Modernizing multiple myeloma clinical trial eligibility to improve equity and inclusivity by hematological parameters.

In the United States, Black people experience multiple myeloma (MM) at a frequency that is more than double that of White people and experience much higher rates of mortality. Despite bearing a disproportionate impact of both MM incidence and mortality, Black patients are significantly underrepresented in most MM clinical trials. This is in part because Black patients experience a higher prevalence of hemoglobinopathies and Duffy-null phenotype, which affect hemoglobin and neutrophil levels, respectively, potentially excluding patients from clinical trials.