Photo courtesy of the
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) have better survival outcomes if they are minimal residual disease (MRD)-negative after treatment, according to research published in JAMA Oncology.
MRD negativity was significantly associated with better progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).
Researchers therefore concluded that MRD status after treatment should be considered as an endpoint in clinical trials of MM.
Nikhil C. Munshi, MD, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts, and his colleagues conducted this study.
The team evaluated the prognostic value of MRD in patients with MM by performing a meta-analysis of 21 studies published between January 1990 and January 2016.
The impact of MRD on PFS was assessed in 14 of the studies (n=1273), and the impact of MRD on OS was assessed in 12 studies (n=1100).
Five of the PFS studies (n=574) had results reported specifically in patients with a complete response (CR), as did 6 of the OS studies (n=616).
Dr Munchi and his colleagues found that MRD negativity was associated with significantly better PFS—both overall and in studies looking specifically at patients with CRs. The hazard ratios were 0.41 (95% CI, 0.36-0.48) and 0.44 (95% CI, 0.34-0.56), respectively (P<0.001 for both).
Likewise, MRD negativity was associated with significantly better OS—both overall and in studies looking at patients with CRs. The hazard ratios were 0.57 (95% CI, 0.46-0.71) and 0.47 (95% CI, 0.33-0.67), respectively (P<0.001 for both).
The researchers said there were no significant differences among the studies for PFS and OS.
The team therefore concluded that this study provides quantitative evidence to support the integration of MRD assessment as an endpoint in trials of MM patients.
