bortezomib (Velcade), melphalan, and prednisone received FDA approval as a frontline regimen for the treatment of&nbsp;patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant.

In top-line results from part 2 of the phase IIb STORM trial, selinexor induced an overall response rate of 25.4% in patients with penta-refractory multiple myeloma, according to&nbsp;Karyopharm Therapeutics,&nbsp;the manufacturer of the oral SINE compound.

The FDA approved several indications throughout the month of April 2018.&nbsp;A number of drugs were granted priority review and Fast Track designation. The FDA also halted all clinical trials using&nbsp;tazemetostat as treatment, and new initiatives were introduced&nbsp;to help ease the development of genetic and genomic-based tests.&nbsp;Check out our list of all FDA happenings from April 2018.

Managing High-Risk Multiple Myeloma

New agents and combinations have been introduced to the treatment landscape of multiple myeloma, including chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, according to C. Ola Landgren, MD, PhD. Regimens of 2- and 3-drugs have also proven successful for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Selinexor was recently granted a Fast Track designation by the FDA for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least 3 prior lines of therapy, according to Karyopharm Therapeutics, the manufacturer of the oral SINE compound.

Joshua R. Richter, MD, a hematologist/oncologist at John Theurer Cancer Center, discusses results from the Living with Cancer patient-reported outcomes (PROs) tool, which is a survey to record self-reported symptoms from patients. Richter used this tool to survey 239 patients with multiple myeloma on their symptoms and psychological distress.

Based on data from the phase III 482 study, denosumab (Xgeva) has been approved for an expanded indication by the European Commission&nbsp;for the prevention of skeletal-related events in adult patients with multiple myeloma, according to Amgen, the developer of the RANK ligand inhibitor.

Agne Paner, MD, recently shared the treatment considerations and decisions she makes when treating patients with multiple myeloma. Paner, an assistant professor of medicine at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, explained her treatment decisions based on 2 case scenarios during a <em>Targeted Oncology</em> live case-based peer perspectives presentation.

C. Ola Landgren, MD, PhD, recently shared the treatment considerations and decisions he makes when treating patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Landgren, chief of the Myeloma Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, explained how he would treat these patients based on the review of a case scenario during a <em>Targeted Oncology </em>live case-based peer perspectives dinner discussion.