HealthTree Podcast for Multiple Myeloma

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.

AL Amyloidosis is a secondary condition that can occur in patients with multiple myeloma and can cause protein buildup in organs like the heart, kidneys, liver and nerves. Join HealthTree Podcast for Multiple Myeloma by HealthTree to hear from Sascha Tuchman, MD of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as he shares amyloidosis symptoms, treatments and open clinical trials.  Thanks to our episode sponsor, Takeda Oncology

CAR T therapy has been in development for over 20 years. The first CAR T therapy is now available for the treatment of multiple myeloma. The ide-cel treatment (now called Abecma) is now FDA approved for multiple myeloma relapsed or refractory patients. In this show, Dr. Noopur Raje of Mass General Hospital will share how the CAR T cell therapy works, outcome data from clinical trials, a review of patients who are eligible to join and when patients should consider the therapy in context of other therapies. Ide-cel (Abecma) is a product developed by Bristol Myers Squibb and blubird bio.  Thanks to our episode sponsor, Oncopeptides

Dr. Robert Z. Orlowski joins HealthTree Podcast for Multiple Myeloma to share a study to share the new innovations myeloma patients can expect in 2021. 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 2021, 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, Karyopharm Therapeutics

Dr. Irene Ghobrial joins HealthTree Podcast for Multiple Myeloma to share a study to identify discoveries that could potentially inform COVID-19 treatment decisions and prevention policies in the IMPACT study. Myeloma patients are known to be immunocompromised and may be at higher risk for poor outcomes.  IMPACT is a study to identify the prevalence and unique characteristics of COVID-19 in individuals with precursor conditions to hematologic malignancies and in healthy populations. It is enrolling individuals nationwide who are enrolled in the PCROWD and PROMISE studies. All participants enrolled in IMPACT are screened using a blood test for active SARS-CoV-2 and/or antibodies. Participants are then followed and undergo additional blood collection and testing over a one-year period. The overall goal of IMPACT is to understand the short- and long-term impact of COVID-19 on the immune system of healthy individuals and individuals with underlying immune dysregulation. Thanks to our episode sponsor, Bristol Myers Squibb

The coronavirus continues to be a global concern for all citizens and especially for cancer patients. Where are we at now with our learning over the last seven months? Dr. Joshua Richter re-joins HealthTree Podcast for Multiple Myeloma for an update on how myeloma patients are and should be navigating during the coronavirus pandemic.  Thanks to our episode sponsor, Takeda Oncology

Venetoclax (Venclexta) is being studied in myeloma clinical trials and particular benefit has been seen in 11;14 myeloma patients. It is the first time a true precision medicine drug has been identified in myeloma. Which clinical trial combinations are using venetoclax, which are proving to be the most effective and is it getting closer to approval? Learn about the experiences of its use in 11;14 multiple myeloma patients and clinical trial results outside of this specific patient group. The innovation happening in myeloma is astounding and this is the first time that a personalized therapy has been identified to be effective for myeloma patients with a particular genetic feature.  Jonathan Kaufman, MD of Emory University's Winship Cancer Institute has been involved in early and later trials for venetoclax in multiple myeloma. Dr. Kaufman is Associate Professor, and serves as Associate Vice-Chair, and as Director of the Division of Hematology in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine. Board certified in hematology and medical oncology, Dr. Kaufman's practice includes treating multiple myeloma and amyloidosis patients at Emory University Hospital. As a network physician, he started practicing with Emory Healthcare in 2005. He is also an active clinical and translational researcher in the fields of multiple myeloma, amyloidosis, and bone marrow transplant. Dr. Kaufman is a member of the Discovery and Developmental Therapeutics Research Program at Winship Cancer Institute. He also holds memberships with American Society of Clinical Oncology and American Society of Hematology. Thanks to our episode sponsor, Karyopharm Therapeutics

Dr. Ali is the primary investigator on a clinical trial to use a vaccine to extend remissions following successful myeloma treatment. The GVAX study is open for patients who are MRD positive but don't yet have a measurable m-protein. Dr. Ali explains how the vaccine works and why patients may want to use it to lengthen theri remission times.   Thanks to our episode sponsor, Bristol Myers Squibb.

Since HealthTree for Multiple Myeloma started our advocacy work in myeloma, the most common question we get is “What supplements, diet or other alternative treatments will help my myeloma?” Whether it's yoga, supplements, massage therapy, Tai Chi, music therapy, IV vitamins or guidance therapy, Dr. Krisstina Gowin and Dr. Onytemaechi Okolo of the University of Arizona will discuss how integrative and alternative therapies can be used in myeloma care. They are also performing a study inside of HealthTree to learn what integrative therapies myeloma patients are using in addition to traditional myeloma therapy.  Thanks to our episode sponsor, Karyopharm       Whether you are using yoga, exercise, acupuncture, art therapy, vitamin D supplements, curcumin or other alternative treatments, Dr. Krisstina Gowin of the University of Arizona and the Mayo Clinic is performing research to better understand how widespread the use is for myeloma patients of these alternative therapies and how well they help patients.