HealthTree Podcast for Multiple Myeloma

Why do some multiple myeloma patients relapse early after stem cell transplant while others stay in remission for many years? The immune system may be a key factor.   David Chung, MD, PhD of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center was recently selected as a Myeloma Crowd Research Initiative (MCRI) award recipient. The goal of the MCRI is to help optimize myeloma therapy for individual patients. Dr. Chung's research will review patients who have undergone stem cell transplant. He will study three different parts of the immune system after transplant - T cells, lymphocytes and myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and will compare early vs. late relapse. He will then combine that immune system signature with the myeloma genetics of each patient to understand the impact they have together.  Learn why studying the immune system may be just as important as the study of myeloma genetics and what this research can mean for you personally. The Myeloma Crowd created the MCRI because we "Can't Wait for a Cure." Through the MCRI we want to help find the right treatment for the right patient at the right time. The MCRI is funding three research projects - each with a different focus - that will also integrate with HealthTree, a new tool for myeloma patients. Learn more about HealthTree here: www.healthtree.org. Donate to the MCRI here: http://give.crowdcare.org/mcri. Thanks to our episode sponsor, Takeda Oncology

In the World Series and the world of baseball, a strategy for success means planning ahead - doing everything you can to come out a winner. In the world of multiple myeloma, that means being your best advocate and coming up with your Most Valuable Plan. Which doctor will you choose, what treatments will you receive and in what order? Having a game plan is essential to making sure you stay in the game. Join us as we talk with twelve-time MLB All-Sar and Hall-of-Famer Dave Winfield, whose close friend and former teammate Don Baylor passed away following a 14-year old battle with the disease. Together with Don's son, Don Baylor Jr., both are committed to helping raise awareness for this incurable blood cancer.

African Americans are twice as likely to be diagnosed with the rare blood cancer called multiple myeloma than white Americans and other ethnicities. Why is this and what can we do to ensure that this population obtains their very best care? Learn more about the genetics, younger diagnosis and other unique features for these patients and what we could do to increase life expectancy. Dr. Ashraf Badros of the University of Maryland joins us for this important and life-saving show. Thanks to our episode sponsor, Celgene Corporation.

Stand Up To Cancer has announced a $10 million award to a Stand Up To Cancer Dream Team focused on revolutionizing the treatment of multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer of plasma cells, through early detection of precursor conditions before they turn into full-blown disease.  The team will be led by Irene Ghobrial, MD at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) in Boston and Ivan M. Borrello, MD, of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.  The hypothesis of this proposal is that early detection of MGUS/SMM in a high-risk population, along with a good understanding of the molecular and immune factors that lead to disease progression, will lead to effective strategies that intercept disease progression and improve survival. The Dream Team proposes to conduct a screening study of individuals over the age of 45, who are at a high risk for having MGUS or SMM, such as African-Americans and individuals who have a first-degree relative that has been diagnosed with a plasma cell disorder. This study will be called the PROMISE study. We will focus on these populations because they are two to three-fold more likely than others to have these precursor conditions. The Team expects to screen 50,000 individuals to obtain 3,000 MGUS/smoldering myeloma cases to intensively study and follow over time. The Dream Team will study this group in an effort to define biological characteristics that will help to identify which patients will benefit from particular therapies. These biological characteristics include inherited mutations, acquired mutations, and immune factors. The Dream Team will also identify lifestyle and demographic factors that contribute to disease progression, such as obesity and race. The Dream Team will use this information to develop new therapeutics that that can be used to prevent myeloma from progressing.

At last year's ASH meeting, there was excitement around a new antibody drug conjugate targeting a protein called BCMA from Glaxo Smith Klein. Results from their Phase I study showed that patients who had relapsed immunomodulators (like Revlimid), proteasome inhibitors (like Velcade) and even monoclonal antibodies (like daratumumab), responded when taking this drug alone (60% response rate). Learn more from Dr. Maria Chaudhry of Ohio State University about current studies using this new drug and when patients could consider it in the course of their treatment.  Thanks to our episode sponsor, Celgene.

The myeloma landscape is rapidly changing with many new advancements. Paul Richardson, MD of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute joins Myeloma Crowd Radio to share recent updates from major summer meetings including the American Society of Clinical Oncology and European Hematology Association meeting and several others.  Thanks to our episode sponsor, Takeda Oncology.

How do multiple myeloma patients get into clinical trials? Especially those using popular new science like CAR T therapy? Brian McMahon, founder of SparkCures shares tips and tricks to get into these trials. Brian is the founder of SparkCures, a multiple myeloma clinical trial finder tool that simplifies the process. Brian shares his experience helping individual myeloma patients join these trials and will share the ins and outs of clinical trial participation. Join us and call in with questions on this practical show that can help you navigate your disease.  Thanks to our episode sponsor, Celgene Corporation

Many multiple myeloma patients can become resistant to an important class of myeloma drugs called proteasome inhibitors. Researchers found that expression of MUC20 could help predict how sensitive or resistant patients would be to proteasome inhibitors and found that MUC20 protein could be potentially impacted by an already FDA-approved drug offered by Amgen.  Learn more from Dr. Muhamad Baljevic of the University of Nebraska Medical Center about how this new drug is being used in a Phase I/II clinical trial to see if patients who have become resistant to carfilzomib can overcome that resistance by adding this new drug to the mix. These new c-MET inhibitors could have broader use in myeloma combinations. Thanks to our episode sponsor, Celgene Corporation.

A new tool for multiple myeloma patients is coming in June! Join us as we discuss the Myeloma Crowd's new initiative called HealthTree with Rafael Fonseca, MD of the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale.  HealthTree will help myeloma patients understand their personally relevant treatment options, find clinical trials, track lab data and help accelerate research towards a cure.   Over 80% of myeloma patients are treated by general oncologists, yet data shows that patients who see myeloma specilists can live 38% longer. This is true because myeloma is a highly complex cancer to treat. HealthTree was designed to help you have better discussions with your doctor about options that may be available to you so you can receive optimal care for your specific situation. The tool also allows patients and researchers to view anonymous long-term data about the collective patient experience, providing new hypotheses about better patient care.  This summer, we will be canvasing the United States and hosting hands-on HealthTree workshops to help myeloma patients learn how to use the tool with one-on-one help. The HealthTree Summer Tour 2018 begins on June 1 in over 50 cities in the United States. Patients are invited to bring laptops and attend the HealthTree workshops where they can receive one-on-one support. Learn more and find city locations on www.myelomacrowd.org/healthtree. Special thanks to our episode sponsor, Takeda Oncology.

Adequate treatment of multiple myeloma at diagnosis is a key issue for patients because their first remission is typically the longest and most durable. Dr. Luciano Costa of the University of Alabama joins Myeloma Crowd Radio to discuss a trial testing some of the best therapies for myeloma up-front: lenalidomide, dexamethasone, carfilzomib and daratumumab followed by a stem cell transplant. The same four drugs will be used after transplant as "consolidation" therapy. The goal is to understand how much treatment could be needed to get patients into a complete remission status where no myeloma is detectable (also called minimal residual disease negative or MRD status). The four drug combination will be used before transplant. If, after the transplant, the patient still has detectable multiple myeloma, they will proceed to a series of consolidation blocks, up to three, consisting of four cycles of the KRdD at specified dosages and time frames. Patients who still show detectable disease will be given more consolidation therapy while those who are MRD negative will stop treatment.  This is a key study because it will help investigators understand when treatment can be stopped and when it should be continued. Learn more about this fascinating study with Dr. Costa on April 16th.  Thanks to our episode sponsor, Celgene Corporation