Syed Abbas Ali, MD
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Interview Date: October 16, 2020

There are many therapies today for the treatment of multiple myeloma, but myeloma typically returns, requiring new therapy for the majority of patients. What can be done to extend remissions? While vaccines don't help eliminate heavy tumor burdens of myeloma, they can help the immune system continue to recognize its return to keep it under control. In this informative show Dr. Syed Abbas Ali of Johns Hopkins Medicine shares the GVAX vaccine that is now in Phase II clinical trials to be used following a stem cell transplant or other induction therapy. Patients must be currently on Revlimid, have no high risk features and have a specific MRD level of disease to join. Patients may have prior stem cell transplant (must be out a year from transplant) or not. The Phase I study data is now mature enough and the results look promising that this simple vaccine could dramatically lengthen time in remission for myeloma patients. 

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