Roundtable discussion: Navigating challenging treatment decisions in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM)

Authors

  • Martha Louzada, MD, MSc
  • Arleigh McCurdy, MHA, MD, FRCPC
  • Michel Pavic, MD
  • Christopher Venner, MD, FRCPC

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58931/cht.2023.2s0736

Abstract

Treating relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma has been challenging, due to a lack head-to-head trial comparisons of the various available regimens and poor cross-Canada access to currently approved regimens. New therapeutic combinations in this setting open up more options to consider, and also the possibility of greater efficacy and more judicious use of available drug classes to avoid resistance. Oncologists shared insights on how they choose between these therapeutic regimens for various patient subgroups.

Author Biographies

Martha Louzada, MD, MSc

Dr. Martha Louzada is a Brazilian-born Hematologist where she completed her medical training. She is an Associate professor of Medicine and a Hematology Consultant at the University of Western Ontario/London Health Sciences Centre in London, Ontario, Canada, joining the Department of Medicine in July 2010. She also holds a Cross Appointment in Oncology through the London Regional Cancer Program and a Cross Appointment as Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, UWO 2013 to present. Dr. Louzada is currently the Multiple Myeloma Working Group Director at LRCP. She came to Canada in 2006 where she completed a 3-year postdoctoral fellowship in Thrombosis along with a Masters in Epidemiology and Community Medicine Program at the University of Ottawa/Ottawa Hospital, Canada. Since then she has had multiple publications in the thrombosis and myeloma fields. In October 2009 she was awarded the Phil Wells Trainee Research Award at the University of Ottawa recognizing Excellence in Haematology Research. She received her Master’s in Epidemiology degree in January 2011. Dr, Louzada is a member of CanVECTOR, the Canadian Myeloma Research Group and Member of the Steering Committee of the Canadian Myeloma Research Group Database. Dr. Louzada has a special interest in venous thromboembolism and cancer and also translational research in myeloma. She has over 50 peer reviewed publications and 30 oral or poster publications at International Hematology Meetings.

Arleigh McCurdy, MHA, MD, FRCPC

Dr. Arleigh Robertson McCurdy is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa and Lead of the Myeloma Program at The Ottawa Hospital. Her clinical research is focused on multiple myeloma and related disorders. She is an active member of the Canadian Myeloma Research Group and the Canadian Cancer Trials Group Myeloma Committee. She is a member of the Myeloma Canada Board of Directors and the International Myeloma Working Group.

Michel Pavic, MD

Dr. Michel Pavic is a medical oncologist and the head of the hemato-oncology department of the CIUSSS de I’Estrie CHUS. He specializes in the treatment of myeloma. Dr. Pavic is also the director of medical research in oncology at the Cancer Research Institute for the University of Sherbrooke (IRCUS). He graduated from University Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (France). Dr. Pavic currently serves as the President of the Quebec Plasma Cell Diseases Group (GMPQ).

Christopher Venner, MD, FRCPC

Dr. Christopher Venner completed his medical training at the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta. He later attended the University of British Columbia to complete a sub-speciality degree in Hematology. He then went onto pursue a Plasma Cell Dyscrasias Fellowship jointly through the Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program of British Columbia, St. Barthalomew’s Hospital and the London School of Medicine and the National Amyloidosis Centre. He subsequently joined the National Amyloid Centre as a staff physician before returning to Edmonton and the Cross Cancer Institute and led the Malignant Hematology Program and the Myeloma/Plasma Cell Dyscrasias group. In 2021, he joined the BC Cancer-Vancouver Centre to advance the Plasma Cell Dyscrasis Program. In addition to being actively involved in hematology clinical trials, his current academic interest involves clinical otcomes research in plasma cell dyscrasias, examining the evolution of therapy in these diseases and the impact novel combinations have on survival. Much of this work is done through the Canadian Myeloma Research Group through activities in the CMRG Canadian Multiple Myeloma Database initiative which he led as Chair (2014-2021), and the CMRG clinical trials group. He is also the co-chair of the Myeloma Sub-Committee with the Canadian cancer Trials Group.

References

Discussion: Dr. Martha Louzada, Dr. Arleigh McCurdy, Dr. Michel Pavic, Dr. Chris Venner

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Published

2023-07-16

How to Cite

1.
Louzada M, McCurdy A, Pavic M, Venner C. Roundtable discussion: Navigating challenging treatment decisions in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). Can Hematol Today [Internet]. 2023 Jul. 16 [cited 2024 Dec. 22];2(s07):2–5. Available from: https://canadianhematologytoday.com/article/view/2-s07-louzada_et_al

Issue

Special Supplement, July 2023

Section

Articles

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