Dr. Mateos on Posthoc Analysis of ARROW Study in Multiple Myeloma

María-Victoria Mateos, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine, and director of the Myeloma unit at the University of Salamanca in Spain, discusses the rationale for the posthoc analysis of the phase III ARROW study in multiple myeloma.

In October 2018, findings from the ARROW trial led to the FDA approval of a once-weekly 70 mg/m² dose of carfilzomib (Kyprolis) in combination with dexamethasone in patients with relapsed/refractory disease. A progression-free survival (PFS) benefit was reported with the once weekly dose versus a twice weekly dose of 27 mg/m².

A posthoc analysis demonstrated that the PFS benefit was reported across subgroups, including patients over the age of 65, explains Mateos.

As such, Mateos states that older age should not prohibit patients from receiving the higher dose of carfilzomib. Though, frailty should be assessed to see which regimen would be best tolerated.