Dr. Kapoor on Advice for Oncologists Treating Patients With Myeloma

Prashant Kapoor, MD, hematologic oncologist, Mayo Clinic, shares advice for community oncologists who are treating patients with multiple myeloma.

Oncologists should be using the revised International Myeloma Working Group criteria when treating their newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma, Kapoor explains. He also emphasizes the identification of the new response categories, as minimal residual disease-negative states can be achieved with the use of newer therapies.

Community physicians should remember to refer patients for clinical trials but also for transplant earlier in their disease course, even if patients prefer to not undergo this treatment upfront. It is important to collect stem cells for a patient who is eligible for autologous stem cell transplantation, Kapoor adds.