Myeloma Crowd Round Table Expert Videos: St Louis -- May 18, 2019

On May 18, 2019, a Myeloma Crowd Round Table meeting was held in St Louis, Missouri at the Eric P. Newman Education Center featuring six myeloma experts, including:

• Dr. Robert Kyle, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
• Dr. Amrita Krishnan, City of Hope, Duarte, CA
• Dr. Mark Schroeder, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
• Dr. Keith Stockerl-Goldstein, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
• Dr. Ravi Vij, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
• Dr. Tanya Wildes, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
• Dr. Jim Omel, Grand Island, NE

Current Drug Treatments for Multiple Myeloma

Dr. Tanya Wildes of Washington University talks about the current drug therapies for myeloma--chemotherapy, IMiDs, proteasome inhibitors, steroids, monoclonal antibodies, and combination therapies. She describes how these treatments are administered and how they act on myeloma cells.

Transplant for Multiple Myeloma

Dr. Amrita Krishnan of the City of Hope Cancer Center discusses the evolution of transplants in myeloma over time. No longer do doctors rely on chronic age to determine if a patient can receive a transplant, but rather physiological age--which focuses on physical health. She also covers new standards for myeloma and steps toward a cure.

A Journey Through the Decades

Dr. Robert Kyle of the Mayo Clinic Rochester describes a history and journey of myeloma starting in the 19th century and how it has changed over the years, from diagnosis, to treatment, to standard of care.

Innovative Technology and Living with Myeloma

Dr. Jim Omel, myeloma patient and advocate, talks about new technology to treat myeloma, including nano particles, light therapy, and a combination therapy with chemo. His late wife inspired him to "plan to live" with myeloma rather than "live to die". 

The Future of Multiple Myeloma Treatment

Dr. Ravi Vij of Washington University addresses the future of myeloma treatment--which comes from clinical trials. He claims "the best is yet to come" for future treatment and therapies, including IMiDs, monoclonal antibodies, CAR T cells, and vaccines.

Integrating Newly Approved Myeloma Therapies into the Clinic

Dr. Mark Schroeder of Washington University describes the rapid changes in myeloma treatment paradigms and how we think about sequencing treatments. He aims to help patients understand the difference in their specific myeloma at diagnosis and currently. 

Myeloma Expert Panel and Q&A – Morning

Myeloma experts Drs. Wildes, Kyle, Vij, and Krishnan answer patient questions from the audience during the live Q&A discussion panel. Topics covered include:

• 3:19 How will we be talking about myeloma in 10 years?
• 7:00 What happens to those patients who are not qualified for a transplant?
• 8:42 What are the traditional features of high-risk myeloma patients and how are they treated?
• 11:14 How do you genetically define high-risk disease and how will the paradigm be altered in the future?
• 15:05 How do we keep track of MGUS and smoldering myeloma patients? Does everyone go through MGUS/smoldering before developing multiple myeloma?
• 22:48 Do you see demographic trends in the patient population that predict your myeloma?
• 29:28 What effect does ASCT have on Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and what will be the drugs and their side effects after transplant?
• 30:32 Will I regain the weight I lost before diagnosis?
• 32:23 Should I be on a specific diet?
• 36:13 Are there any approaches in development focused on attacking the metabolism of the cancer cell?
• 37:26 Do you know anything about a genetic registry that uses blood samples of myeloma patients?
• 38:34 Is there a gene that predicts whether you will have multiple myeloma?
• 39:51 How do we prevent a normal plasma cell from developing an MGUS cell which goes on to develop myeloma?
• 42:47 How can I reduce neuropathy post-transplant and does a sauna help with these symptoms?

Myeloma Expert Panel and Q&A – Afternoon

Myeloma experts Drs. Vij, Stockerl Goldstein, and Schroeder answer patient questions from the audience during the live Q&A discussion panel. Topics covered include:

• 0:58 Why are clinical trials so important?
• 6:02 What are the toxicities of immunotherapies?
• 10:12 How important is the bone marrow microenvironment in terms of therapy and how a patient will respond?
• 14:01 How are diagnostic modalities improving?
• 16:39 Throughout myeloma treatment, how do we support the bones, bone marrow and prevent infection?
• 19:47 How do we treat neuropathy?
• 21:47 Do steroids affect muscle spasms?

Thanks to our Platinum Sponsor

Thanks to our additional Myeloma Crowd Round Table Sponsors: Takeda Oncology, GSK, Celgene, Karyopharm and Adaptive Biotechnologies