Multiple Myeloma Relapse Treatment Options
- There are many different treatment options available for released multiple myeloma, and the future looks bright for patients.
- Dr. C. Ola Landgren tells SurvivorNet that there is not one single combination of drugs that is always used. It is based on the individual patient.
- Multiple drug combinations may be used to address relapse, but it’s important to individualize the treatment plan.
Doctors watch blood markers carefully throughout the maintenance phase of treatment. If these blood markers begin to rise, it can be an indicator of cancer activity. This might mean that the disease is beginning to come back.
Read MoreMultiple Myeloma Relapse Treatment Options
If a relapse is detected, there are many options for treatment. “What’s important to emphasize here is that you can actually achieve very good and deep responses,” Dr. Landgren explains. “You can achieve MRD negativity in many patients, and then you can continue again with some form of maintenance approach. And you can, again, last for many years.”
MRD negativity means that the myeloma cells in your blood and bone marrow are undetectable using current technology. Doctors look for this as an indicator of treatment success.
According to Dr. Landgren, “there is not one single combination of drugs that is always used. It is based on the individual patient.” Multiple drug combinations may be used to address relapse, but it’s important to individualize the treatment plan.
These four drug classes are currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of multiple myeloma:
- Antibody: Attach to the myeloma cells and kill them
- Immunomodulators: Signals your immune system to target cancer cells and kill them
- Proteasome inhibitors: Block the growth of myeloma cells
- Steroids: Help reduce inflammation during treatment, and potentially slow the growth of myeloma cells
The Future of Relapse Treatment
As far as the future of relapse treatment, experts are continuing to research and find new combinations that may be more effective.
“There are many other drugs that are undergoing clinical trials,” adds Dr. Landgren. “There are so-called bi-specific monoclonal antibodies. There are probably 20 or 30 of these antibodies in development for multiple myeloma, as we speak. And many of these drugs are just amazing.”
The efficacy of these treatments is improving as time goes on, which means a greater chance of patients achieving remission after relapse. Dr. Landgren also mentions the potential for reduced side effects, which are always welcome.
“My prediction is that the field will probably change a lot in the coming year or years,” he adds. No one can predict the future, but with the continued progress of cancer research, we can hope for even better treatments for patients who experience a multiple myeloma relapse.
Relapse doesn’t mean an end to cancer treatment it means a new beginning toward managing the disease. With the help of your medical team, you can work together to find the best treatment plan and achieve remission once more.
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