Dr. Shah on the Utility of MRD in Frontline Multiple Myeloma

Nina Shah, MD, associate professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses the utility of minimal residual disease (MRD) in frontline multiple myeloma.

Although the role of MRD has been explored in clinical trials such as the phase II GRIFFIN study and the phase II MASTER study, its utility remains investigational, explains Shah. Determining a patient's MRD status can provide insight into their prognosis, but it should not impact clinical decisions, says Shah.

Historically, FDA approvals in multiple myeloma have not been based on MRD. As such, basing a patient's treatment on MRD may not be an optimal approach, explains Shah.

However, Shah is hopeful that clinical trials will help the field come to a more definitive conclusion as to its application in the future.