HealthTree Podcast for Multiple Myeloma

Learn more about Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) testing and how it’s being used today in research and for your myeloma care. Join Rafael Fonseca, MD, Mayo Clinic to learn when MRD testing should be done and how the results should be used in myeloma care 

Through her extensive (and continuing) research, Dr. Urvi Shah, a multiple myeloma specialist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, is determined to find answers to the often-asked question by patients with precursor myeloma conditions, “What diet is best for me?” lCan a plant based diet affect your overall health? Can it affect your blood cancer progression or time to relapse? What does the science say about it, and what questions still need to be answered? Join us to discuss these topics and answer these questions and more. HealthTree is working with Dr. Urvi Shah's team at MSK in "Nutrivention-2", a national, multi-arm, randomized prospective telehealth study for MGUS and smoldering myeloma patients. This study will explore the microbial changes in response to a plant-based diet and supplements in smoldering myeloma patients. You can learn more about it HERE. If you're interested and want more information, please contact our support team - support@healthtree.org.

Bispecific antibodies are a growing class of treatment in multiple myeloma. Learn from global expert and International Myeloma Society (IMS) President Dr. Philippe Moreau about the advances being made in bispecific antibodies and what clinicians are learning about how and when to best use this therapy. Dr. Moreau will provide a review of approved and in-development bispecific antibodies, side effect management and more. Learn how HealthTree and IMS are partnering on the HealthTree Bispecific Antibody Study to provide more data and patient experiences to help the research community come to faster conclusions about this new, exciting treatment. 

Learn about what's here and what's coming in 2025 in multiple myeloma care with myeloma expert Robert Orlowski, MD, PhD

New discoveries in multiple myeloma are made possible through a deep understanding of the disease. Many researchers contribute significantly to these breakthroughs by performing essential lab work, often without ever treating patients directly. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Brian Van Ness, a PhD researcher from the University of Minnesota who has dedicated decades to studying the biology and genetics of multiple myeloma. Dr. Van Ness shares how his lab research has laid the foundation for new insights into this complex disease and how his unwavering love for patients has driven his work during his extensive career. Tune in to learn how cutting-edge research translates into better outcomes for the myeloma community and how researchers like Dr. Van Ness are shaping the future of care.  

Learn about the latest in multiple myeloma advances with Paul Richardson, MD who will cover the recent American Society of Hematology and European Hematology Association meeting findings.

Dr. Morie Gertz joins the HealthTree Podcast for Multiple Myeloma to share the challenges, treatments and futures of AL amyloidosis and invites amyloidosis patients to join this survey about their diagnosis experience.

Dr. Ola Landgren shares a clinical trial about smoldering myeloma. Join the REVIVE trial study for high-risk smoldering myeloma study here.  He also share about his research partnership with HealthTree on a personalized medicine study that creates a computerized model of risk prediction and treatment recommendations for newly diagnosed patients.  This is a study that is open to all myeloma patients regardless of where they are being treated. The only involvement by patients is to sign a consent form and connect their medical records which requires less than 5 minutes of participation. 

Dr. Clifton Mo of Dana Farber Cancer Institue shares a multitude of tools available in the myeloma toolbox. This includes all of the "standard of care" drugs that we are familiar with such as immunomodulators, proteasome inhibitors, steroids, monoclonal antibodies as well as tools in development.  He reviews triplet combo treatment options at first relapse and his preference to use Kyprolis in the mix, especially when given a more aggressive myeloma.  Dr. Mo explains how antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) work and how the first ADC, BLENREP, may be making a comeback. He shares how dexamethasone can be reduced or stopped under certain conditions. He explains BCL-2 inhibitors like venetoclax and how they are making their way through clinical trials.  Dr. Mo describes celmods and how they work and are a promising new class of drugs. He also described how an XPO1 inhibitor called selinexor is being used both with the celmods  and alone as an agent that works well for higher risk myeloma.  This shows myeloma patients how fortunate we are to have these tools available and speaks to the importance of having a myeloma specialist on your team who can help you make treatment decisions. This can be done alone or in partnership with your local oncologist. There is data that shows that having a specialist on year team leads to longer life. 

Learn how bispecific antibodies are being used in multiple myeloma care and how physicians are helping patients manage side effects using new approaches like fixed-duration therapy.