ASH 2020 | Impact of MRD-negativity on outcomes in the FORTE myeloma trial

Stefania Oliva, MD, GIMEMA, European Myeloma Network, Italy, discusses the findings of an analysis of measurable residual disease (MRD) by multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) and next-generation sequencing (NGS) in the FORTE trial (NCT02203643). The FORTE trial compared three treatment arms in patients with multiple myeloma: carfilzomib-lenalidomide-dexamethasone (KRd) or carfilzomib-cyclophosphamide-dexamethasone (KCd) induction prior to autologous stem-cell transplantation or 12 cycles of KRd only, before further randomization to KR or R maintenance. The results showed that pre-maintenance MRD-negative patients had a longer progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival compared to MRD-positive patients, and that KR significantly prolonged PFS compared to R, regardless of pre-maintenance MRD status. A high degree of concordance was shown between MFC and NGS, with outcomes of patients determined MRD-negative by both techniques being similar. This interview took place during the 62nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition, 2020.