Dr. Larocca on What to Know when Diagnosing Difficult-to-Treat Patients in Multiple Myeloma

Alessandra Larocca, MD, PhD, hematologist, Division of Hematology, University of Torino, Azienda Ospedaliero‐Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Italy, discusses what to know when diagnosing difficult-to-treat patients with multiple myeloma.

The prognosis for a patient with multiple myeloma can be defined by several factors, Larocca says. Patients could be categorized as difficult-to-treat for a variety of reasons, including the presence of high-risk chromosomal abnormalities or presentation with an aggressive disease, such as plasma cell leukemia or extramedullary disease, Larocca explains.

Patient-related factors can also play a role in the prognosis, Larocca continues. Age, frailty status, the presence of comorbidities, functional impairments, and organ function can all contribute in an individual patient’s prognosis, Larocca concludes.