Jonathan Kaufman, MD
Emory University Winship Cancer Institute
Interview Date: October 23, 2020

The quest for individualized myeloma treatment is one every multiple myeloma patient hopes to find. For patients with the translocation of t(11;14), one drug may be helpful - venetoclax. In early clinical trials, venetoclax was seen to have particular impact for t(11;14) myeloma. Currently, several trials are open studying the use of venetoclax with other standard of care myeloma drugs. Dr. Jonathan Kaufman has led many venetoclax clinical trials and shares a wealth of knowledge about this drug and type of myeloma. Patients with translocation 11;14 have more BCL-2 which acts a little more like a lymphoma compared to other myelomas. Additionally, while t(11;14) patients tend to do a little worse than "standard risk" myeloma patients, plasma cell leukemia patients with the t(11;14) tend to do a little better. Interstingly, the gene produced by this translocation (Cyclin D1) isn't the target - t(11;14) has different biology. Venetoclax is particularly helpful when used with dexamethasone because it increases BCL-2 expression. Doctors can tell immediately if their patients are responding to venetoclax. 

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VENETOCLAX TRIALS IN HEALTHTREE

• All Venetoclax Trials in HealthTree
• A Study of Venetoclax and Dexamethasone Compared With Pomalidomide and Dexamethasone in Subjects With Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma (CANOVA)
• Study of Venetoclax in Combination With Carfilzomib and Dexamethasone in Subjects With Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma (MM)
• A Study of Combination Therapy With Venetoclax, Daratumumab and Dexamethasone (With and Without Bortezomib) in Subjects With Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma
• Myeloma-Developing Regimens Using Genomics (MyDRUG)
• A Study Evaluating Venetoclax (ABT-199) in Multiple Myeloma Subjects Who Are Receiving Bortezomib and Dexamethasone as Standard Therapy
• Venetoclax, Ixazomib Citrate, and Dexamethasone in Treating Patients With Relapsed Multiple Myeloma