HealthTree Podcast for Multiple Myeloma

Over 40% of multiple myeloma patients deal with kidney disease during their multiple myeloma journey. Learn more from Natalie Callander, MD of the University of Wisconsin at Madison about how myeloma affects the kidneys, what else causes kidney damage, signs and symptoms to watch for, tips to protect the kidneys, how to resolve kidney concerns, how dialysis plays a part in care and when a patient may need a kidney transplant. Thanks to our episode sponsor, Takeda Oncology

Maintenance therapy over the past several years has commonly included the use of Revlimid (lenalidomide) over a long period of time. Is more better? Does more maintenance therapy or certain combinations help extend remissions or help patients deepen their responses?  Ashraf Badros, MD, of the University of Maryland will join the HealthTree Podcast for Multiple Myeloma to talk with us about the rationale behind the AURIGA clinical trial using daratumumab and lenalidomide following stem cell transplant for patients who are still MRD positive.  Myeloma experts are working to identify more personalized approaches for each type of myeloma patient. We know that patients who are still MRD positive following high dose therapy are more likely to have shorter remissions and the use of a different maintenance therapy may help patients who aren't getting their deepest responses do better over time.  Thanks to our episode sponsor, Takeda Oncology

Myeloma advancements are happening quickly. Learn more from Paul Richardson, MD of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute about the latest findings from two key summer conferences.  Thanks to our episode sponsor, Glaxo Smith Kline

CAR T therapies are expanding as multiple myeloma treatment options. In addition to the two currently FDA approved CAR T therapies (Abecma and Carvykti) which use a patient's own T cells in a production process, new allo (off-the-shelf) options are being developed in clinical trials. Dr. Jesus Berdeja is one of the leading CAR T experts in multiple myeloma and in this episode, he will share the current development taking place for allo CAR T therapies. Join us to learn more about this exciting field in myeloma research which may provide faster and more availalble treatment options for patients.  Note: Myeloma Crowd Radio is becoming HealthTree Podcast for Multiple Myeloma.

Dr. Robert Z. Orlowski joins Myeloma Crowd Radio to share a study to share the new innovations myeloma patients can expect in 2022. He will review the recent findings from the American Society of Hematology meeting and share what we can expect from new combination therapies, best options for newly diagnosed myeloma patients, expected FDA approvals in 2022, CAR T advances, bispecific and trispecific antibodies, antibody drug conjugates, targeted inhibitors and new approaches for MGUS and smoldering myeloma. We invite you to join us for this well loved annual show.  Dr. Orlowski is Chairman, Ad Interim, Director of Myeloma, and Professor of Medicine in the Departments of Lymphoma/Myeloma and Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Orlowski serves as Chair of the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) and is a member of the NCI Steering Committee, the Multiple Myeloma Tissue Bank Steering Committee, the Computerized Provider Order Entry Steering Committee, BMT Committee, and American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Dr. Orlowski is on the Editorial Board of Hematology and the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Dr. Orlowski has received many awards over a number of years including the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Scholar in Clinical Research, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Man of the Year Award, Emil Frei III Award for Excellence in Translational Research from MD Anderson and is the recipient of an ongoing SPORE grant from the NIH. Find news and information from his daily newspaper, Myeloma Daily or find him on Twitter at myeloma_doc. Thanks to our episode sponsor, Bristol Myers Squibb

A new approach in myeloma immunotherapies is in the works called Engineered Toxic Bodies (ETBs). Early on, Molecular Templates partnered with Takeda Oncology to begin development on an ETB therapy for multiple myeloma targeting CD38. Currently, Molecular Templates is moving this therapy forward. ETBs work differently from monoclonal antibodies because they move deep inside the plasma cell instead of flagging the cell's surface. They also don't rely on the body's own immune system (like T cells or NK cells) to kill myeloma. Learn more about this emerging therapy from Dr. Shaji Kumar on this fascinating program.  Thanks to our episode sponsor, Takeda Oncology

Join Dr. Dan Vogl and Dr. Yulia Nefedova to understand more about a new oral treatment for multiple myeloma called tasquinimod. This is a treatment that targets the tumor microenvironment by targeting myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). MDSCs are a variety of cells that expand during cancer, inflammation and infection, and can suppress T-cell responses. They can stop myeloma killing-immune cells and at the same time form new tumor blood vessels that help myeloma spread in the body. The researchers are hopeful that tasquinimod will promote anti-tumor immune activity .  The treament is being developed by a Swedish company called Active Biotech and tasquinimod is now being tested in combination with standard myeloma therapies like lenalidomide, ixazomib and dex.  New treatments like these could be used in patients who have relapsed after standard myeloma treatment like daratumumab and could help alter the microenvironment that is causing myeloma relapse. Thanks to our episode sponsor, Bristol Myers Squibb

Smoldering myeloma is a precursor condition for the blood cancer multiple myeloma. There is hot debate about when and how to treat this precursor condition. Do you treat it like regular myeloma? Do you try to prevent progression? And if so, with which therapies? Dr. Elisabet Manasanch of the MD Anderson Cancer Center provides an update on treatment in smoldering myeloma and smoldering myeloma clinical trial designs that seek to determine the very best approach.   Thanks to our episode sponsor, Bristol Myers Squibb

All cancer therapies come with some type of side effect. One newly approved therapy called BLENREP, by GSK, is an antibody drug conjugate targeting BCMA that can cause a condition called keratopathy. Keratopathy is an eye condition that can be mild, so patients don't even know they have it, or it can be more severe. Myeloma specialist Dr. Cristina Gasparetto, MD from Duke University and Mark Newman, OD of OPTIX Eye Center will share in this show how keratopathy can be successfully managed for patients on BLENREP. Learn what keratopathy is, how care is coordinated between the myeloma doctor and the eye doctor, and what patients should know about keratopathy before starting on this therapy.  Thanks to our episode sponsor, Takeda Oncology

Myeloma experts are beginning to use antibodies in earlier lines of myeloma treatment, even for newly diagnosed patients. Learn what recent clinical trials are using antibody therapies such as daratumumab and isatuximab in early quad (four) drug combinations for newly diagnosed patients. Peter Voorhees of the Levine Cancer Institute joins Myeloma Crowd Radio to share his experience and findings from these clinical trials. He will discuss the early use and their use as maintenance therapy following stem cell transplant. Is earlier use better? Should they be "saved" for later? When should patients consider using the monoclonal antibodies as maintenance therapy with or without traditional drugs like lenalidomide? Dr. Voorhees will help answer these very practical questions for the myeloma community. Thanks to our episode sponsor, Karyopharm Therapeutics.