Hello Myeloma community! It is that time of year again – the 64th American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting, being held in New Orleans, LA (NOLA) from December 10-13, 2022. The Support Group Leaders (SGLs) are back at it for the first Hybrid IMF SGLs@ASH. Some of us are attending in-person, and some will be participating remotely. This will be my first in person ASH since the pandemic. Pre-COVID, attendance was reported being around 28,000. That is a lot of people in one place. I will be interested to see what the in-person attendance is with the continued hybrid option.

To be completely transparent, I have mixed feelings about in-person attendance. Having attended the International Myeloma Society meeting in August 2022, held in Los Angeles, CA, I was reminded of how important those in-person connection can be. There is a dynamic that cannot be matched with a virtual attendance. I think we have all learned this over the past two years. A vibrancy and synergy of the “meeting of the minds.” And who wouldn’t want to return to NOLA! New Orleans is a history-rich city with amazing music and food. I still have concerns about COVID, as the virus continues to be present in all communities. I am fully vaccinated, have overcome a COVID infection, but really do not want to get it again. Therefore, masking while indoors seems like a reasonable and simplistic measure to get the best of both worlds – in-person attendance and self-protection.

As in years past, my goal is to keep you updated in “real-time” on what is being presented, and if not real time, then soon thereafter. You can see my posts on Twitter (yes, I am staying on Twitter for now) @IMFnurseMyeloma. I will do my best to share what is being presented. I am interested in “everything myeloma,” but I can only be in one place at a time. Transplant and new therapies continue to draw my attention. I will also focus attention on updates from key trials such as the following:

Griffin (Velcade (bortezomib), Revlimid (lenalidomide), Dexamethasone +/- Darzalex (daratumumab) for Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma (NDMM))

• Paper No: 3238 (Poster presentation)Daratumumab Plus Lenalidomide, Bortezomib, and Dexamethasone (D-RVd) in Transplant-Eligible Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma (NDMM) Patients (pts): Final Analysis of Griffin Among Clinically Relevant Subgroups
  Ajai Chari, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
• Paper No: 473 (oral presentation) Health-Related Quality of Life in Transplant-Eligible Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Treated with Daratumumab, Lenalidomide, Bortezomib, and Dexamethasone: Patient Reported Outcomes from GRIFFIN
  Rebecca Silbermann, MD, MMS, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University

Determination (early versus late transplant)

• Paper No: 4923 (Poster presentation)The Determination Trial Impact on Upfront (vs Delayed) Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Transplant-Eligible Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma
  Brooke Dulka, PhD, Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions
• Paper No: 2110 (Poster presentation)Multivariable Analyses of Prognostic Factors for Progression-Free Survival (PFS) and Complete Response (CR) with Lenalidomide, Bortezomib, and Dexamethasone (RVd) Alone Versus Rvd Plus Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation (ASCT) in Patients (pts) with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma (NDMM) in the Determination Phase 3 Trial
  Hani Hassoun, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Master (Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) status and treatment duration)

• Paper No: 3237 (Poster presentation)Outcomes of MRD-Adapted Treatment Modulation in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Receiving Daratumumab, Carfilzomib, Lenalidomide and Dexamethasone (Dara-KRd) and Autologous Transplantation: Extended Follow up of the Master Trial
  Luciano J. Megala Costa, MD,PhD, University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Paper No: 1930 (Poster presentation)Quadruplet Induction, Autologous Transplantation and Minimal Residual Disease Adapted Consolidation and Treatment Cessation in Older Adults =70y with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma: A Subgroup Analysis of the Master Trial
  Smith Giri, MD, MHS, University of Alabama at Birmingham

There are 10 papers with research updates from the Icelandic myeloma population-based study, iStopMM. Topics cover MGUS, COVID, prevalence, and testing and are of great interest and importance.

When there is “free time,” I love to connect with the other SGLs on a one-on-one basis, get updates on how they are doing, mentor the “newbie” leaders at ASH, and connect with industry partners who graciously support our attendance.

So much to see and learn, so little time. I hope you can take time to follow the IMF SGLs@ASH22 on all forms of social media and at myeloma.org.

A few hashtags(#) to follow on Twitter:

#IMFASH22

#ASH22

#myeloma

#mmsm

Don’t forget to follow the IMF’s main handle on Twitter @IMFMyeloma.

Also, visit the homepage of this site to find the handles of all the SGLs.

And don’t forget to follow me – @IMFnurseMyeloma
Teresa Miceli, RN BSN OCN
Support Group Leader, Nurse Liaison
IMF Nurse Leadership Board