Standardized definitions for transplant-ineligibility in myeloma are needed
Autologous stem cell transplantation has remained a standard-of-care in the newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) setting for several decades, even as the role of transplant in MM care continues to evolve with the introduction of highly efficacious new therapies. A systematic review published in the British Journal of Haematology highlighted the variability in transplant-ineligibility criteria used across randomized controlled trials, as well as low reporting rates for frailty tools.

 ASCO and Cancer Care Ontario publish myeloma treatment guidelines
Updated myeloma clinical practice guidelines from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and Cancer Care Ontario were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. These updates address four key domains: therapeutic decision-making in smoldering myeloma; considerations around transplant-eligibility and post-transplant consolidation/maintenance therapy; treatment of transplant-ineligible patients with NDMM; and treatment of relapsed/refractory myeloma.

Bispecific combination therapy demonstrates promise in extramedullary myeloma
Extramedullary myeloma—soft tissue plasmacytomas resulting from hematogenous spread of myeloma cells—is an aggressive disease associated with high relapse risk and poor prognosis. In a cohort of patients with drug-resistant true extramedullary myeloma treated with teclistamab and talquetamab in the phase 2 RedirecTT-1 trial, most (79%) had a response with the combination therapy. These findings were reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Stem cell boost can help mitigate immune effector cell-associated hematotoxicity
Hematologic adverse effects following chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, classified recently as immune effector cell-associated hematotoxicity (ICAHT), are common and challenging to manage. A review published in Expert Review of Hematology outlines the current landscape of ICAHT and the role of stem cell boost as a strategy for improving outcomes for CAR-T therapy-treated patients with prolonged ICAHT.

Higher non-clonal plasma cell fraction at diagnosis associated with improved NDMM outcomes
Non-clonal plasma cell fraction (NCPF) may represent a novel biomarker prognostic of immune health in patients with NDMM, according to a retrospective analysis published in Blood Cancer Journal. Patients with higher NCPF had lower bone marrow clonal plasma cell burden, which translated to improved overall and progression-free survival, compared to those with low NCPF.

Regulatory application submitted to extend indication for teclistamab-daratumumab combination therapy
An application to extend the indication for teclistamab in combination with subcutaneous daratumumab for treating patients with relapsed/refractory MM has been submitted to the European Medicines Agency, based on data from the phase 3 MajesTEC-3 study. The study findings were presented in December 2025 at the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting, and the full report was published simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine.