Is There A Cure for Multiple Myeloma?

The last 20 years have brought revolutionary change in the multiple myeloma treatment landscape. The development of new treatment techniques such as CAR T-cell therapy, proteasome inhibitors, and immunomodulatory drugs have all contributed to longer survival. 

Now, researchers are working together to answer a very important question: Is multiple myeloma curable? In February 2026, researchers and advocates gathered virtually for the Myeloma Cure Summit to discuss how to define a cure in myeloma.

Treatment advances in multiple myeloma lead to longer survival

More than 20 new medications and therapies have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the last two decades. The effect of these treatment advances is clear in the change in the relative survival rate.  

Before the 2000s, most people diagnosed with multiple myeloma lived around 3 to 5 years after their diagnosis. The combination of stem cell transplants and novel therapies improved this to around 8 years in the mid-2000s. In the last 10 years, the 5-year survival rate has improved significantly, with many people living 10 years and longer after their diagnosis. 

New testing advances make detecting cancer cells easier

Recently, the FDA issued guidance about using minimal residual disease (MRD) as a clinical endpoint for research studies testing new myeloma treatments. This decision could have big implications for how multiple myeloma research is done. 

Clinical endpoints are the measurements researchers use in clinical trials to know how well a treatment works to control a disease. By using highly sensitive blood tests, a single cancer cell can be found among 100,000 healthy cells. This measurement is MRD. When patients are MRD-negative, they are more likely to live longer without their cancer getting worse. They are also more likely to live longer overall. When researchers use MRD negativity as a marker of how well a treatment works, it might mean faster approvals for new treatments. 

Outside of clinical trials, MRD can also be used to help make treatment decisions. For example, if MRD increases, it could mean that additional treatment is necessary. 

Why defining a cure matters

Recently, HealthTree interviewed Dr. Sundar Jagannath at Mount Sinai about defining a cure in myeloma. In his opinion, myeloma is now a curable cancer. 

“From a patient perspective, when you say ‘multiple myeloma is now a curable cancer,’ it completely changes how they feel about the disease,” he said. “I want hope for the patient.” He also emphasized how important it is for physicians to understand that myeloma may be curable. It motivates them to stay up-to-date on the latest treatments and consider clinical trials for their patients. 

“What is a cure? When I look at other cancers… if a patient has no trace of cancer in the body, and there’s no trace of cancer for 5 years without any ongoing treatment. That is considered a cure,” Dr. Jagannath explained. 

He defined a cure in myeloma as:

• No trace of cancer in the blood or urine.
• MRD-negativity: no measurable cancer in the bone marrow. 
• Imaging with PET/CT or whole body MRI showing no cancer in other parts of the body.

According to Dr. Jagannath, long-term follow-up of some patients that participated in clinical trials in 2018 and 2019 who received cilta-cel have reached these requirements. They received one treatment of cilta-cel with no ongoing maintenance therapy and their results have been long-lasting and durable.

There are many new medications—including new types of CAR-T therapy, bispecific and trispecific antibodies, and more—being tested in clinical trials right now that will continue to increase the number of patients who meet this definition of a cure. 

“Clinical development is very robust,” Dr. Jagannath said. “I just want people to believe there is a cure in myeloma. I want physicians to know there is a cure in myeloma. Treat your patients as if you are going to cure them. Give them the best clinical trial options available. [...] The future is bright.” 

An official definition of a cure in myeloma

Results from the discussions at the Myeloma Cure Summit, where researchers worked together to officially define a multiple myeloma cure, are still forthcoming. They will be published in a journal article at a later date.

When those results are published, we will cover them here at HealthTree News. Stay up-to-date on the most recent advances in myeloma care by signing up for our newsletter. 

Sign Up for Newsletter