The Myeloma Sessions: highlights from EHA and ASCO 2021

The introduction of many novel drug classes and therapies has resulted in significant improvements in overall survival outcomes for patients with multiple myeloma over the past decade. Despite this, many patients become relapsed or refractory to currently available therapies and as such, novel agents and combination regimens remain key to improving the outcomes of patients in high-risk subgroups. Immunotherapies, such as monoclonal antibodies, and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies have become increasingly prominent in the multiple myeloma space, with the first CAR-T therapy for myeloma receiving FDA approval in March 2021. However, with such a broad range of treatments now available, there is debate on the optimal sequencing of therapies.

In this roundtable discussion, chaired by Noopur Raje, MD, from the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, Nina Shah, MD, of the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA, Yi Lin, MD, PhD, from the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, and Katja Weisel, MD, from the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, review the most exciting updates from the 2021 European Hematology Association (EHA) and American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meetings, including the latest data from the MAIA, FORTE and Cassiopeia trials, as well as talking on novel agents and CAR-T therapies.