Dr. Nausheen Ahmed critiques key 2025 ASCO findings in myeloma and lymphoma, together with new therapies and trials enhancing affected person choices and outcomes.
The 2025 ASCO Annual Assembly introduced many alternative updates to gentle within the realm of hematological malignancies, together with a number of myeloma and lymphoma, Dr. Nausheen Ahmed stated in an interview with Dr. Joshua Ok. Sabari. Ahmed emphasised that there are numerous takeaways which are necessary for sufferers popping out of the annual assembly.
Within the interview, hosted by Sabari, Ahmed highlighted research just like the PERSEUS trial, the ADVANCE trial, and others inside the area, emphasizing what’s necessary for sufferers to know.
Ahmed is a board-certified hematologist and affiliate professor, Hematologic Malignancies and Mobile Therapeutics, at The College of Kansas, KU Medical Heart. Sabari is the editor in chief of CURE. He additionally serves as an assistant professor within the Division of Medication at NYU Grossman Faculty of Medication and director of Excessive Reliability Group Initiatives at Perlmutter Most cancers Heart.
Sabari: Hiya. I am Dr. Joshua Sabari, a thoracic medical oncologist at NYU Langone Well being’s Perlmutter Most cancers Heart in New York. I am additionally the editor-in-chief of CURE journal, and I am actually excited to be joined at this time by my colleague, Dr. Nausheen Ahmed. Dr. Ahmed, please introduce your self.
Ahmed: Hiya. I’m Dr. Nausheen Ahmed, a transplant and cell remedy doctor on the College of Kansas, specializing in mobile remedy. We had an important ASCO for the myeloma and lymphoma fields, and I’ll spotlight a few of the attention-grabbing research that have been introduced. My specialty is generally CAR T, however I will additionally focus on myeloma.
In newly identified myeloma, we had outcomes from the PERSEUS trial, a section 3 research taking a look at subcutaneous Darzalex (daratumumab), Revlimid (lenalidomide), Velcade (bortezomib), and dexamethasone (Dara-VRd) with Darzalex and Revlimid upkeep in transplant-eligible sufferers with newly identified myeloma. This was in comparison with a management arm of VRd and Revlimid, and it clearly continues to indicate enchancment in progression-free survival and minimal residual illness (MRD) charges.
We additionally had information from the ADVANCE trial, a randomized multicenter trial of Kyprolis (carfilzomib), Revlimid, and dexamethasone (KRd) with or with out Darzalex in newly identified myeloma. These have been additionally transplant-eligible sufferers, and stem cell assortment was permitted after 4 cycles. On this trial, we noticed a big improve in MRD negativity fee with no new security considerations when utilizing Dara-KRd in contrast with KRd. This gives extra choices for sufferers.
I additionally needed to focus on a 3rd trial right here, MAGNETISM-6 Half 1, which incorporates Elrexfio (elranatamab-bcmm) together with Darzalex and Revlimid in newly identified myeloma sufferers who aren’t eligible for transplant. The outcomes are promising on this research as nicely.
Transferring on to the relapsed/refractory myeloma setting, we had long-term information from the CARTITUDE-1 trial, with greater than 5 years of follow-up. That is really thrilling and has energized the neighborhood. Relapsed/refractory myeloma is a really difficult-to-treat inhabitants; most sufferers on this trial had obtained as much as six strains of remedy, and we all know the prognosis is often very poor for such sufferers. Nevertheless, with CARTITUDE-1, we see that with Carvykti (ciltacabtagene autoleucel; cilta-cel) at 5 years, one-third of the sufferers are nonetheless alive, which is kind of outstanding and thrilling.
Different notable experiences embody the IRMA trial, which reported on giving Sarclisa (isatuximab-irfc) differently, utilizing an on-body injector. That is additionally nice for sufferers. The trial in contrast subcutaneous Sarclisa by way of an on-body supply system versus the standard intravenous (IV) type of Sarclisa, each given with Pomalyst (pomalidomide) and dexamethasone (Pd) within the relapsed/refractory myeloma setting. This was a non-inferiority trial, and we noticed fewer infusion reactions and better affected person satisfaction. This method has the potential to extend observe effectivity and is prone to be adopted in medical observe.
We even have the first-in-human research of JNJ-5322, a novel trispecific antibody in sufferers with relapsed/refractory myeloma. This Part I trial can also be trying promising, one thing to be careful for sooner or later.
Transferring on, I will speak about lymphoma, specializing in the CAR T and cell remedy features. The section 1 research, KITE-363, which is a bicistronic CD19-directed CAR T-cell remedy, was introduced. It confirmed an excellent security and efficacy profile, and we hope this mechanism, and this drug, may emerge sooner or later to enhance outcomes with our presently accessible CAR T therapies. We even have fairly attention-grabbing information on multi-virus particular T cells to reinforce the exercise of bispecific antibodies. Right here, we checked out bispecific antibodies, which presently have the benefit over CAR T of being “off-the-shelf.” Nevertheless, their medical exercise depends on T-cell perform. The addition of multi-virus particular T cells is meant to have elevated cytotoxicity and the flexibility to achieve tissue, basically working synergistically with the bispecifics to extend efficacy.
These are the principle abstracts of curiosity. There’s only one different factor to focus on: there have been two abstracts introduced, one as a poster from the VA (Veterans Affairs), which confirmed that CAR T-cell remedy remains to be not utilized as a lot as we might like in eligible sufferers. It appeared that referral for CAR T was the principle barrier to those sufferers receiving the remedy. One other poster, which I co-authored, checked out optimizing the period of monitoring for CAR T sufferers. It prompt that as an alternative of maintaining sufferers for 4 weeks post-infusion, they could possibly be saved for simply two weeks, since most toxicities happen inside two weeks. This could possibly be practice-changing when it comes to growing entry as nicely.
Sabari: Thanks, Dr. Ahmed. That was an attractive and exhaustive checklist of various abstracts introduced at ASCO 2025. It is nice to listen to that the variety of therapies being developed and permitted for our sufferers with hematologic malignancies. Thanks for becoming a member of us and thanks for imparting your knowledge on our CURE readership. It’s a pleasure to satisfy you.
Ahmed: All proper, thanks. Bye bye.
Transcript has been edited for readability and conciseness.
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