Can Multiple Myeloma Patients Safely Stop Treatment? New Cure Data | IMS 2026

Description

At the 2026 International Myeloma Society (IMS) meeting, Dr. Zachary Avigan, assistant professor at Mount Sinai, shares new research on predicting which multiple myeloma patients can safely stop treatment and remain in long-term remission. Using the IMS's new cure definition (no evidence of disease in the bone marrow or on imaging, sustained for 5 years after stopping treatment), Dr. Avigan's team studied 430 Mount Sinai patients who had sustained MRD negativity for at least 2 years. They identified three factors that predicted excellent long-term outcomes: standard-risk genetics (rather than high-risk), lower ISS stage (stage I or II), and the deepest level of MRD testing available, next-generation sequencing (NGS) at a sensitivity of 1 in a million (10⁻⁶). Patients who hit all three markers and reached 2 years of sustained MRD negativity had only a 6% relapse rate at 8 years, and just 3% relapsed within 5 years of stopping treatment entirely. High-risk patients told a different story: they didn't share those same strong outcomes until they reached a full 5 consecutive years of MRD negativity, suggesting they may simply need longer treatment before it's safe to stop. Dr. Avigan closes by emphasizing that cure isn't the only worthwhile goal. For patients who don't meet the strictest new definition, functional cure, living long and well with very low levels of disease, remains an important and very attainable outcome. Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction: predicting cure at Mount Sinai 1:14 Three factors that predict long-term remission 2:35 Can high-risk patients stop treatment too? 3:37 Cure vs. functional cure If this video has helped you or a loved one, consider donating to HealthTree. Every donation helps us continue to create free and high-quality blood cancer educational content: https://give.healthtree.org/give/628617/src=htu For an organized lesson structure, watch on our site here: https://linktr.ee/HealthTreeUniversity Create a free account to track your progress, bookmark lessons, and keep up-to-date on the latest advancements in treating cancer! Patients have the key to find cures for cancer. Learn more about HealthTree's services here: https://healthtree.org/curehub?utm_source=social+media&utm_medium=htu+youtube&utm_campaign=htu-curehub&utm_content=general Educated and empowered patients have better outcomes. We've partnered with hundreds of medical experts and doctors to help you learn more about your disease.