HealthTree Podcast for Multiple Myeloma

Testing Your Individual Myeloma Tumor Against Available Myeloma Therapies Each myeloma patient's tumor is unique and can change over time. Dr. Rodriguez is using a new 3D organoid tumor modeling platform which allows the testing of over 50 myeloma treatment combinations against your specific tumor (including your bone marrow microenvironment) to identify which treatments will work best for your type of myeloma. This personalized approach will help you find useful drug combinations that will have the most impact and avoid treatments that will be ineffective. Learn more in this fascinating show.  Thanks to our episode sponsor: Takeda Oncology

Targeting CD24 to Eliminate Myeloma Stem Cells Myeloma stem cells (or early progenitor cells before they become plasma cells) may not be killed with current myeloma therapies and could be the cause of relapse. Dr. Zhan has identified the presence of CD24 as a strong candidate as a cancer stem cell marker and believes that high CD24 levels lead to more aggressive myeloma and earlier death. His work will test patient samples for the presence of CD24 and assess outcomes while also identifying CD24 monoclonal antibodies that could impact this target. Learn more from Dr. Zhan and Dr. Yogesh Jethava of the University of Iowa in this Myeloma Crowd Research Initiative show. Donate to the MCRI here: give.crowdcare.org/mcri Thanks to our episode sponsor, Celgene Corporation.

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.