Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer affecting plasma cells in the bone marrow. It's diagnosed in about 35,000 Americans each year, mostly over age 65. Treatment has changed dramatically in the past decade — many people now live years longer than was possible before, using combinations of targeted drugs, immunotherapy, and stem cell transplant.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing CAR-T cell therapy earlier in treatment, bispecific antibodies that redirect immune cells to kill myeloma, and combinations that might eliminate the need for chemotherapy. Researchers are also studying minimal residual disease testing to guide treatment decisions, and new drugs for high-risk myeloma that resists standard therapy.
CAR-T cell therapy
Two CAR-T therapies — idecabtagene vicleucel and ciltacabtagene autoleucel — were FDA-approved in 2021 and 2022 for relapsed myeloma. Trials are now testing whether using them earlier, after one or two prior treatments, produces better long-term outcomes.
Bispecific antibodies
These drugs connect a patient's T cells directly to myeloma cells, forcing the immune system to attack the cancer. Teclistamab became the first FDA-approved bispecific for myeloma in 2022, and several others are in late-stage trials.
Minimal residual disease
Ultra-sensitive tests can now detect one myeloma cell among a million normal cells. Trials are studying whether people who reach this level of response can safely stop treatment or skip stem cell transplant.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on how many prior treatments you've had, specific genetic features of your myeloma, kidney function, and blood counts.
What types of trials are currently open
- Newly diagnosed trials — Testing new drug combinations or treatment sequences for people just diagnosed with myeloma. Many compare adding a new drug to standard induction therapy.
- Relapsed myeloma trials — Testing treatments for myeloma that has returned after initial therapy. Often involve newer drug classes like bispecific antibodies or CAR-T cells.
- Maintenance trials — Studying whether continuing certain drugs after initial treatment keeps myeloma in remission longer.
- High-risk myeloma trials — Testing more intensive approaches for people whose myeloma has genetic features that predict poorer response to standard treatment.
- Supportive care trials — Testing treatments for bone pain, fractures, kidney problems, infections, and other complications of myeloma or its treatment.
Recently added Multiple Myeloma trials
SKCD in Early Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant hematologic neoplasm arising from abnormal plasma cells within the bone marrow. Although substantial therapeutic progress has been achieved over the past twenty years, MM remains an incurable disease for the vast majority of patients. When the disease relapses or becomes refractory after 1 to 3 prior lines of therapy (termed early relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma \[RRMM\]), achieving deep and durable remission during early salvage therapy is critical to extending long-term survival. Current guideline-recommended second-line therapies exhibit distinct clinical challenges: standard triplet regimens lack head-to-head comparisons, novel cellular therapies (such as CAR-T) are costly and difficult to access, and optimal combinations for early relapse remain undefined. Furthermore, novel targeted therapeutics have predominantly originated overseas, highlighting an urgent need for effective regimens based on innovative domestic agents. Therapeutic Rationale of the SKCD Regimen: This study evaluates a novel quadruplet combination regimen termed SKCD, comprising four complementary therapeutics: * 1\. Sonrotoclax: Sonrotoclax (BGB-11417): A highly potent and selective oral BCL-2 inhibitor that restores the cell's internal (mitochondrial) apoptosis pathway. * 2\. Carfilzomib: Carfilzomib: A second-generation selective proteasome inhibitor that inhibits myeloma cell proliferation and downregulates anti-apoptotic proteins like MCL-1. * 3\. Aponermin (CPT): Aponermin (CPT): A first-in-class recombinant circularly permuted human TRAIL and DR4/DR5 agonist, independently developed in China and approved for RRMM, which selectively activates external (death receptor) apoptosis. * 4\. Dexamethasone: Dexamethasone: A synthetic corticosteroid with established anti-myeloma activity that synergizes with BCL-2 and proteasome inhibitors. Preclinical studies demonstrate that simultaneously stimulating internal mitochondrial apoptosis and external death receptor apoptosis produces synergistic anti-myeloma cytotoxicity. The primary objective of this Phase II study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy (assessed by the best complete response or better rate \[\>= CR\]) and the safety profile of the SKCD quadruplet regimen followed by carfilzomib and dexamethasone (Kd) maintenance therapy in early relapsed RRMM.
The Value of a Tailored-based, Exercise Program for Improving Quality of Life of Patients With Hematologic Malignancies: a Pilot Randomized Trial
This multicenter, prospective, pilot randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a 16-week structured exercise program (SEP) in patients with hematologic malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. A total of 75 patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either a supervised exercise intervention or a control group receiving usual care and general advice on physical activity. The intervention consists of a personalized, hybrid exercise program combining supervised home- and gym-based training, aerobic and resistance exercises, balance and stretching activities, and behavioral counseling. The primary objective is to assess the feasibility of the intervention in terms of adherence to the exercise program and patient satisfaction. Secondary objectives include evaluating intervention-related adverse events, patient-reported burden, health-related quality of life, fatigue, physical fitness, anthropometric parameters, and physical activity levels. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, approximately 8 weeks, 16 weeks (end of intervention), and 24 weeks after randomization.
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