New tools for monitoring multiple myeloma were a key topic at the European Hematology Society Congress. Advances in drugs and combinations have revolutionized the landscape in multiple myeloma, thus allowing patients to live much longer, according to Bruno Paiva, PhD, director of flow cytometry and the myeloma laboratory at the University of Navarra Clinic in Pamplona, Spain.
"Much better treatment responses are achieved, with long-term remission, so tools are needed for long-term monitoring. The starting point for monitoring is the monoclonal protein secreted by the myeloma tumor cell, which can be measured in serum and urine. Complete remission is defined when that monoclonal component is not detected with routine laboratory techniques, such as immunofixation," said Paiva.
Even if the patient may be in complete remission, minimal residual disease is sometimes detected. The reason is that myeloma infiltrates the bone marrow. Techniques for identifying minimal residual disease, like cytometry or next-generation massive sequencing, can detect bone marrow blood aspirate. "The detection of this minimal residual disease corresponds with a significant reduction in survival," Paiva warned.
In addition to these techniques, PET-CT is also used. This imaging tool is "very useful for seeing disease both inside and outside the marrow," said Paiva.
"As for the future, the FDA [Food and Drug Administration] has just approved the use of minimal residual disease as one of the trial objectives. This may allow drugs to reach patients much sooner, instead of waiting for survival data, which takes much longer to obtain," he said.
Researchers are also learning how to use minimal residual disease and these imaging techniques to individualize the treatment of patients with myeloma. "Furthermore, since some of these techniques are invasive, such as bone marrow ones, we are trying to focus on peripheral blood. This way, monitoring is minimally invasive, much more comfortable for the patient, and more informative because it can be done many times," said Paiva.
Paiva is extending these imaging techniques "to different scenarios, such as the precursor stages of the disease. Our laboratory is especially known for flow cytometry, and we are launching the NoMoreMGUS project, the largest ever conducted in Spain (and perhaps in Europe) on monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. This is a condition that precedes myeloma. We are looking to study 5000 patients in Spain once a year for 5 years, which means analyzing 25,000 samples.
"On the other hand," he continued, "we are taking some of these developments to other neoplasms, such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia. And we are interested in using all the potential of cytometry not only to measure tumor cells but also to characterize the immune system as another important biomarker in the pathogenesis of the disease. And, for example, to predict infections, which is very important in patients with myeloma."
This story was translated from El Médico Interactivo, which is part of the Medscape Professional Network, using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.