New treatment may delay cancer in high-risk myeloma (Daratumumab)

Medical Xpress / Mayo Clinic / New England Journal of Medicine ^ | Dec. 10, 2024 | Kelley Luckstein / Meletios A. Dimopoulos et al

[ConservativeMind]

A new treatment is showing promise for people with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM). This precancerous condition can progress to active multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. High-risk SMM carries a higher likelihood of progression.

Results from a phase 3 clinical trial demonstrated that daratumumab, a monoclonal antibody that targets CD38, a protein found on the surface of myeloma cells, significantly reduces the risk of progression to active multiple myeloma and improves overall survival compared to active monitoring.

Smoldering multiple myeloma is a condition in which abnormal plasma cells accumulate in the bone marrow but do not display symptoms of active multiple myeloma. High-risk SMM, however, carries a significant risk of progressing to active disease. Until now, there has been no approved treatment for this high-risk group.

The multicenter, international AQUILA study randomly assigned 390 patients with high-risk SMM to receive either daratumumab or active monitoring. After a median follow-up of 65.2 months, the study demonstrated a 51% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death for those receiving daratumumab. At five years, 63.1% of patients in the daratumumab group remained progression-free, compared to 40.8% in the active monitoring group. Survival at five years was also significantly higher in the daratumumab group (93% vs. 86.9%).

"These results are a major advancement in the treatment of high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma," says S. Vincent Rajkumar.

"For the first time, we have a treatment option that can significantly delay or prevent the progression to active disease, improving the lives of patients and offering them a chance at a longer, healthier future."

While hypertension was the most common side effect, occurring in a small percentage of patients in both groups, no new safety concerns were identified with daratumumab.

[ConservativeMind]

This antibody is available today and also goes by the name Darzalex.

At the 65 month mark, there are a 51% reduction in disease progression by taking this.

[ConservativeMind]

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[Orosius]

My high risk myeloma is currently in remission. I get one infusion of darzalex per month, combined with a high dose steroid, and so far so good.

[Big Red Badger]

Interesting...
Hope You’re living LIFE Amigo!

[Big Red Badger]

High Risk...
.
Live Fast
Die Young
Leave a Good Looking Corpse.
.
One outta two ain’t bad.

[Orosius]

Thanks!

[Doctor Congo]

Daratumumab might be the most unpronounceable word I have ever seen. I don’t even have a guess.