Clinical trials offer new hope for multiple myeloma patients. Advanced therapies are being developed that are specifically designed to fight cancer cells by interfering with the growth of rapidly dividing cells, which is one of the hallmarks of cancer.
These investigational cancer drugs are different from most current therapies because they work directly against specific targets in cancer cells rather than against the body’s natural defense mechanisms against cancer cells.
Read MoreWhy Are Clinical Trials Important?
Clinical trials are the only way that most drugs, including new cancer therapies, become available to patients.
Many of the treatments for cancer are not FDA-approved yet, which means they are still undergoing clinical trials to determine whether they work and how safe they are.
Clinical trials offer the newest, most advanced therapies for cancer treatment available today. Currently, there are several trials that focus on the treatment of multiple myeloma.
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Many of these clinical trials are open only to patients who have relapsed after receiving other therapies, which is why it’s important for multiple myeloma patients to speak with their doctor about whether or not they should consider enrolling in a clinical trial.
When Should I Consider Participating in a Clinical Trial?
Dr. Ye advises all multiple myeloma patients to consider clinical trials as a potential treatment option, as many novel therapies that show great promise are currently being tested.
“It’s very important for patients to see a multiple myeloma specialist in big cancer centers that have a dedicated multiple myeloma team,” explains Dr. Ye. “At least one consultation would be very helpful for you to learn more about multiple myeloma and also learn about the treatment options.”
What Clinical Trials are Available for Multiple Myeloma Patients?
Currently, there are several clinical trials that are testing new therapies for multiple myeloma, including many BCMA-targeted immunotherapies.
B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) is a protein on the surface of myeloma cells. Dr. Ye explains that newer drugs are designed to target BCMA, which cuts off multiple myeloma cells’ ability to grow and divide.
The BCMA-targeted drugs seem very promising because they are less toxic than many of the other currently available drugs. By successfully targeting BCMA, experts can potentially kill myeloma cells while keeping healthy cells intact.
Clinical trials for multiple myeloma patients may include:
- CAR T-cell therapies: T-cells are collected from the patient, genetically modified to carry special receptors that attach to myeloma cells, and then injected back into the body.
- Bispecific Antibody therapies (Bispecific T-cell Engagers): These drugs are antibodies that work by latching onto both cancer cells and immune cells.
- Immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs): Medications designed to stimulate the body’s immune defenses to fight cancer
- Immune Modifying Monoclonal Antibody: This new class of drugs stimulates the immune system to seek out and destroy multiple myeloma cells
Remember, clinical trials are not available for all types of myeloma treatments, so it’s important to consult your multiple myeloma specialist about the most promising new trial options that may be an alternative for you.
Making the Final Decision to Participate in a Clinical Trial
Discussing the advances in myeloma research with your medical team is one of the first steps to take when deciding if a clinical trial is the right choice for you. You should have a clear understanding of how the trial works, how it may affect your daily life, and what the current research says about its efficacy.
Do your own research before agreeing to participate. You can do this by talking with your multiple myeloma doctor and doctors taking part in the study, as well as searching for information on clinical trials online.
After gathering this data, you should feel confident in your final decision. The process varies depending on your specific treatment and study. It’s important that you understand the entire approach before making the final call.
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