Multiple Myeloma Hub

During the Multiple Myeloma Hub Steering Committee Meeting in May 2024, key opinion leaders met to discuss key considerations regarding infections associated with bispecific antibodies. Meral Beksaç​ opened with a presentation reviewing the infectious complications associated with bispecific antibodies, and current treatment algorithms for such infections. Beksaç​ explored an analysis of infections and parameters of humoral immunity in the MonumenTAL-1 study, the clinical management of infections, and regional differences in access to prophylaxis and treatment for infections. Following her presentation, Beksaç​ chaired a Q&A session featuring Hermann Einsele, Paul Richardson, Heinz Ludwig, María-Victoria Mateos, Elena Zamagni, and Vania Tietsche De Moraes Hungria. Discussions included COVID infections, the need for vaccination in donors of immunoglobulins for IVIG treatment, and the impact of dosing schedules on reducing infectious complications and T‑cell exhaustion.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During the Multiple Myeloma Hub Steering Committee Meeting in May 2024, key opinion leaders met to discuss the current use of CAR T-cell therapies in clinical practice, with a focus on patient-specific considerations in the development of personalized treatment plans. To open, Hermann Einsele provides a presentation reviewing the latest data from trials of ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel) and idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel) in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM), including the KarMMa and CARTITUDE trials. He explores criteria for the identification of patients who may benefit from CAR T-cell therapy, mechanisms of resistance to BCMA CAR T-cell therapy, and the rationale for the earlier application of CAR T-cell therapies in MM. Einsele provides a review of the toxicities associated with immunotherapies, including strategies for prevention and monitoring, management techniques for CRS and ICANS, and infection prophylaxis and management. Following his presentation, Einsele chaired a Q&A session featuring Paul Richardson, Heinz Ludwig, María-Victoria Mateos, Meral Beksaç, Elena Zamagni, and Vania Tietsche De Moraes Hungria. Discussions included the implementation of CAR T-cell therapies in earlier lines of therapy, CAR T-cell therapies in high-risk disease, maintenance after CAR T-cell therapies, and toxicities with CAR T-cell therapies and bispecifics. This educational resource is independently supported by Bristol Myers Squibb. All content is developed by SES in collaboration with an expert steering committee; funders are allowed no influence on the content of this resource.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Experts Shaji Kumar and Naresh Bumma discuss selecting maintenance therapies post-ASCT for high-risk MM. They debate lenalidomide monotherapy vs. combination therapy with a proteosome inhibitor, the challenges of defining high-risk populations, and the need for prospective trials. Kumar and Bumma share their management strategies and highlight the future of managing high-risk MM post-ASCT.

The Multiple Myeloma Hub was pleased to speak to Hira Mian, McMaster University, Hamilton, CA. We asked, Should risk-adapted MM treatment be informed by age or frailty status?In this podcast, Hira Mian discusses the relationship between age and frailty status, sharing her perspective on how they may inform treatment strategies for patients with multiple myeloma. Mian examines the influence of age on frailty status, but notes other influential factors featured in the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) frailty score. Mian concludes with the importance of a comprehensive frailty assessment to inform a risk-adapted treatment plan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discover how immune reconstitution is studied in patients who stop therapy after achieving MRD negativity. Hear about markers for humoral immune recovery, infection rates, and potential implications for future studies.

During the 64th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition, the Multiple Myeloma Hub was pleased to speak to Vania Tietsche de Moraes Hungria, Clínica São Germano, São Paulo, BR. We asked, What are the main discrepancies between multiple myeloma (MM) treating centers in Brazil?In this podcast, Hungria discusses their poster presented at ASH 2022 entitled: A Brazilian real-life experience of multiple myeloma patients: Final results from the Mmybrave multi-center study.In particular, Hungria discusses the setting of this research, looking at the differences in the characteristics and overall survival of patients with MM in Brazil, considering the treatment center type, i.e., public or private institutions. Hungria considers the difference in access to drugs and the implications this may have on patients, and concludes by looking to the future for the improvement of treatment for all patients with MM in Brazil.To find out more about this research study, read the Multiple Myeloma Hub summary here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During the 64th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition, the Multiple Myeloma Hub was pleased to speak to Meral Beksac, Ankara University, Ankara, TR. We asked, What are the initial data of dara-CyBorD in patients with extramedullary disease?In this podcast, Beksac discusses their poster presented at ASH 2022 entitled: Efficacy of daratumumab combined with bortezomib, cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone for the treatment of multiple myeloma patients presenting with extramedullary disease: a European Myeloma Network study. Beksac outlines the methods and motivations for this phase II open-label study, including the unmet need for patients with para-skeletal plasmacytomas, and concludes by discussing the study results in terms of progression-free survival, safety, and efficacy, and comparing these results with the previous LYRA study. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Roman Hájek, from the University of Ostrava, discusses the benefits of isatuximab-based combinations in treating relapsed multiple myeloma patients refractory to lenalidomide-based therapy. The focus is on the efficacy of isatuximab with carfilzomib and dexamethasone, highlighting the role of immunomodulatory agents in improving outcomes.

Experts discuss integrating BCMA-directed agents in MM treatment, challenges of CAR T-cell availability, potential of bispecific therapies, and ADCs. Emphasis on managing keratopathy, high response rates with combination therapies, and the importance of evaluating BCMA-directed agents in earlier lines of therapy.

During a meeting of the Multiple Myeloma Hub Steering Committee on April 26, 2022, Morie Gertz chaired a recorded discussion that also featured María-Victoria Mateos, Nina Shah, Paul Richardson, and Elena Zamagni. The topic of this discussion was “The role of consolidation after autologous stem cell transplantation”, which was identified as an unmet educational need within multiple myeloma treatment.Gertz begins the discussion by explaining that patients often have confusion over what consolidation therapy is and when it can be used. Mateos then discusses how the number of induction therapy cycles a patient receives can affect the use of consolidation. Richardson talks about the STAMINA trial and how tolerability posttransplant can affect treatment choices, with Shah commenting on the difficulty of replicating trials in the real-world setting. The committee then discuss how historically in trials, the same drug that was used in induction is used as consolidation, and what the potential results would be if a different drug was used for consolidation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.