Michael A. Thompson, MD, PhD, medical director, precision medicine, Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic, Aurora Health Care, discusses the future of treatment in multiple myeloma.

Immunotherapy may be beneficial in patients with later stages of multiple myeloma, says Thompson. Combinations with checkpoint inhibitors are currently being explored.

For patients with early disease that have a high risk of progressing from smoldering myeloma to myeloma, a combination of induction, consolidation, and maintenance may be curative, adds Thompson.

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Dr. Thompson on the Future of Treatment in Multiple Myeloma

Michael A. Thompson, MD, PhD, medical director, precision medicine, Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic, Aurora Health Care, discusses advancements of treatments for patients with multiple myeloma.

In the field of multiple myeloma, many drugs received FDA approval in 2016. The next important steps are to discover effective ways to use those drugs, Thompson explains. One of the most promising drugs in the field of multiple myeloma is daratumumab (Darzalex). There is now more data looking at different populations of patients treated for longer lengths of time and it still appears beneficial.

Some researchers are looking at combinations of elotuzumab (Empliciti) with checkpoint inhibitors, Thompson says. Other noteworthy drugs in this field are ixazomib (Ninlaro), selinixor, and venetoclax (Venclexta).

Dr. Thompson on Advancements in Treatments of Multiple Myeloma

Michael A. Thompson, MD, PhD, medical director, precision medicine, Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic, Aurora Health Care, discusses some of the challenges facing the field of multiple myeloma.

Understanding which combinations of the recently approved drugs to use is one of the challenges facing the myeloma field, explains Thompson. The expensive cost of these new drugs is another adversity that the field is facing in the upcoming year.

Patients using these drugs are living longer, introducing rare issues such as central nervous system (CNS) myeloma and extramedullary disease. Investigators are also currently researching minimal residual disease (MRD), so it is still unknown how quickly it can be transitioned into clinical practice.

Dr. Thompson on Challenges Facing the Field of Multiple Myeloma

Michael A. Thompson, MD, PhD, medical director, precision medicine, Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic, Aurora Health Care, discusses some of the recent exciting advancements in the field of multiple myeloma during the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting.

Last year was a very exciting year for the field of multiple myeloma, Thompson says, with many new drugs approved to treat the disease, including daratumumab (Darzalex). This year is about sorting out how to best use those drugs.

Recent study findings have confirmed the efficacy of daratumumab long-term, which is very exciting, Thompson says. Now, researchers are starting to investigate the drug in combination studies.

Dr. Thompson on Exciting Advancements in the Field of Multiple Myeloma

Michael A. Thompson, MD, PhD, oncology/hematology, Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic, Aurora Health Care, discusses easy steps for oncologists to start using social media.

Social media, specifically Twitter, is simple to sign up for, Thompson explains. A reliable resource for beginners include 

Tutorial 101 Signing Up: A Tutorial for Oncologists

 by Matthew Katz, MD. This tutorial provides information how to sign up, account settings, and potential risks.

While on social media, Thompson advises to not disclose patient information, be polite to other oncologists, and avoid instigators.

Michael A. Thompson, MD, PhD, oncology/hematology, Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic, Aurora Health Care, discusses easy steps for oncologists to start using social media. 


Michael A. Thompson, MD, PhD

Articles

Dr. Thompson on the Future of Treatment in Multiple Myeloma

Dr. Thompson on Advancements in Treatments of Multiple Myeloma

Dr. Thompson on Challenges Facing the Field of Multiple Myeloma

Dr. Thompson on Exciting Advancements in the Field of Multiple Myeloma

Dr. Thompson on Oncologists Using Social Media