The 65th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition, a.k.a. #ASH23 returns to San Diego, California, December 9-12, 2023. Truly my favorite location for this meeting. If you are new to The Patient Voices@ASH program developed by the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF), Welcome! If you have followed Support Group Leaders (SGLs) in years past, Welcome Back! It is my honor and privilege to serve again as a nurse liaison for this program.
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In the #myeloma CoMMunity, I wear a variety of hats — Nurse Navigator at Mayo Clinic-Rochester, Advisor for the IMF InfoLine, member of the IMF Nurse Leadership Board (NLB), patient advocate for the National Cancer Institute Myeloma Steering Committee (NCI MySC), facilitator for the Rochester Multiple Myeloma Sharing Sessions and co-facilitator for the Smolder Bolder support group. Some might say I need to branch out or get some variety. In such a dynamic space as multiple myeloma, it can be challenging to keep up with all the rapid developments.
In 2008, the IMF’s NLB published the first comprehensive guidelines for managing side effects to myeloma therapy, published in the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing (CJON) Supplement Volume 12, Number 3. The primary therapies available at that time were lenalidomide, thalidomide, and bortezomib. In 2013, we published the other primary treatment option of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (CJON Supplement Vol. 17 Num. 6 | December 2013 Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Multiple Myeloma). A decade later, the myeloma treatment landscape has EXPLODED. These back-bone therapies remain an important part of the landscape. Yet, there are so many new therapies and classes of therapies. Within the past two years, a second cellular therapy (Carvykti/Janssen) was added to the CAR-T space already started by Abecma (Bristol-Myers Squibb). Three treatment options in the new class of Bispecific Antibodies (BsAb) directed at two targets, BCMA and GPRC5D (Tecvayli/BCMA/Janssen, Talvey/GPRC5D/Janssen, Elrexfio/BCMA/Pfizer) have been FDA approved. All for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) having received at least 4 prior lines of therapy.
In the newly diagnosed (NDMM) space, the use of four-drug induction therapy is revisited and will be reported at the Plenary session by Dr. Francesca Gay, MD, University of Torino, Results of the Phase III Randomized Iskia Trial: Isatuximab-Carfilzomib-Lenalidomide-Dexamethasone Vs Carfilzomib-Lenalidomide-Dexamethasone As Pre-Transplant Induction and Post-Transplant Consolidation in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Patients, and in the Late Breaking Abstract (LBA-1), Phase 3 Randomized Study of Daratumumab (DARA) + Bortezomib, Lenalidomide, and Dexamethasone (VRd) Versus Vrd Alone in Patients (Pts) with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma (NDMM) Who Are Eligible for Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation (ASCT): Primary Results of the Perseus Trial, presented by Dr. Pieter Sonneveld, MD, PhD, of Erasmus MC Cancer Institute. I’m anticipating there will be a new standard of care NDMM after #ASH23.
I am happy to see there is an entire new abstract category 654. MGUS, Amyloid, and other non-myeloma Plasma Cell Disorders. There is a growing interest and body of knowledge on pre-cursor and protein-related disorders. Many of the Iceland Screens, Treats, or Prevents Multiple Myeloma (iStopMM) studies will be reported in this category.
When I look at the hundreds of abstracts and sessions focused on multiple myeloma, as a nurse, my mind races with intrigue. As a patient advocate, my heart swells with hope. Regardless of which “hat” I am wearing, I tip my hat to the researchers advancing the science and clinical care of my Myeloma #FaMMily; the IMF for continuing to invite me to be a part of this program; the sponsors who provide funding to keep this program going (BMS, Janssen, Karyopharm, Regeneron, & Takeda Oncology); and to the support group leaders (SGLs) who give their all to this program and to the myeloma #CoMMunity.
I encourage you to follow these SGLs as they provide their perspective and insights into the information shared at #ASH23. Find them on a variety of social media platforms and read their blogs at http://ash2023blogs.myeloma.org/
@imfsupport @imfmikemyeloma @jackMAiello @LindaMyeloma @blondie1746 @MidAtlanticMSG @Daw6Jessie @JillZitzewitz @DianeHunterMM @adrienneMM2020 @copybycarrie @grandgrizzo @bkinoglu
Of course, I invite you to follow me on “X”, previously known as Twitter, @IMFnurseMyeloma
Teresa Miceli, RN BSN OCN
Mayo Associate & Assistant Professor of Nursing
IMF Nurse Leadership Board and InfoLine Advisor
NCI Myeloma Steering Committee
Smoldering and Myeloma Support Group Leader