Dr. Larocca on Treatment Considerations for Difficult-to-Treat, Relapsed/Refractory Myeloma

Alessandra Larocca, MD, PhD, hematologist, Division of Hematology, University of Torino, Azienda Ospedaliero‐Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Italy, discusses the various factors to consider when selecting treatment for difficult-to-treat patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

The treatment history of an individual patient and certain disease characteristics must be considered when selecting an optimal treatment plan for a patient; this can be particularly difficult in the relapsed/refractory setting, according to Larocca. Key considerations include response to prior therapy, sensitivity of disease, previous toxicities, the presence of comorbidities, performance status, social support, and other patient variables, Larocca explains.

It is also important to take biological factors like the presence of chromosomal abnormalities and aggressiveness of the disease, such as extramedullary disease, renal insufficiency, and the presence of plasma cells in the peripheral blood, into account when making clinical decisions, Larocca concludes.