Multiple Myeloma Cure: Expert Hope & Progress
- SANTIAGO,Spain—Hematologists are increasingly optimistic about finding a cure for multiple myeloma,a cancer long considered incurable.
- María Victoria Mateos, president of the SEHH, believes a myeloma cure is within reach.
- Mateos defined a cure as survival matching the average life expectancy for a patient's age and sex at diagnosis, without ongoing treatment.
Discover groundbreaking progress in the fight against multiple myeloma. Spanish hematologists are now seeing hope on the horizon. Their research highlights potential cures for this previously incurable cancer.This article explores new treatment strategies and the critical role of early diagnosis in achieving remission and, potentially, a complete myeloma cure. Dr. María Victoria Mateos emphasizes the importance of innovative drugs,like bispecific antibodies and CAR-T cells,alongside advanced diagnostic tools,in effectively managing the disease. The study also focuses on the National Plan for Advanced Therapies.Gain insights into the latest breakthroughs and the impact of early interventions, potentially extending life for those affected. News Directory 3 brings you expert analysis on these advancements, offering a hopeful look at what’s possible. Discover what’s next in this critical field.
Multiple Myeloma Cure? Spanish Experts See Hope on the Horizon
Updated June 18,2025
SANTIAGO,Spain—Hematologists are increasingly optimistic about finding a cure for multiple myeloma,a cancer long considered incurable. Discussions at the ninth “HematoAvanza” Outreach Conference, hosted by the Spanish Society of hematology and Hemotherapy (SEHH), centered on breakthroughs in treating hematologic disorders, with multiple myeloma taking center stage.
Dr. María Victoria Mateos, president of the SEHH, believes a myeloma cure is within reach. Mateos, who directs the Myeloma Program and Clinical Trials Unit at Salamanca University Hospital, said new therapeutic strategies and early detection are key to achieving functional or complete cures for more patients.
Mateos defined a cure as survival matching the average life expectancy for a patient’s age and sex at diagnosis, without ongoing treatment. While some patients achieve this, others require continuous treatment for what she terms a functional cure or chronic disease management. The challenge, she noted, lies in the disease’s complexity and typical diagnosis in patients older than 65.
According to Mateos, effective early diagnosis and treatment should target healthy, asymptomatic patients and those newly diagnosed. She highlighted innovative drugs like bispecific antibodies and CAR-T cells, along with increasingly sensitive diagnostic tools, as pillars in myeloma management.
Detecting negative minimal residual disease (MRD), where no measurable tumor cells remain, is now a primary goal in clinical trials. Mateos said that sustained absence of measurable residual disease correlates with excellent survival rates. The FDA has approved MRD absence as a drug approval objective, with the European Medicines Agency expected to follow suit.
The PERSEUS trial,evaluating daratumumab,bortezomib,lenalidomide,and dexamethasone combined with transplant,showed a median progression-free survival of 17 years,perhaps exceeding 20 years for patients with good prognoses. Similar combinations yield progression-free survival of 9 to 11 years even for those ineligible for transplants, equating to normal life expectancies in some cases.
Advanced diagnostic tools now enable doctors to detect high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma before symptoms manifest. A Spanish Myeloma Group study revealed that early lenalidomide treatment can delay progression by up to seven years, with about a third of patients achieving sustained MRD negativity.
Mateos emphasized the importance of the National Plan for Advanced Therapies within the Spanish national Health System, calling it crucial for equitable access to innovative treatments for hematological cancers. She advocated for updating the plan to expedite hospital accreditation for administering these treatments, expand cellular therapy indications, and establish lasting financing.
Mateos welcomed