Dr. Fonseca Discusses Key Data in Multiple Myeloma

Rafael Fonseca, MD, interim director, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, director, Innovation and Transformational Relationships, Mayo Clinic, discusses key data in multiple myeloma.

Clinical trials in multiple myeloma fall under 2 broad categories: studies that are important for patients undergoing stem cell transplant and studies that are important for those receiving conventional combination treatments without transplant, Fonseca says.

Studies, such as the phase 3 CASSIOPEIA trial, fall into the former category, says Fonseca. In CASSIOPEIA, patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma were randomized to receive induction and consolidation therapy with daratumumab (Darzalex) plus bortezomib (Velcade), thalidomide (Thalomid), and dexamethasone (VTd) or VTd alone. The results showed that the addition of daratumumab deepened responses over time, Fonseca says.

Furthermore, updated results from the phase 2 GRIFFIN trial showed that the addition of daratumumab to lenalidomide (Revlimid), bortezomib, and dexamethasone (RVd) versus RVd improved depth of response in transplant-eligible patients with newly diagnosed disease. Finally, the ongoing MASTER trial (NCT03224507) is evaluating the role of daratumumab with carfilzomib (Kyprolis), lenalidomide, and dexamethasone, Fonseca explains. The study has demonstrated early efficacy and stringent complete responses among patients in this space.

Notably, these trials demonstrated that therapies that can induce deeper responses result in long-term benefit for patients, Fonseca concludes.