Dr. Rajkumar on Significance of SWOG S0777 Study for Multiple Myeloma

S. Vincent Rajkumar, MD, professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic, discusses the significance of the phase III SWOG S0777 study, which looked at bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone versus lenalidomide and dexamethasone in patients with previously untreated multiple myeloma.

Results of the study showed that the addition of bortezomib to lenalidomide and dexamethasone for induction therapy for patients with previously untreated myeloma led to a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free and overall survival.

The NCCN has approximately 20 therapy options to recommend for newly diagnosed patients in the frontline setting, Rajkumar explains. These phase III findings, however, provide practitioners with an option that clearly has a survival benefit in patients. The triplet regimen should become a standard of care, he adds.