“The introduction of treatments such as elranatamab (Elrexfio) is allowing patients with multiple myeloma, which is still incurable for now, to have different options and achieve long periods of remission, thus improving their survival,” she added. “This therapeutic innovation is highly effective and well tolerated in patients with relapse or refractory multiple myeloma.” The overall response rate is “up to 61%, early, deep, and long-lasting.”
In an interview with El Médico Interactivo, Dr. Mateos explained the new approaches to multiple myeloma. She highlighted the effectiveness of new treatments and reviewed the latest data on this disease, which were presented at the recent European Hematology Association Congress.
What is the incidence rate of multiple myeloma in the Spanish population?
Multiple myeloma has an incidence of approximately 4-5 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants per year. This means that around 3000 new cases are diagnosed each year in Spain. As with most tumors, multiple myeloma is generally slightly more common in males than females. It is the third most frequent hematologic cancer in men (1757 new cases) and women (1325 new cases), behind lymphoma and leukemias.
At what age is it most often diagnosed?
It affects older people, with recent reports indicating around 68-69 years as the median age. Although more young people are being diagnosed with multiple myeloma, analyses of how this hematologic cancer affects the general population show that it generally impacts patients over age 65 years.
What is the typical survival prognosis?
Thanks to research and therapeutic innovation, the prognosis has changed significantly over the past 20-25 years. Today, if a patient with multiple myeloma receives a diagnosis and does not exhibit poor prognostic characteristics (and this description fits approximately 70%-80% of patients with multiple myeloma), it is realistic to expect a survival exceeding 10 years. A few years ago, this outcome was unimaginable, but a significant amount of therapeutic innovation has made it possible. That’s why I emphasize that it is realistic to provide these data with such a positive outlook.
Is multiple myeloma a refractory type of cancer?
It was a refractory type of cancer. Twenty years ago, there were no treatment options, and therefore survival was around 2-3 years, because treatment mainly consisted of using alkylating agents and corticosteroids. This is what made it refractory.
With the emergence of new therapeutic innovations, patients have been responding better and their responses are lasting longer. Although there is still a group of patients, about 10%-15%, with a poor prognosis and refractory disease, those with standard risk are responding better to different therapies.
Although most patients will eventually exhaust the treatments, which until now were primarily triple-drug regimens (such as proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulators, and antiCD38 antibodies), the introduction of new therapies is extending the duration of responses.
