Podcast: Multidisciplinary Task Force and Position Statement: Mitigating Disease Burden and Health Care Disparities in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma

STATEMENT OF NEED

With the complex and rapidly evolving treatment landscape of multiple myeloma, it is vital that clinicians not only understand factors for informing selection of current and emerging combination and sequential therapeutic strategies, but also employ interdisciplinary strategies for reducing disparities in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma care. The development of novel therapeutic options has significantly improved treatment outcomes for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma; however, many patients face barriers to timely and appropriate treatment, including racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in health care delivery and services. While Black patients with multiple myeloma are more likely to have a lower-risk genetic profile, multiple myeloma remains twice as deadly in Black patients compared with White patients. Both Black and Hispanic patients experience a longer time from diagnosis to novel therapy initiation compared with non-Hispanic White patients, and they are also less likely to receive autologous stem cell transplant. Additionally, Black and Hispanic patients, as well as patients who are older or live in rural areas, are underrepresented in clinical trials of novel therapies, creating a poor reflection of the real-world patient population (Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 2023). In order to provide optimal health care delivery, this Multiple Myeloma Task Force podcast will provide a consensus opinion on mitigating disease burden and health care disparities in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. It features perspectives from Task Force Co-Chairs: Sikander Ailawadhi, MD, Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic and Rahul Banerjee, MD, FACP, Assistant Professor of Medical Oncology at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and the University of Washington.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Hematology/oncology physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants/associates, oncology nurses, patient advocates, and other health care professionals involved in the management of patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.