ASH Clinical News June 2015 | Page 7

In relapsed multiple myeloma,

TO DISRUPT THE CYCLE OF DIMINISHING RESPONSES,

IS DEPTH THE ANSWER ?

Relapsed multiple myeloma:
A COMPLEX AND CHALLENGING DISEASE
Today, there is no established cure for multiple myeloma (MM). It is characterized by a recurring pattern of relapse.1,2 The majority
of patients with relapsed MM do not achieve optimal responses regardless of treatment regimen, and clinical benefit decreases with
each subsequent line of therapy.3

Improving long-term outcomes is a primary goal of relapsed MM treatment.3
Relapsed multiple myeloma:
AIMING FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS
Deep responses have been found to statistically correlate to progression-free survival across patient type and treatment setting.3,4
In an analysis of 1175 elderly patients with MM, the impact of complete response on long-term outcome was confirmed regardless
of baseline patient characteristics, including age.1 Elderly patients and other high-risk patients with relapsed MM may achieve
similar response rates to the rest of the population5; therefore, aiming for deep responses (complete response) for all patients
should be the goal.1
Achieving and sustaining responses should be a priority in the treatment of relapsed MM.3 A prolonged or durable
complete response is an independent posttreatment variable associated with improved survival.6 Continuous treatment,
even after an initial response has been achieved, may further deepen the response.7

As the treatment landscape evolves, both deep and durable responses should
be the expectation for relapsed multiple myeloma.
LEARN MORE
GO TO WWW.WHATMATTERSINMM.COM
References: 1. Gay F, Larocca A, Wijermans P, et al. Complete response correlates with long-term progression-free and overall
survival in elderly myeloma treated with novel agents: analysis of 1175 patients. Blood. 2011;117(11):3025-3031. 2. Mohty B,
El-Cheikh J, Yakoub-Agha I, Avet-Loiseau H, Moreau P, Mohty M. Treatment strategies in relapsed and refractory multiple
myeloma: a focus on drug sequencing and ‘retreatment’ approaches in the era of novel agents. Leukemia. 2012;26(1):73-85.
3. Chanan-Khan AA, Giralt S. Importance of achieving a complete response in multiple myeloma, and the impact of novel
agents. J Clin Oncol. 2010;28(15):2612-2624. 4. Harousseau JL, Attal M, Avet-Loiseau H. The role of complete response
in multiple myeloma. Blood. 2009;114(15):3139-3146. 5. Wildes TM, Rosko A, Tuchman SA. Multiple myeloma in the
older adult: better prospects, more challenges. J Clin Oncol. 2014;32(24):2531-2540. 6. Barlogie B, Anaissie E,
Haessler J, et al. Complete remission sustained 3 years from treatment initiation is a powerful surrogate for extended
survival in multiple myeloma. Cancer. 2008;113(2):355-359. 7. Zago M, Oehrlein K, Rendl C, Hahn-Ast C, Kanz L,
Weisel K. Lenalidomide in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma disease: feasibility and benefits of long-term
treatment. Ann Hematol. 2014;93(12):1993-1999.
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