Greetings!

I hope you’re enjoying the fall season, finally in full swing. Today I'm pleased to share with you the October edition of Multiple Myeloma Updates.

This month, I’d like to ask you to watch Chapter 9 of our roundtable video discussion, in which we talk about survivorship and the roles of the various interdisciplinary team members. Later, you can watch the whole video to get the benefit of the complete panel discussion.

To help you stay informed, I've gathered some some items from the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2016 Congress held earlier this month in Copenhagen, as well as links to multiple myeloma articles recently published in the peer-reviewed literature.

As always, feel free to share this resource, the video roundtable discussion, and the JADPRO supplement with your colleagues.

Beth Faiman, PhD, APN-BC, AOCN®

Multiple Myeloma Program
Taussig Cancer Institute
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio

Greetings!

It’s back to school time—clean slates and fresh starts. I'm pleased to offer you a resource to help educate yourself about the management of patients with multiple myeloma: the September issue of our Multiple Myeloma Updates series.

This month, I'd like to ask you to watch Chapter 8 of our roundtable discussion, in which the patient we were following develops a vertebral compression fracture. Which imaging modalities are necessary? What interventions should occur? And what is the role of bisphosphonate therapy in this setting?

To help you stay informed, I've gathered some links to MM articles recently published in the peer-reviewed literature. An exciting paper was published in the New England Journal of Medicine this month. The paper reports the results of a study that evaluated the efficacy and safety of the anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody daratumumab in combination with bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone. Be sure to check out the ASCO Post report on this below. 

As always, feel free to share this MM resource, the video roundtable discussion, and the JADPRO supplement with your colleagues.

Beth Faiman, PhD, APN-BC, AOCN®

Multiple Myeloma Program
Taussig Cancer Institute
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio

Greetings!

I’m pleased to introduce you to the August issue of Multiple Myeloma Updates for Advanced Practitioners in Oncology.

We’re fortunate to have a host of treatment options for our patients, who will likely relapse several times during their MM journey. But how do we determine the best course of treatment at relapse, and how do we assure patients that they are indeed receiving the best therapy for their particular situation?

Today I’d like to ask you to watch Chapter 7 from our video roundtable discussion, which focuses on just that: choosing the right treatment for the right patient. Watch the whole video to hear the complete panel discussion.

To help you stay informed, I've gathered some links to MM articles recently published in the peer-reviewed literature, as well as some more news items from the ASCO Annual Meeting in Chicago.

As always, feel free to share this MM resource, the video roundtable discussion, and the JADPRO supplement with your colleagues.

Beth Faiman, PhD, APN-BC, AOCN®

Multiple Myeloma Program
Taussig Cancer Institute
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio

Greetings!

Welcome to the July issue of Multiple Myeloma Updates for Advanced Practitioners in Oncology.

Today I want to ask you to watch Chapter 6 from our video roundtable discussion, which focuses on the different roles played by multidisciplinary team members and patients in the shared decision-making process. Dr. Tariman stresses that clinicians need to be vigilant about staying informed and educated in order to best guide patients in making perhaps the most important decisions they’ll ever have to face. Watch the whole video to hear the complete panel discussion.

To help you stay informed, I’ve gathered some links to MM articles recently published in the peer-reviewed literature and other news items from last month’s ASCO Annual Meeting in Chicago.

As always, feel free to share this MM resource, the video roundtable discussion, and the JADPRO supplement with your colleagues.


Beth Faiman, PhD, APN-BC, AOCN®

Multiple Myeloma Program
Taussig Cancer Institute
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio

Greetings!

Welcome to the June issue of Multiple Myeloma Updates for Advanced Practitioners in Oncology.

If you attended the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago earlier this month, you surely walked away with some new perspectives. I’ve selected some highlights from ASCO for the “In the News” section, including several video clips and interviews with key investigators filmed on site in Chicago, as well as some interesting recently published articles for the “In the Literature” section.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to highlight Chapter 5 from our video roundtable, which focuses on determining a patient’s suitability for transplant in the up-front setting and the importance of good screening procedures. Take a look at this short clip when you have a few minutes, then watch the whole video to hear the whole discussion.

As always, feel free to share this MM resource, the video roundtable discussion, and the JADPRO supplement with your colleagues.

Beth Faiman, PhD, APN-BC, AOCN®

Multiple Myeloma Program
Taussig Cancer Institute
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio

Greetings!

Welcome to the May issue of Multiple Myeloma Updates for Advanced Practitioners in Oncology.

Many of you may be gearing up to attend the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting early next month. In the next newsletter, I look forward to having some interesting new data to share after key results are presented in Chicago. In the meantime, I’ve selected some recent articles about MM in the news and in the literature to add to this treatment resource.

I would particularly like to share with you the results of a large phase III study comparing the all-oral regimen of ixazomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (IRd) to lenalidomide and dexamethasone (Rd) alone in patients who have received 1 to 3 prior therapies to treat MM, recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine by Moreau and colleagues. Among the 722 patients enrolled, there was a progression-free survival advantage in those who received IRd vs. Rd (20.6 vs. 14.7 months, respectively). Thus, IRd can be considered an effective treatment option for patients who have received one prior therapy for MM.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to highlight Chapter 4 from our video roundtable, which focuses on the importance of monitoring and education for patients with MM. As anyone who works in the MM setting knows, commitment from the patient and his or her family members, as well as from the care team, optimizes the chances for success. Take a look at this short clip when you have a few minutes, then watch the whole video to hear the whole discussion.

As always, feel free to share this MM resource, the video roundtable discussion, and the JADPRO MM supplement with your colleagues.

Beth Faiman, PhD, APN-BC, AOCN®

Multiple Myeloma Program
Taussig Cancer Institute
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio

Greetings!

Welcome to the April installment of Multiple Myeloma Updates for Advanced Practitioners in Oncology.

This month, JNCCN—Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, which is published by Harborside Press (the publisher of JADPRO), focuses its Guidelines Insights feature on the recent changes to the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in multiple myeloma. It’s only April, and we already have version 3.2016 as the most recent guideline, with additional revisions in process! These numerous updates—including changes to the diagnosis and management of myeloma as well as to the art of treatment and monitoring—reflect the rapidly changing landscape of this disease.

I’ve selected some interesting articles about MM in the news and in the literature to add to this growing resource, which I hope you find to be a valuable collection of information.

In this month's newsletter, our video roundtable focuses on treatment selection and risk stratification for patients with MM. This portion of our roundtable includes important information about the influential SWOG 0777 trial. At just under three and a half minutes, it is well worth your valuable time.

As always, feel free to share this MM resource, the video roundtable discussion, and the JADPRO supplement with your colleagues.

Beth Faiman, PhD, APN-BC, AOCN

Multiple Myeloma Program
Taussig Cancer Institute
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio

Greetings!

At this time, I’m pleased to share with you the March installment of Multiple Myeloma Updates for Advanced Practitioners in Oncology.

As we begin to enjoy the long-awaited coming of spring and all of its newness and promise of hope, we’re also in the midst of Myeloma Awareness Month. In this month of education and dissemination of information on multiple myeloma (MM), I’m so pleased to announce the publication of a brand new supplement to the Journal of the Advanced Practitioner in Oncology (JADPRO), entitled The Advanced Practitioner’s Guide to Multiple Myeloma.

This 3.0 CME/CE/CEU-accredited supplement to JADPRO is a comprehensive resource for advanced practitioners that was jointly provided by the International Myeloma Foundation, the Annenberg Center for Health Sciences at Eisenhower, and JADPRO. It was developed by the members of the International Myeloma Foundation Nurse Leadership Board, whose primary mission is understanding and developing strategies to address the unmet needs of MM patients and their caregivers. As a founding member of the Nurse Leadership Board, I'm proud to have contributed to this supplement. 

Don’t miss the foreword by Guest Editor Sandra Kurtin, RN, MSN, AOCN, ANP-C, of the University of Arizona Cancer Center, aptly titled, “The Future Is Bright.”

As in previous months, I’ve also collected several links to articles about MM in the news and in the literature. Again, I urge you to watch the informative video roundtable discussion that my colleagues and I recorded at the ASH meeting in Orlando.

In the spirit of Myeloma Awareness Month, feel free to share this MM resource, the video roundtable discussion, and the JADPRO supplement with your colleagues.

Happy spring!

Beth Faiman, PhD, APN-BC, AOCN
Multiple Myeloma Program
Taussig Cancer Institute
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio

Greetings!

Welcome to the latest installment of Multiple Myeloma Updates for Advanced Practitioners in Oncology. Last month, I had the pleasure of sharing with you the video roundtable discussion that my colleagues and I recorded at the ASH annual meeting in December. I hope that you enjoyed the video and were able to come away from it with an increased understanding of the current MM landscape as well as several clinical pearls. 

This month, I’ve assembled some links to MM in the news and in the published literature.  In particular, take a look at the article from The ASCO Post entitled, “Multiple Myeloma in 2015: A Year for the Record Books,” which nicely summarizes and contextualizes the exciting FOUR practice-changing drug approvals that we saw in 2015--three of which came through in November alone! 

If you missed it last month or are new to the newsletter, don’t forget to check out the video roundtable. You can also access links from past newsletters on the website. 

As always, feel free to share this resource with your colleagues, and don’t hesitate to contact me with suggestions, comments, or questions.

Beth Faiman, PhD, APN-BC, AOCN
Editor
Nurse Practitioner
Multiple Myeloma Program
Taussig Cancer Institute
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio

This month in Multiple Myeloma Updates for Advanced Practitioners in Oncology, I'm excited to share a video roundtable discussion that my colleagues Ali McBride, PharmD, Sagar Lonial, MD, and Joseph Tariman, ANP-BC, PhD, and I recorded during the December 2015 American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting in Orlando. We talked about key factors in implementing a collaborative approach to managing multiple myeloma. We found that we all had a lot to contribute, each with a unique perspective. I hope you take the time to watch the video and learn some new things that you will find of value in your practice.
 
In addition to the video, I'd also like to share several abstracts from recently published articles I think you might be interested in, as well as some of the most noteworthy abstracts that were presented at the ASH meeting.
 
I hope you find this second installment of Multiple Myeloma Updates to be a helpful resource. Please feel free to share with your colleagues, and let us know if you have any comments or questions.
 
All the best for a happy and healthy 2016!
 
Beth Faiman, PhD, APN-BC, AOCN
Editor
Nurse Practitioner
Multiple Myeloma Program
Taussig Cancer Institute
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio

In 2016, more than 27,000 adults in the US will be diagnosed with multiple myeloma (MM). Although MM remains an incurable disease, the encouraging news is that between 2000 and 2009 there was a 73% increase in survivors. However, despite recent advances, MM continues to be a challenge for health care professionals to control. Because MM displays considerable heterogeneity, loss of control of the disease in the form of relapse is becoming more commonplace. To counteract this, newer management approaches such as collaborative practice, risk strategy, and individualized therapy are essential. 

Thus, JADPRO—Journal of the Advanced Practitioner in Oncology presents Multiple Myeloma Updates, a monthly educational newsletter. Editorial content will be provided by practicing physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists with expertise in the diagnosis and management of MM. I hope you find this to be a useful resource in your practice!

Beth Faiman, PhD, APN-BC, AOCN
Editor
Nurse Practitioner
Multiple Myeloma Program
Taussig Cancer Institute
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio