EMMA 2016 | The next steps and updated guidelines for the use of MRD concepts in multiple myeloma

Bruno Paiva, PhD of the University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain discusses the next steps for minimal residual disease (MRD) for multiple myeloma (MM) at the 2016 European Multiple Myeloma Academy (EMMA) held in Madrid, Spain. Dr Paiva points out that even though the interest in MRD in myeloma is very recent, the International Myeloma Working Group has just released new response criteria guidelines that include well-defined MRD concepts. According to Paiva, this is a big accomplishment – it is critical that physicians fully adhere to the response criteria guidelines and implement these criteria in clinical trials in order to obtain data that we can learn from and apply outside trials. Further, these data can be used to convince regulatory agencies, such as the FDA or EMA, that MRD can be used as an endpoint; this, in turn, may help patients through, for example, the early approval of drugs based on rates of MRD negativity.
This programme has been supported by Celgene and Amgen through an unrestricted educational grant to the Video Journal of Hematological Oncology.