Dr. Atrash on the BELLINI Trial Results in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma

Shebli Atrash, MD, a physician in hematology and medical oncology at Levine Cancer Institute, Atrium Health, discusses the results of the BELLINI trial examining patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

The phase III BELLINI trial compared venetoclax (Venclexta) versus placebo combined with bortezomib (Velcade) and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, explains Atrash. The trial met its primary endpoint of progression-free survival and showed venetoclax is superior to placebo; however, the risk of death increased in the venetoclax arm, says Atrash.

Patients were enrolled in the BELLINI trial regardless of translocation status or BCL-2 status, but results showed that patients with t(11;14) or high BCL-2 expression derived the most benefit from venetoclax. Going forward, Atrash recommends trials using venetoclax to target this patient population with multiple myeloma.