NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) announced today that they will collaborate on a clinical trial of multiple myeloma, to determine the predictors of sustained minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity.
The trial — which is called "Carfilzomib, Lenalidomide, Dexamethasone in Newly-Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma: a Translational MRD Study" — will utilize a combination therapy and genetic sequencing. Very low or undetectable levels of MRD after completion of treatment have been correlated with improved patient outcomes, the partners said. Measuring MRD could be a faster way for a clinician to determine the effectiveness of a particular treatment.
"We are thrilled to offer newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients our latest clinical trial in the fall of 2016. It is an improved version of our combination therapy integrated with our latest genetic profiling assays. MMRF is graciously supporting the science behind our study," C. Ola Landgren, chief of the Myeloma Service at MSKCC, said in a statement. "The goals are to reach a sustained MRD negativity in as many patients as possible, and to understand mechanisms of MRD in those who have residual disease so we can eradicate the last tumor cells."
The study is open to newly-diagnosed multiple myeloma patients — genetic sequencing will be performed at the time of diagnosis and at various points during therapy.