Outcome of carfilzomib/pomalidomide-based regimens after daratumumab-based treatment in relapsed multiple myeloma: A Canadian Myeloma Research Group Database analysis

Eur J Haematol. 2023 Nov;111(5):815-823. doi: 10.1111/ejh.14082. Epub 2023 Aug 13.

Abstract

Introduction: Although daratumumab-containing regimens improve multiple myeloma (MM) outcomes, recurrence is inevitable.

Methods and objective: We performed a retrospective study using the Canadian Myeloma Research Group Database to benchmark the efficacy of carfilzomib- or pomalidomide-based therapies immediately following progression on daratumumab treatment.

Results: We identified 178 such patients; median number of prior lines of therapy was 3, 97% triple-class exposed, and 60% triple-class refractory. In our cohort, 75 received a subsequent carfilzomib-based therapy, 79 received a pomalidomide-based therapy, and 24 received a treatment with both immunomodulatory drug (IMiD) and proteasome inhibitor (PI) using carfilzomib and/or pomalidomide. The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for the entire cohort were 4.5 and 14.2 months, respectively. Carfilzomib-based therapy yielded a median PFS and OS of 4.5 and 10.2 months, respectively, compared to 5.2 and 21.7 months for pomalidomide-based therapy. Patients who received both IMiD and PI with carfilzomib and/or pomalidomide had a median PFS and OS of 4.1 and 14.5 months, respectively.

Conclusion: Our observations demonstrate the poor outcome of MM patients when standard regimens based on carfilzomib and/or pomalidomide are utilized directly after daratumumab-based therapy given in the relapsed setting. Novel therapies, including immune therapies, are urgently needed to improve the outcomes of these daratumumab-exposed patients.

Keywords: carfilzomib; multiple myeloma; pomalidomide; post-daratumumab; real-world data.

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