Dr. Sagar Lonial on Early Treatment Versus Observation for Smoldering Multiple Myeloma

Sagar Lonial, MD, professor and chair, department of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Chief Medical Officer, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, discusses treatment for smoldering multiple myeloma.

Sagar Lonial, MD, professor and chair, department of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Chief Medical Officer, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, discusses treatment for smoldering multiple myeloma.

One of the biggest questions regarding smoldering multiple myeloma is whether or not patients with it require early treatment or simply observation. Lonial believes patients who are classified as having high-risk smoldering who need earlier treatment, should be reclassified as having standard multiple myeloma.

There may be non-high-risk patients that require treatment as well, says Lonial. There are small studies that are investigating this, but currently there is no evidence that patients with true smoldering should be treated earlier.

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