For patients with multiple myeloma, achieving complete remission is a primary goal of treatment. However, even after successful treatment, some cancer cells may remain undetectable by imaging or blood counts. This condition, known as minimal residual disease (MRD), can lead to future relapse.
MRD assessment has become increasingly important in managing multiple myeloma. By detecting early if there are any residual cancer cells, doctors can adjust treatment plans and potentially improve long-term outcomes.
Traditionally, MRD testing relied on bone marrow aspiration or biopsy, and there has been a major effort in the field to develop more sensitive and less invasive ways to assess MRD, such as using imaging techniques and blood tests.
Watch our recent webinar ‘Is MRD Negativity the Goal of Myeloma Treatment?’ with Dr. Malin Hultcrantz from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to learn more about MRD bone marrow- and blood-based technologies.
EasyM is a groundbreaking new technique developed by Rapid Novor that utilizes clonotypic peptide mass spectrometry (MS) to detect M-protein secreted by myeloma cells directly from a patient's blood serum. This minimally invasive approach offers several advantages over traditional methods:
This information can empower doctors to tailor treatment plans based on individual patient needs and MRD status. Of note, because EasyM specifically tracks the M-protein in blood, it would not be helpful for patients with nonsecretory multiple myeloma.
It is important to understand that detecting M-protein in the blood doesn't necessarily mean relapse, especially soon after treatment. Even when there are no malignant cells detectable in the bone marrow, there might still be M-protein detectable in blood. This is because it takes time for the body to completely clear the M-protein from the bloodstream. Therefore, MRD in blood with tests like EasyM is more about monitoring changes from a baseline measurement than a single value at a given point in time.
Clinical studies have shown promising results for EasyM, with undetectable MRD (negative MS-MRD) being linked to improved patient outcomes like progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).
Ongoing research is aimed at evaluating EasyM's long-term efficacy in monitoring MRD and its impact on treatment success. In addition, continuous comparison with other established MRD methods at different treatment time points is crucial to understanding when and how EasyM can be helpful.
By addressing these questions and continuously refining EasyM, this innovative blood test holds immense promise for MRD monitoring in multiple myeloma, ultimately leading to better treatment decisions and improved patient outcomes.
EasyM has been certified by CLIA since March 2023, and it is available to order in all US states except NY. Although EasyM is not yet covered by private health insurance or Medicare/Medicaid, you can learn more about EasyM at www.easym.com and discuss with your medical team how to access it.
Learn more about minimal residual disease monitoring with HealthTree University for Myeloma:
Sources:
For patients with multiple myeloma, achieving complete remission is a primary goal of treatment. However, even after successful treatment, some cancer cells may remain undetectable by imaging or blood counts. This condition, known as minimal residual disease (MRD), can lead to future relapse.
MRD assessment has become increasingly important in managing multiple myeloma. By detecting early if there are any residual cancer cells, doctors can adjust treatment plans and potentially improve long-term outcomes.
Traditionally, MRD testing relied on bone marrow aspiration or biopsy, and there has been a major effort in the field to develop more sensitive and less invasive ways to assess MRD, such as using imaging techniques and blood tests.
Watch our recent webinar ‘Is MRD Negativity the Goal of Myeloma Treatment?’ with Dr. Malin Hultcrantz from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to learn more about MRD bone marrow- and blood-based technologies.
EasyM is a groundbreaking new technique developed by Rapid Novor that utilizes clonotypic peptide mass spectrometry (MS) to detect M-protein secreted by myeloma cells directly from a patient's blood serum. This minimally invasive approach offers several advantages over traditional methods:
This information can empower doctors to tailor treatment plans based on individual patient needs and MRD status. Of note, because EasyM specifically tracks the M-protein in blood, it would not be helpful for patients with nonsecretory multiple myeloma.
It is important to understand that detecting M-protein in the blood doesn't necessarily mean relapse, especially soon after treatment. Even when there are no malignant cells detectable in the bone marrow, there might still be M-protein detectable in blood. This is because it takes time for the body to completely clear the M-protein from the bloodstream. Therefore, MRD in blood with tests like EasyM is more about monitoring changes from a baseline measurement than a single value at a given point in time.
Clinical studies have shown promising results for EasyM, with undetectable MRD (negative MS-MRD) being linked to improved patient outcomes like progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).
Ongoing research is aimed at evaluating EasyM's long-term efficacy in monitoring MRD and its impact on treatment success. In addition, continuous comparison with other established MRD methods at different treatment time points is crucial to understanding when and how EasyM can be helpful.
By addressing these questions and continuously refining EasyM, this innovative blood test holds immense promise for MRD monitoring in multiple myeloma, ultimately leading to better treatment decisions and improved patient outcomes.
EasyM has been certified by CLIA since March 2023, and it is available to order in all US states except NY. Although EasyM is not yet covered by private health insurance or Medicare/Medicaid, you can learn more about EasyM at www.easym.com and discuss with your medical team how to access it.
Learn more about minimal residual disease monitoring with HealthTree University for Myeloma:
Sources:
about the author
Marta Llobet Canela
Marta deeply believes that understanding how your body works is still a privilege today and that knowledge empowers. Leveraging her 9 years of experience in blood cancer, she translates complex medical jargon into easy-to-understand language, helping HealthTree’s mission to support patients staying informed about their disease and confidently participating in meaningful research. Outside of science, she enjoys trying new restaurants and hiking with her dog, Lia.
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