ASH 2021 | Updates from the iStopMM study

Ola Landgren, MD, PhD, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL, discusses the iStopMM study (NCT03327597), a large screening study conducted in Iceland, which aims to answer important questions in multiple myeloma (MM), and investigate the benefits and harms of screening for monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) as a pre-cursor for MM. Dr Landgren explains the collection of participants for this study, and then draws focus on some interesting results, including rate of detection of MGUS and smoldering myeloma. Dr Landgren then discusses another aspect of this study, which obtained information on whether MGUS had an impact on COVID-19 contraction and prognosis compared to those who did not have MGUS. To conclude, Dr Landgren then highlights some upcoming studies that will be conducted, including one which will investigate the emotional burden of MGUS diagnosis, and how data from these screening studies will improve the future of research in myeloma. This interview took place at the 63rd ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition congress in Atlanta, GA, 2021.