Dr. Sundar Jagannath on Significant Studies in Multiple Myeloma

Sundar Jagannath, MD, Professor Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mount Sinai Hospital, discusses the significance of several recent studies in multiple myeloma.

Significant phase III trials include the ASPIRE trial, which looked at adding the second-generation proteasome inhibitor carfilzomib to lenalidomide and dexamethasone. This showed that the addition of carfilzomib was very meaningful in improving progression-free survival (PFS), says Jagannath.

The ELOQUENT trial also showed promising results. This study looked at adding elotuzumab to lenalidomide and dexamethasone. The triple-combination also showed improved survival over the two-drug combination, says Jagannath.

Other recent trials have looked at patients who were sensitive to proteasome inhibitors. One study determined that the addition of panobinostat to bortezomib versus bortezomib alone was beneficial in relapsed myeloma patients.

The ENDEAVOR trial, which was a head-to-head comparison of bortezomib versus carfilzomib in multiple myeloma was also significant, says Jagannath.