Top 5 Most-Read Multiple Myeloma News of 2022

The top 5 most-read articles on multiple myeloma (MM) on AJMC.com explored the emergence of new treatment options for MM such as autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and teclistamab, as well as possible changes in diagnostic measurement terminology and potential future treatments.

Here are the most-read multiple myeloma articles of 2022.

5. Study Finds Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation Safe, Effective in Patients With Multiple Myeloma, Chronic Kidney Disease

About 10% of patients with MM experience chronic kidney disease (CKD) or acute kidney injury (AKI) when diagnosed with MM, and almost 50% of patients with MM face CKD or AKI over the course of their illness. ASCT is currently a standard of care for MM in remission following induction or salvage therapy.

Earlier this year, it was found that ASCT is safe for patients with MM who have CKD, and renal function was shown to improve with decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate after ASCT.

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4. FDA Approves First Bispecific Antibody, Teclistamab, for R/R Multiple Myeloma

In October, the FDA granted approval for Janssen Biotech’s teclistamab (Tecvayli) for relapsed or refractory (R/R) MM, offering another treatment option to patients who experienced disease progression on other therapies. The subcutaneously injected treatment received approval for adults with MM who previously received at least 4 earlier lines of therapy. In the trial, 28.2% of patients reached a complete or better response, with effects seen in a median time of 1.2 months to first response.

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3. Energy Metabolism in Clonal Plasma Cells May Drive Survival Outcomes in Newly Diagnosed MM

Strengthened expression of select genes that influence cancer cell pathways may have survival effects on patients with newly diagnosed MM (NDMM), as found in a study published in May. Energy metabolism molecular signature (EMMS) scores had an independent association with worse progression-free and overall survival, with higher scores contributing to higher disease aggression in people with NDMM. Further studies are needed to see if EMMS scores can be improved with drug treatment.

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2. Is There a Possibility of a Cure in Multiple Myeloma?

Progression of disease in patients with MM usually still occurs despite prior complete responses (CR) to treatment. Instead of using CR or sustained CR as treatment markers, researchers from the study conducted in May advocate for the use of minimal residual disease (MRD) as an alternative prognostic tool, citing that it is more reliable in ascertaining disease absence and long-term predictions, leading to MRD negativity and eventual eradication of MRD as criteria for a functional cure.

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1. Vitamin D Provides Therapeutic Benefit Among Patients With MM, Review Says

This summer, a literature review uncovered the possibility that vitamin D supplementation could be therapeutically beneficial for patients with MM who are receiving chemotherapy. The known benefits of vitamin D on the immune system prompted researchers to analyze existing literature on the response of immune mechanisms and cellular growth modulation to vitamin D. Researchers found data that demonstrated a possible opportunity to use vitamin D and vitamin K in MM treatment but emphasize that more research needs to be done on the vitamins’ combined influence with new MM drugs.

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