Myeloma (Canada) Top 10 Priorities

1. How can we cure myeloma?
2. Are novel immunotherapies (e.g., CAR T) effective for the treatment of myeloma?
3. How can we improve the diagnosing (e.g., faster, less invasive) of myeloma, and what is the impact of earlier diagnosis on patient outcomes (e.g., organ damage, bone deterioration)?
4. What are new treatments for myeloma patients that will improve life expectancy with fewer adverse side effects (e.g., pain, nausea, neuropathy, immune suppression)?
5. How can we personalize a patient's treatment based on their type of myeloma and genetic profile, and what is the impact of personalized medicine on treatment efficacy and disease outcomes?
6. How can we prevent bone deterioration and/or repair bones that have been damaged without negative side effects (like those associated with bisphosphonates) or surgery?
7. How can we safely reduce, cycle, or stop the use of medications (e.g., Dexamethasone and Revlimid) to reduce the side effects of treatment and maintain control over myeloma?
8. How can we reduce or manage the short-term effects (e.g., diarrhea, nausea, fatigue, emotional challenges, skin reactions) and long-term effects (e.g., vision loss, loss of muscle strength) of myeloma treatment?
9. What is the most effective way (i.e., drug combinations, sequence, frequency, and intensity) to treat refractory, relapsed, and drug resistant myeloma?
10. Can we develop treatments specifically for high risk or aggressive myeloma that will improve outcomes for these patients?

The following questions were also discussed and put in order of priority at the workshop:

11. What is the impact of physical activity on myeloma symptoms (e.g., bone health), mental health, and outcomes (e.g., treatment response, life expectancy)?
12. What genes are associated with the development of myeloma, and how can genetic testing be incorporated into the diagnosis and treatment of myeloma?
13. What are new ways to monitor and/or treat the initial stages of myeloma (e.g. MGUS and smouldering myeloma) to delay or prevent the development of active myeloma?
14. How can we restore myeloma patients' immune functioning (e.g., IgG treatment) so that they might resume their daily activities (e.g., travel, work) without fear of infections?
15. How can we prevent decline in memory and mental functioning associated with myeloma and its treatment among myeloma patients?
16. How can we prevent and/or manage the neuropathy associated with myeloma and its treatment?
17. How can minimal residual disease testing be applied in myeloma treatment to improve treatment efficacy and prognosis among people with myeloma?
18. What is the risk to blood relatives of people with myeloma, and should they be monitored or tested routinely?
    

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For full details of all of the questions identified by this PSP, please see the document below.