Dr. Lentzsch on How Patient Age Informs Treatment Decisions in Multiple Myeloma

Suzanne Lentzsch, MD, professor of clinical medicine, director, Multiple Myeloma and Amyloidosis Program, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, Columbia University Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, discusses how patient age informs treatment decisions in multiple myeloma.

Age is a significant determinant of treatment in multiple myeloma, Lentzsch says. For example, a younger, transplant-eligible patient will have a significantly different treatment course compared with a patient over the age of 80 years.

Ultimately, the goal of care in younger patients is to prolong life, so aggressive treatment regimens with associated toxicities can be considered to ensure patients obtain the deepest remission possible, Lentzsch says. Although remission is a goal of therapy in older patients, it is equally important to maximize quality of life for these patients, Lentzsch concludes.