Disease Characteristics and Outcomes of 493 Young Myeloma Patients Treated With Modern Therapies: A Canadian Myeloma Research Group Database Study.

Background: Young patients ≤ 50 years old with multiple myeloma (MM) account for about 10% of cases and are underrepresented in the literature.

Methods: We explored disease characteristics, treatments, and outcomes following modern therapies of young MM patients using the Canadian Myeloma Research Group (CMRG) database. We included 493 patients ≤ 50 years old diagnosed with MM or plasma cell leukemia without concurrent amyloidosis or POEMS syndrome from January 1, 2010, to July 1, 2022.

Frailty measures in multiple myeloma: evaluating the impact on outcomes and quality-of-life in clinical trials and real-world practice.

Multiple myeloma is a hematologic malignancy that predominantly affects older individuals, in whom frailty is prevalent. Frailty is a clinical syndrome characterized by decreased reserve and increased vulnerability to stressors, leading to decreased functional capacity. Frailty is prevalent in older individuals and negatively impacts treatment outcomes.

Optimizing multiple Myeloma clinical trials: research direction, addressing limitations, and strategies for improvement.

Despite significant advancements in multiple myeloma (MM) treatment, including novel therapies and combination strategies, the translation of findings from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) into real-world clinical practice has been associated with several challenges. Specifically, the principles and criterion that shape the current design of MM RCTs have left out a sizable portion of patients that would particularly benefit from trial inclusion. In addition, RCTs may use primary outcomes which only partially cover patient-relevant endpoints important for evaluating treatment efficacy and quality of life.

Belantamab mafodotin, pomalidomide, and dexamethasone for triple class exposed/refractory relapsed multiple myeloma: a subgroup analysis of the ALGONQUIN trial.

Given the early use of triplet and quadruplet regimens, most patients with multiple myeloma (MM) will be exposed and/or refractory to PIs, IMiDs, and anti-CD38 mAbs after first- or second-line treatment. Effective treatment for this group of triple class exposed/refractory (TCE/R) patients is crucial. Here we present a post-hoc subgroup analysis of TCE/R patients treated on the ALGONQUIN study of belantamab mafodotin plus pomalidomide-dexamethasone (belamaf-Pd) for relapsed MM.

Evaluating early intervention in smoldering myeloma clinical trials: a systematic review.

Background: Smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM), an asymptomatic precursor of multiple myeloma (MM), carries a variable risk of progression to MM. There is little consensus on the efficacy or optimal timing of treatment in SMM. We systematically reviewed the landscape of all clinical trials in SMM.

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Cancer Care: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Importance: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) come directly from the patient, without clinician interpretation, to provide a patient-centered perspective.

Objective: To understand the association of PROM integration into cancer care with patient-related, therapy-related, and health care utilization outcomes.

Data Sources: Searches included MEDLINE and MEDLINE Epub ahead of print, in-process, and other nonindexed citations; Embase databases (OvidSP); PsychINFO; CENTRAL; and CINAHL from January 1, 2012 to September 26, 2022.

Pomalidomide Use and Kidney Outcomes in Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma and Chronic Kidney Disease: A Real-World, Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background: Pomalidomide-based regimens are the cornerstone of treatment for relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM). Despite the high incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in RRMM, individuals with advanced CKD have been excluded from phase II/III RCTs, creating a gap in our understanding of the effects of pomalidomide use in patients with RRMM complicated with advanced CKD. We undertook a cohort to study to understand the efficacy safety of pomalidomide-based regimens among patients with CKD using real-world data.

Tandem Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation Does Not Benefit High-Risk Myeloma Patients in the Maintenance Era: Real-World Results from The Canadian Myeloma Research Group Database.

In patients with multiple myeloma (MM), the presence of high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities is associated with worse disease control and survival. Autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) does benefit these patients. Tandem transplantation has been explored as a means to deepen responses and further improve survival however, its role remains controversial.

Long-term follow-up of outcomes including progression-free survival 2 in patients with transplant-ineligible multiple myeloma in the real-world practice: A multi-institutional report from the Canadian Myeloma Research Group (CMRG) database.

Multiple myeloma remains an incurable cancer mostly affecting older adults and is characterized by a series of remission inductions and relapses. This study aims to evaluate the outcomes in newly diagnosed transplant-ineligible patients using bortezomib/lenalidomide-based regimens in the Canadian real world as well as their outcomes in the second line. The Canadian Myeloma Research Group Database (CMRG-DB) is a national database with input from multiple Canadian Centres with now up to 8000 patients entered.

Still high risk? A review of translocation t(14;16) in multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a heterogeneous and complex disease, both in mutational biology as well as in the clinical presentation of patients. While tailored and biomarker-targeted therapy remains the direct goal for patient-centric management, existing therapies in MM remain largely uniform. Translocation t(14;16) is a rare primary genetic event found in less than 5% of patients with newly diagnosed MM.

A Prognostic Survival Model Incorporating Patient-Reported Outcomes for Transplant-Ineligible Patients With Multiple Myeloma.

Developing prognostic tools specifically for patients themselves represents an important step in empowering patients to engage in shared decision-making. Incorporating patient-reported outcomes may improve the accuracy of these prognostic tools. We conducted a retrospective population-based study of transplant-ineligible (TIE) patients with multiple myeloma (MM) diagnosed between January 2007 and December 2018.

A structured oral chemotherapy teaching tool to improve adherence in adults with multiple myeloma: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Many of the newer treatments for adults with newly-diagnosed and relapsed multiple myeloma (MM) are orally administered. Adherence is a challenge, and little is known about strategies to optimize adherence.

Materials And Methods: Forty-seven patients initiating orally-administered anti-myeloma therapy were enrolled and randomized in a pilot study to receive either standard of care teaching or the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer Oral agent Teaching Tool (MOATT), a structured teaching tool.

Treatment Pattern, Healthcare Resource Utilization and Symptom Burden Among Patients with Triple Class Exposed Multiple Myeloma: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Purpose: This study aims to describe the treatment patterns, outcomes, health care utilization and symptom burden of triple class exposed (TCE) relapsed/refractory patents with multiple myeloma (MM) receiving a subsequent line of treatment (LOT).

Methods: This is a retrospective observational cohort study using administrative databases in Ontario, Canada. Outcomes were captured for TCE patients receiving a subsequent LOT and included: treatment regimen details, time to next treatment (TTNT), overall survival (OS), health care utilization, palliative care referral, and patient reported symptoms.

Alterations in chromosome 1q in multiple myeloma randomized clinical trials: a systematic review.

Extra copies of chromosome 1q21 (+1q: gain = 3 copies, amp >= 4 copies) are associated with worse outcomes in multiple myeloma (MM). This systematic review assesses the current reporting trends of +1q, the efficacy of existing regimens on +1q, and its prognostic implications in MM randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane Registry of RCTs were searched from January 2012 to December 2022.