Early relapse portends poor prognosis regardless of baseline risk
Functional high-risk (FHR) multiple myeloma (MM)—defined as relapse within 12 months of initial therapy or stem cell transplant—is associated with poor outcomes. In a retrospective analysis of the CoMMpass dataset published in Cancer Medicine, patients with FHR had similar overall survival regardless of baseline risk. IMS’ 4^th Annual Genomics Workshop (July 10–11, 2026; Warsaw, Poland) will highlight FHR and ultrahigh-risk MM.

Blood-based immune profiling may help identify functionally high-risk SMM
Among patients with smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM), those with early progression to active multiple myeloma (MM) had a more differentiated T cell phenotype, corresponding to a population of exhausted effector T cells, than those who did not progress to MM (median follow-up, 8.9 years). These findings were reported in the Blood Cancer Journal.

Early evidence shows potential of cell-free DNA-based MRD detection  
Bone marrow-based minimal residual disease (MRD) detection is the current standard of care. Preliminary findings, per a report in the Blood Cancer Journal, show that sequencing uniquely rearranged B-cell receptor genes in cell-free DNA from peripheral blood could help monitor MRD. Also, blood- and bone marrow-based MRD assessments were concordant.

Review explores the role of technological innovations in MM care
Technological advances may enable minimally invasive approaches for diagnosing MM and monitoring response to therapy. A review published in Cancers (Basel) explores the potential of newer technologies, such as mass spectrometry, circulating tumor cell assays, cell-free DNA sequencing, and multimodal AI models, in MM care, as well as implementation challenges.

IEC-enterocolitis is a high-morbidity complication of anti-BCMA CAR-T
A multicenter case series reported in the Blood Cancer Journal outlined the timing, clinical course, and outcomes of IEC-associated enterocolitis (IEC-EC) in anti-BCMA CAR-T therapy recipients with RRMM. In this setting, IEC-EC was associated with high morbidity, characterized by extended, often steroid-refractory diarrhea, and frequent hospitalizations.

Both patients and physicians consider PFS a valuable endpoint
While overall survival (OS) remains the gold standard for assessing long-term safety and efficacy in clinical trials, there is increasing recognition that earlier surrogate endpoints are needed in the context of prolonged survival with newer MM therapies. An observational study conducted across eight countries in four continents found that while patients and physicians continued to value OS, they also considered PFS a valuable endpoint for choosing new MM treatments. The study findings were published in Clinical Lymphoma, Myeloma & Leukemia.