Philip McCarthy, MD, Professor of Oncology, Director, Blood and Marrow Transplant Center, Department of Medicine Roswell Park Cancer Institute, discusses the impact of the CALGB 100104 study which looked at lenalidomide maintenance following single autologous stem cell transplant for multiple myeloma.

Based on this study, lenalidomide maintenance is now considered the standard of care for multiple myeloma after transplant, says McCarthy.

However some questions remain to be answered. Both patients that were in complete reemission and those who were not in complete reemission 100 days after transplant, both benefited long term with lenalidomide maintenance. To better understand if this will translate into long-term control of the disease, additional endpoint needs to be determined. .

Videos

Dr. Philip McCarthy on Lenalidomide Maintenance for Multiple Myeloma

Philip L. McCarthy, MD, Director, Blood & Marrow Transplant Program, Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, explains the eligibility criteria he uses to determine patient tolerability to allogeneic bone marrow transplant.

The upper age limit for patients eligible to undergo allogeneic bone marrow transplant has progressed from 50 years to 70 years since the 1980s. Some older patients remain eligible for allogeneic bone marrow transplant because of their overall health and activity, regardless of their age, McCarthy explains.

Patients with underlying kidney, heart or lung disease may not be able to handle the rigors of a transplant. McCarthy says that a 40-year-old with severe cardiac disease will not be an adequate allogeneic transplant candidate whereas a 70-year-old could be, based on comorbidities.

Philip L. McCarthy, MD, Director, Blood & Marrow Transplant Program, Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, explains the factors that determine patient tolerability to allogeneic bone marrow transplant.

Philip L. McCarthy, MD

Articles

Dr. Philip McCarthy on Lenalidomide Maintenance for Multiple Myeloma

Dr. McCarthy on Eligibility Criteria for Allogeneic BMT