Dr. Usmani on Situations that Indicate the Need for Immediate Treatment in R/R Multiple Myeloma

Saad Z. Usmani, MD, FACP, chief of Plasma Cell Disorders, director of Clinical Research in Hematologic Malignancies, Levine Cancer Institute, Atrium Health, discusses the need for immediate treatment intervention in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Patients with clinical symptoms such as significant fatigue due to decreased hemoglobin, new bone pain, or renal failure should be considered for immediate treatment to reduce organ damage and address disease progression, says Usmani.

Additionally, patients who have a quick doubling time in their monoclonal protein or serum free light chains indicate disease progression, says Usmani. Patients whose doubling time is measured in days or weeks should be considered for immediate therapy. Doubling time measured in months suggests slower disease growth, concludes Usmani.