ASH 2021 | Molecular underpinnings of MRD negativity in newly diagnosed myeloma patients treated with D-KRd

In this video, Ola Landgren, MD, PhD, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL, discusses some interesting results from a study which investigated factors predicting sustained minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM). Dr Landgren first highlights some results from the MANHATTAN trial (NCT03290950), which investigated the safety and efficacy of daratumumab in combination with carfilzomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (D-KRd) in the treatment of newly diagnosed MM. Based on the promising results of this trial, Dr Landgren then discusses the aim of the current study to better understand the mechanisms behind MRD negativity. Using both single-cell sequencing and whole-genome sequencing, Dr Landgren explains the main findings, which show that there is a complex interplay of the immune microenvironment and tumor genomics associated with sustained MRD negativity. To conclude, Dr Landgren mentions the importance of this study, as it provides important insights into the role of the immune microenvironment in disease and may help to improve future studies in myeloma. This interview took place at the 63rd ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition congress in Atlanta, GA, 2021.