CD38 expression in T-cell subset may help identify functional high-risk myeloma
Currently there are no markers for identifying functional high-risk (FHR) multiple myeloma (MM) — disease that relapses within 18–24 months of treatment initiation, despite lacking baseline molecular or clinical risk factors. A study reported in Blood Neoplasia found that expression of CD38 on CD8+ effector memory T-cells may define an immunophenotype predictive of FHR MM. FHR MM, along with ultra high-risk MM, are in the spotlight at the 4^th Annual IMS Genomics Workshop, being held July 10-11, 2026.

New analyses in CASSIOPEIA patients uncover insights on risk stratification
In the two-part phase 3 randomized CASSIOPEIA trial, addition of daratumumab (Dara) to bortezomib-thalidomide-dexamethasone (VTd)-based induction and consolidation and as maintenance therapy improved progression-free survival (PFS). Transcriptomic profiling and RNA sequencing-based analyses in CASSIOPEIA trial participants sheds new light on improved outcome prognostication.

• A report published in Blood Cancer Journal showed that patients who received Dara in ≥1 treatment phase could be stratified into different risk groups based on transcriptomic profiles, providing prognostic information beyond that of minimal residual disease (MRD)-negativity in the setting of high-risk disease.

• The t(11;14) translocation, a common cytogenetic alteration in MM, is associated with overexpression of the cyclin D1 gene (CCND1). Patients with t(11;14)-positive MM in CASSIOPEIA with upregulated CCND1 obtained similar outcomes to those without these changes, despite achieving lower MRD‑negativity rates and slower responses. The findings, published in Blood Cancer Journal, highlight the importance of considering both genomic profiles and MRD status in risk-adapted myeloma treatment

CMS issues permanent billing code for belantamab mafodotin
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in the United States granted a permanent billing code for belantamab mafodotin, an antibody-drug conjugate approved as part of combination regimens for treating patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM), according to a press release. The permanent billing code can help streamline reimbursement and ease administrative burden.

Doublet maintenance after transplant improves real-world survival outcomes
Although lenalidomide maintenance after autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) is the current standard of care, alternate maintenance strategies may help improve outcomes. According to a propensity score matching-based retrospective analysis, doublet-based maintenance improved event-free and overall survival in a real-world cohort of 410 patients who underwent ASCT, compared to maintenance therapy with lenalidomide alone. The study was published in Bone Marrow Transplantation.

IRF2 identified as an essential driver of myeloma pathogenesis
According to a study published in Blood, interferon regulatory factor 2 (IRF2), a transcription factor previously shown to be critical for maintaining MM cell fitness, drives myeloma pathogenesis by suppressing necroptosis and promoting cell migration. IRF2 may be an early player in the pathogenic process, as IRF2-dependent transcriptional dysregulation was also detected in MM precursor conditions.