Dr. Ghorbrial on the Potential Utility of Triplet Therapy in Smoldering Multiple Myeloma

Irene Ghobrial, MD, professor, Harvard Medical School, physician, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, discusses the potential utility of triplet therapy in smoldering multiple myeloma.

The standard of care for patients with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma is a watch-and-wait approach, which can be concerning for patients, says Ghorbrial. Despite careful monitoring, patients could develop a lesion, anemia, or renal failure.

In other cancers, treatment is not reserved for patients with end-stage organ failure. Rather, treatment is given in earlier stages to increase the likelihood of remission and favorable outcomes.

The optimal treatment for patients with smoldering multiple myeloma has yet to be defined. However, data from a phase 2 study presented at the 2019 ASH Annual Meeting showed that the triplet of ixazomib (Ninlaro), lenalidomide (Revlimid), and dexamethasone could be a regimen worth pursuing for these patients, concludes Ghorbrial.