Dr. Nadeem on the Uptake of Novel Therapies in Heavily Pretreated Multiple Myeloma

Omar Nadeem, MD, clinical director, Myeloma Cellular Therapies Program, physician, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, instructor of medicine, Harvard Medical School, discusses the uptake of novel therapies in heavily pretreated multiple myeloma.

Therapeutic additions are welcome in the setting of heavily relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, says Nadeem. Although frontline therapies are prolonging life, multiple myeloma remains incurable and more patients progress to triple-class refractory disease, Nadeem explains.

Novel therapies, such as selinexor (Xpovio), belantamab mafodotin-blmf (Blenrep), melphalan flufenamide (Pepaxto), and idecabtagene vicleucel (Abecma), are available options for patients who have progressed on an immunomodulatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor, and a CD38-directed monoclonal antibody, Nadeem explains.

Treatment decisions should be based on the unique mechanisms of action of these agents, differences in administration, and potential toxicities, Nadeem says. Additionally, patient factors, such as frailness, oral vs intravenous therapy preference, and renal function, should be taken into consideration when selecting treatment, concludes Nadeem.