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Multiple Myeloma
The Multiple Myeloma Working Group, funded as an Incubator Program cancer site, consists of two modeling groups and a coordinating center. Multiple myeloma (MM) is a common, incurable hematologic malignancy whose management is extremely costly, with long-established disparities disproportionally inflicting African American populations. However, MM lacks comparative modeling, like the six cancer sites within the CISNET to guide its prevention and control policies. The investigators are developing such modeling to assess the value of guideline-recommended therapies and novel intervention strategies for MM prevention and control across the MM care continuum with the goals of reducing MM burden and disparities.
Investigators
Comparative Modeling of Multiple Myeloma Across Myeloma Control Continuum: Prevention, Treatment, and Disparity Reduction
Grant Number: U01CA265735
Abstract & Aims
Abstract: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a common and lethal hematologic malignancy. Treatments of MM have been rapidly evolving. While these new treatments improve survival considerably, the median survival still ranges from 43-83 months at diagnosis. Among all cancer sites, the management of MM is the most costly, which in part can be attributable to guideline recommended multidrug regimens.
Despite such significant health and economic burdens and rapid changing landscape for MM treatments, MM is not one of the cancer sites in the Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network (CISNET). Therefore, MM lacks comparative modeling to set goals and policy prioritization in MM prevention and control. Moreover, unlike breast cancer or colorectal cancer, there exists no population-based screening for MM or risk managed strategies for those with premalignant conditions (MGUS and smoldering MM).
MM requires comparative modeling to evaluate promising intervention strategies, particularly at premalignant stages. To prevent/control this devastating disease, it is imperative to demonstrate the potentials of these interventions before implementation. Moreover,marked racial disparities in MM (both incidence and survival) is long-established. Without any value-based strategies for prevention and treatment, MM health disparities will continue to worsen.
This Incubator Program will include two modeling groups to conduct comparative modeling under the coordination of the coordinating center. Our Program will evaluate novel strategies in preventing or treating MM with the goals of reducing the burden of MM and mitigating MM disparities. We plan to comparatively build, calibrate, and validate evidence-based MM modeling across the MM care continuum (Aim 1).
Using the proposed comparatively modeling, we will:
- Assess the impacts of novel MM prevention strategies in high-risk patients diagnosed with MGUS (Aim 2);
- Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of novel treatment regimens as well as guideline-recommended treatments in patients diagnosed with MM (Aim 3); and
- Assess whether, under what conditions, and in which ways the goal of eliminating racial disparities can be achieved through the proposed novel intervention strategies (Aim 4).
The proposed MM Incubator Program is significant in its capability to:
- Build evidence-based comparative modeling for MM, a disease area that lacks such modeling, relative to the areas of solid tumors already with such modeling, to guide interventions and policies;
- Provide evidence-based evaluation before implementation of any costly clinical trial;
- Explore novel interventions/treatments at various stages of MM; and
- Examine the value of guideline-recommended therapies, providing evidence to inform changes in guidelines and thus a shift in current clinical practice of MGUS and MM management.
The proposed intervention strategies for MGUS and MM patients are innovative, with the goals to prevent and control MM and reduce MM disparities. Successful completion of this study will provide evidence in tangible metrics to urge a paradigm shift from current MGUS/MM management. It is therefore a vital step to move the field forward.