Cancer Patient Guide
Multiple Myeloma: Expert Insights for Treatment Decisions
Curated from expert webinars (part of 150+ across all cancer types) hosted by Cancer Patient Lab, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Covers stem cell transplant, CAR-T cell therapy, proteasome inhibitors, bispecific antibodies, minimal residual disease testing, and the latest clinical trials.
Expert Panel
Oncologists and researchers who contributed insights through Cancer Patient Lab webinars
Tony Letai, MD, PhD
Functional precision medicine — testing drugs on cancer cells
Lisa Butterfield
Cancer vaccines and immunotherapy
Ezra Cohen, MD
AI tools in cancer patient-doctor conversations
Selin Kurnaz
Finding the right cancer clinical trial
Massive Bio
Matthew Dons
TIL therapy and cellular immunotherapy
Michael Liss, MD, PhD
Gut microbiome and cancer treatment
Treatment Topics
Key treatment areas for multiple myeloma patients
Stem Cell Transplant
Autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) remains a cornerstone of treatment for eligible myeloma patients. After induction therapy (typically a triplet or quadruplet regimen), high-dose melphalan followed by stem cell rescue can deepen responses. The decision on transplant timing — upfront vs. delayed — depends on patient fitness, response to induction, and risk stratification.
CAR-T Cell Therapy & Bispecific Antibodies
CAR-T therapies targeting BCMA (idecabtagene vicleucel, ciltacabtagene autoleucel) have shown remarkable responses in relapsed/refractory myeloma. Bispecific antibodies (teclistamab, elranatamab, talquetamab) offer off-the-shelf alternatives that don't require the manufacturing wait time of CAR-T. Both represent major advances for patients who have exhausted standard options.
Proteasome Inhibitors & Immunomodulatory Drugs
Proteasome inhibitors (bortezomib, carfilzomib, ixazomib) combined with immunomodulatory drugs (lenalidomide, pomalidomide) and dexamethasone form the backbone of myeloma treatment. Anti-CD38 antibodies (daratumumab, isatuximab) added to these combinations have further improved outcomes. Dr. Tony Letai's functional precision medicine approach can test which drug combinations work best on your specific cancer cells.
Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) Testing
MRD testing detects remaining cancer cells at levels far below what standard tests can find. Achieving MRD-negative status is associated with significantly longer progression-free and overall survival. Next-generation flow cytometry and next-generation sequencing (clonoSEQ) are used to assess MRD depth, helping guide decisions about treatment duration and maintenance therapy.
Risk Stratification & Cytogenetics
Cytogenetic abnormalities — del(17p), t(4;14), t(14;16), gain(1q) — define high-risk myeloma and guide treatment intensity. FISH testing and gene expression profiling help categorize patients into standard-risk and high-risk groups. High-risk patients may benefit from more intensive induction, tandem transplant, and extended maintenance strategies.
Common Questions from Myeloma Patients
Answered by Navis AI, informed by expert webinars and medical guidelines
What is the role of stem cell transplant in multiple myeloma?
Am I eligible for CAR-T cell therapy for myeloma?
What does minimal residual disease (MRD) negative mean?
What are proteasome inhibitors and how do they work?
What is the difference between MGUS, smoldering myeloma, and active myeloma?
How do I manage bone disease from multiple myeloma?
What are bispecific antibodies for myeloma?
What clinical trials are available for multiple myeloma?
Testing Services for Multiple Myeloma
Genomic testing, liquid biopsy, and molecular profiling services relevant to myeloma
Multiple Myeloma Webinars
From Cancer Patient Lab — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
Functional Precision Medicine: Testing Drugs on Your Cancer Cells
Tony Letai, MD, PhD
How to Find the Right Cancer Clinical Trial
Selin Kurnaz, Massive Bio
Cancer Vaccines: How They Work and Who Can Benefit
Lisa Butterfield
TIL Therapy: Using Your Own Immune Cells to Fight Cancer
Matthew Dons
How AI Tools Are Changing Cancer Patient-Doctor Conversations
Ezra Cohen, MD
Self-Care During Cancer Treatment
Thanos Kosmidis
How to Access Cancer Treatments: Insurance, Clinical Trials
Chris Beardmore
Paying for Cancer Treatments
Nancy Novack, Mike Yancey, Kevin Fordney
Gut Microbiome and Cancer
Michael Liss, MD, PhD
Liquid Biopsy for Cancer: Monitoring Treatment Response
Lauren Leiman, Jenn Dickey
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This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Content is curated from expert webinars hosted by Cancer Patient Lab, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Always consult your oncologist for treatment decisions. Meet our team →