HealthTree Podcast for Multiple Myeloma

Today's myeloma therapy can help patients gain remission, but the combinations can cause their own side effects because they target normal cells as well as cancer cells. Investigators at the University of Iowa including Dr. Guido Tricot and Dr. Frank Zhan have tested mega-doses of Vitamin C in combination with the standard chemo melphalan and found that the Vitamin C can kill myeloma cells while not affecting normal cells. Additionally, it boosts the power of melphalan, so that melphalan can be used in smaller doses with fewer side effects. Learn more about this exciting discovery in this show Thanks to our episode sponsor, Takeda Oncology.

Dr. Gareth Morgan of the UAMS Myeloma Institute joins us to share more about the Myeloma Genome Project, a global effort to create a broad collection of high-quality genomic and clinical data from multiple myeloma patients to improve diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. The project will compile a broad set of genetic data and resulting outcomes to develop a strategy to segment patients into groups for more specific types of treatment. It also hopes to develop specific tests for disease-associated genetic mutations. The project is already integrating data sets from the UAMS Myeloma Institute, the National Cancer Research Institute's Myeloma XI trial, Intergroupe Francophone du Myeloma/Dana-Farber Cancer, and the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. Hear more about what has been learned so far and the future of this important project. Thanks to our episode sponsor, Takeda Oncology.

About 10-20% of multiple myeloma patients will develop a condition called amyloidosis during the course of their disease. Amyloidosis is a disease caused by protein buildup in organs such as the heart, kidneys, liver or intestines, leading to organ damage and complications associated with some multiple myeloma treatments. There are three major types of amyloidosis: primary, secondary, and hereditary.  Each type of amyloidosis is classified by its underlying causes and the type of protein that accumulates in organs. Primary amyloidosis is the most common form and occurs with multiple myeloma. The cause is unknown but the disease starts in the bone marrow. Fragments of abnormal antibodies (called light chains) stick to each other and accumulate in organs in the body. Heather Landau, MD of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center joins us for this episode of Myeloma Crowd Radio to discuss the latest therapies and clinical trials for amyloidosis patients. Thanks to our episode sponsor, Takeda Oncology

Allogeneic stem cell transplant is rarely used in multiple myeloma treatment, but for younger patients with high-risk myeloma, it could be a highly effective strategy with durable outcomes. Dr. Cristina Gasparetto from Duke University shares the rationale of this approach for a subset of myeloma patients and how improvements in reducing allo side effects (like graft vs. host disease) are making this type of transplant easier.  Thanks to our episode sponsor, Takeda Oncology

For the last 50 years, myeloma studies have relied on myeloma progression measurements like complete response (CR) or progression free survival (PFS) to tell whether new treatmets are working (or not). Myeloma patients are now living longer because of new treatment advances, which is a huge blessing. But it is also a challenge for research. If the average patient is living 8-10 years, how can studies be performed and show results in the 2-3 year range so that the new drugs can be approved quickly?  Minimal residual disease testing can detect very low levels of disease and being MRD-negative is linked to patients living longer. Researchers would like to use MRD testing as a study measurement. Learn about the different types of MRD tests, how to have one done and why researchers want to use this test as an end-point in studies.  Dr. Ola Landgren of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is a pioneer in the MRD space and joins us for this important show. Thanks to our episode sponsor, Takeda Oncology

The year 2017 promises to be an exciting one in multiple myeloma research. With so many new types of therapies in the clinic like immunotherapies, specific inhibitors and variations of combinations, the choices are expanding for myeloma patients. Listen to myeloma expert Dr. Robert Z. Orlowski of the MD Anderson Cancer Center as he reviews the up-and-coming choices for the clinic and those new treatments in clinical trials.  Special thanks to our episode sponsor, Takeda Oncology.

It's a rare opportunity to have a panel of myeloma experts available to answer any myeloma patient question. Experts at our Myeloma Crowd Round Tables answered common patient questions at our meeting in St. Louis. Listen in to learn more about a wide variety of topics with experts that have over 80 years treating myeloma including:  Guido Tricot, MD, PhD (University of Iowa), Morie Gertz, MD (Mayo Clinic), Keith Stockerl-Goldstein, MD (Washington University), and Ravi Vij, MD (Washington University). Thanks to our Myeloma Crowd Radio episode sponsor Takeda Oncology  Thanks to our Myeloma Crowd Round Table sponsors: Takeda Oncology, Amgen and Signal Genetics

One of the two projects funded by the Myeloma Crowd Research Initiative is an immunotherapy called MILs (marrow infiltrating lymphocytes). For high risk myeloma patients, their T-cells are taken out, grown up a hundred fold in the presence of their tumor and then given back a post-transplant. Dr. Borrello gives us an update on his open clinical trlal for high risk patients and shares how is also using the MILs with allogeneic transplant and other future combinations (like with checkpoint inhibitors) and in earlier settings. This immunotherapy can be used in almost 100% of patients with fewer side effects than other types of immunotherapy approaches like CAR T cells.  You can support this project by donating here: The Myeloma Crowd Research Initiative (MCRI) Special thanks to our Myeloma Crowd Radio episode sponsor, Takeda Oncology.

At the University of Michigan, Dr. Craig Cole is working on a collaboration with the MMRC to perform genomic sequencing on 500 hundred relapsed and refractory myeloma patients over a two year period. The goal is to share each patient's genomic profile to identify patient-specific treatment options. The study will be open at 11 myeloma academic centers to begin, with more to open in the future. The tissue samples collected at these centers are shipped to the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, which then evaluates the alterations of 1700 genes. The study aims to find the specific mutations that are "actionable," or that have a drug that can be used. The study goal is to make myeloma treatment more precise for a disease that varies widely from patient to patient.  Thanks to our episode sponsor, Takeda Oncology

According to multiple myeloma specialists, autologous stem cell transplant is not going away any time soon, even in the age of new therapies. Dr. Sergio Giralt is a myeloma specialist and a transplant specialist who shares what "transplant plus" could look like. Now that new treatments and drugs are in the clinic, what is being done to extend remission times for patients by adding something else to the transplant, either before, during or after? Dr. Giral weighs in with options that include immunotherapies like vaccines and other T cell treatments that could make transplant even more durable. Special thanks to our episode sponsor, Takeda Oncology