Dr. Kin on Triplet Regimens for Relapsed Multiple Myeloma

Andrew Kin, MD, assistant professor, Karmanos Cancer Institute, discusses triplet regimens for the treatment of patients with relapsed multiple myeloma.

Almost all of the recent clinical trials in the relapsed setting have been looking at 3-drug regimens versus dual combinations, Kin says. These triplet combinations have usually been adding to a backbone of lenalidomide (Revlimid) and dexamethasone or bortezomib (Velcade) and dexamethasone. Across the board, data show an improvement in outcomes for patients treated with a triplet versus a doublet. Kin says it’s pretty clear that if a patient is fit enough and doesn’t have any preexisting toxicity issues, then they should be treated with a 3-drug regimen.

Data with daratumumab (Darzalex), bortezomib, and dexamethasone have also been impressive, Kin adds, in terms of depth and duration of response. There is also the potential to de-escalate daratumumab dosing and utilize it as an essential second maintenance phase.