Dr. Ghobrial on the Key Objectives of the PROMISE Study in Multiple Myeloma

Irene Ghobrial, MD, director, Clinical Investigator Research Program, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Lavine Family Chair for Preventative Cancer Therapies, professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School, discusses the key objectives of the PROMISE study (NCT03689595) in multiple myeloma.

The goal of the PROMISE study is to predict progression of developing multiple myeloma in a high-risk, screened patient population. Once patients are screened, those who test positive for the disease proceed to a full myeloma care model and treatment course, Ghobrial explains.

Most of these patients have very early monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and may never go on to develop myeloma. In others, however, there is smoldering myeloma, amyloidosis, or active myeloma that has developed, Ghobrial explains. As such, it is important to screen patients early to prevent complications associated with the disease, Ghobrial adds.

As a part of the PROMISE study, investigators are not just diagnosing patients, but assisting them through the treatment course, offering clinical trials, and trying to intercept the disease early, Ghobrial continues. The hope is that early screening will provide opportunities to treat patients before multiple myeloma fully develops, Ghobrial concludes.