Dr. Shain Discusses the Role of Stem Cell Transplant in Myeloma

Kenneth H. Shain, MD, PhD, assistant member, Moffitt Cancer Center, discusses the evolving role of stem cell transplant in the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma.

If chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is taken out of the mix, stem cell transplant remains a critical part of the management of newly diagnosed patients, Shain says. The data continue to evolve in terms of overall survival benefit. However, progression-free survival and depth of response is where the inclusion of transplant has its greatest impact. The ideal sequence of treatment for this patient population is induction therapy, transplant, and then maintenance therapy, Shain says. Without transplant, the outcomes might not look the same.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that CAR T-cell therapy won’t eventually take the place of high-dose therapy or consolidation. Studies have been geared in this direction. Right now, CAR T cells are just a line of therapy, and it won’t have much of an effect of the role of transplant.