Deferring Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Consolidation of Minimal Residual Disease in Multiple Myeloma

Despite the complex clonal heterogeneity of multiple myeloma (MM), modern induction therapy can induce meaningful responses in as many as 70% of patients, and the expanding treatment landscape can also prolong survival in the relapsed/refractory setting [1,2]. In order to identify patients who achieve deeper responses to antimyeloma therapy, highly sensitive assays to detect minimal residual disease (MRD) have been deployed [3,4]. As a result, in 2016 the International Myeloma Working Group revised response criteria to include MRD negativity by multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) in the definition of stringent complete response (sCR).
Source: Seminars in Oncology - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Source Type: research