Dr. Manasanch on Key Takeaways From CASSIOPEIA in Multiple Myeloma

Elisabet E. Manasanch, MD, associate professor, Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses key lessons learned from the phase 3 CASSIOPEIA trial (NCT02541383) in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

CASSIOPEIA enrolled patients who were eligible for high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant. The trial examined the administration of daratumumab plus bortezomib (Velcade), thalidomide, and dexamethasone (VTd) vs VTd only. Results showed that patients who received daratumumab up front had a longer progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) than those who did not, according to Manasanch.

Notably, daratumumab was found to have a positive impact on outcomes regardless of when it was administered during the treatment journey. As such, a patient can receive daratumumab during initial treatment or later on as maintenance therapy and still experience a dramatic increase in PFS, Manasanch concludes.