Dr. Giralt on Future of Transplant in Multiple Myeloma

Sergio Giralt, MD, a professor of Medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the future role of transplantation in patients with multiple myeloma, as well as other hematologic malignancies.

The answer to this question is still being determined by researchers, Giralt explains. However, transplant remains the only curative strategy for many patients with hematologic malignancies. It is the only curative strategy in myelodysplastic syndromes, in acute leukemia for patients who failed primary therapy, and in high-risk leukemia, he adds.

However, it is a toxic treatment that is not always effective, and relapse remains the most important cause of treatment failure. Many advances in the field of hematologic malignancies will help make transplant easier and make it more effective, Giralt says.

For instance, lenalidomide (Revlimid) as a maintenance therapy in patients with multiple myeloma doubles the remission duration after transplant. Yet, transplant is an essential component of the long-term disease-control strategy in myeloma.