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.

Myeloma specialists and myeloma patients alike want to know which treatment will work best before they are taken. Dr. Keith Stewart and colleagues from the Mayo Clinic Scottsdale have developed a new test using a "direct-to-drug" screening that helps determine how certain myeloma cells (with specific biomarkers and pretreatment histories) will react to different myeloma therapies. The new test is flexible enough to accommodate new drugs as they become FDA approved and is a way to avoid using drugs that won't provide much impact. This flexibility is required with the rapidly changing environment in myeloma.  Personalized care in myeloma is especially tricky because of the differences in each myeloma patients' cells. A single patient can have an average of 5 different "types" of myeloma at diagnosis and those types can evolve over time. This is called heterogeneity. Add to that the large number of potential treatment combinations, and it becomes an art and a science to treat myeloma patients. This new test will help provide much needed guidance. Learn more about this fascinating topic with Dr. Stewart.  Thanks to our episode sponsor, GlaxoSmithKline

Isatuxiab (Sarclisa) by Sanofi Genzyme is a new CD38-targeting monoclonal antibody that is now FDA approved to be combined with pomalidomide and dexamethasone. In the same drug class as daratumumab, isatuximab is different in its mechanism and is now being used in additional clinical trials in combinations such as isatuximab/carfilzomib/dex and isatuximab/bortezomib/dex. The growing number of potential therapies is a big win for myeloma patients. Learn from myeloma specialist Thomas Martin, MD of the University of California at San Francisco about how the drug works, how it is being applied in the myeloma clinic and open clinical trials using it in new combinations. Dr. Martin will also cover the recent clinical trial results presented at the recent ASCO 2020 meeting.    Thanks to our episode sponsor, Takeda Oncology

Myeloma progress continues to occur, in spite of the coronavirus and myeloma patients need to stay up-to-date on advancements in order to receive excellent myeloma care. The myeloma arsenal of treatments is growing, with several new treatments approved in the last few months and more to be approved in 2020. Dr. Paul Richardson of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute provides the myeloma patient community with a great synopsis of all relevant announcements shared at the virtual American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting held May 29-31, 2020. Learn what's coming shortly in immunotherapies, precision medicine, targeted therapies, combination therapies and much more in this important show.  Thanks to our episode sponsor, GlaxoSmithKlein

Antibody testing for COVID-19 is rapidly evolving on a daily basis. Dr. Stephen Russell is developing a new blood-based antibody test to identify neutralizing antibodies that can determine a person's immune defense against SARS-CoV-2.  The project is a collaboration between Dr. Russell's company Vyriad and the pharma company Regeneron, and wants to make the tests commercially available through major labs soon. Dr. Russell notes that there are many different antibodies, some of which can neutralize the virus. And that those antibodies are the important ones that can tell if a patient will be protected against reinfection or not. He started looking into ways he could respond to the virus in February and a clinical trial quickly opened to study the test. Learn more about antibody testing in general and this test in particular on this fascinating show.  Thanks to our episode sponsor, Genentech.

To date, a select number of myeloma patients have become COVID-19 positive. What have they experienced and how have they fared? Dr. Ola Landgren of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is living in New York City, a major hot spot in the United States for COVID-19. He joins us on HealthTree Podcast for Multiple Myeloma to share his expderiences in treating COVID-19 positive patients and his suggestions for myeloma patients who have not been infected with COVID-19. Join us for this relevant and important program during this critical time for myeloma patients.  Thanks to our episode sponsor, Takeda Oncology.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) is causing concern and disruption for normally healthy global citizens, but there are additional issues for multiple myeloma patients who are frequent visitors to hospitals and are often immunocompromised. Learn from myeloma expert Joshua Richter, MD of Mount Sinai about current recommendations for multiple myeloma patients regarding treatments, doctor visits, blood draws, stem cell transplant and other infusions in light of this unique global situation. Learn more about what myeloma patients can do to protect themselves during this important time,  Thanks to our episode sponsor, Bristol Myers-Squibb