‘Eradication of multiple myeloma?’ Phase 2 trials haven’t even started

Does the news release adequately discuss the costs of the intervention?

Not Satisfactory

In some experiments, it may be too early to discuss treatment costs, but this trial involves drugs that are all already approved for other uses, which means their prices are known. Also, while trial participants typically are not charged for experimental drugs, in this case it appears they will be billed for many treatment costs… and there would likely be costs for some (including travel and  lodging) that insurance would not cover. In fact, the lead investigator acknowledged the costs when asked in an interview about what patients should know about the trial:

“[T]he study, like any other clinical trials, that our components are considered standard of care and they are charged to the patient or to the insurance. For example, the costs of seeing the doctor, the cost of doing the main test for a traditional disease assessment, the cost of stem cell transplant, but there are components that are considered experimental and are covered by the study, in this case, the daratumumab, the carfilzomib and the MRD testing by itself.”

The release should have also noted these costs.

Does the news release adequately quantify the benefits of the treatment/test/product/procedure?

Not Satisfactory

By definition, the benefits of an experimental treatment are unknown. The release should not dangle the potential of unproven benefits, including eradicating multiple myeloma, without acknowledging that this experimental treatment may turn out to be no better, or even less beneficial, than standard treatments. In the interview mentioned above, the lead investigator noted, “There is no proof that a new therapy is better, otherwise would be no need for the clinical trial.” The release should have included that fundamental caveat.

We think it’s important to stress that a trial to determine the best therapy would ideally compare National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommended treatments such as revlimid, dexamethasone and velcade with a proposed therapy.

Does the news release adequately explain/quantify the harms of the intervention?

Not Satisfactory

There is no mention of risks or harms of the experimental approach, but part of the function of a phase 2 trial is to evaluate harms. Not only does each drug in the experimental cocktail include its own risks (including increased risk of heart attack and stroke, nerve damage, blood clots, low white blood cell and platelet counts, fatal spikes in blood pressure), but the effect of the combination of drugs could exacerbate the harms or even create new ones. While multiple myeloma patients may be aware of and acknowledge the risks of individual drugs as part of standard treatment, the unknowns of the experimental drug combination should have been pointed out in the release.

Does the news release seem to grasp the quality of the evidence?

Not Satisfactory

Although the news release notes that this is a phase 2 clinical trial, it should have pointed out that because the trial does not directly compare the experimental treatment to standard care, another (phase 3) trial will be needed to test whether the experimental approach is better (or worse) than standard care.

Does the news release commit disease-mongering?

Not Satisfactory

The release cites an accurate number of new multiple myeloma cases (more than 25,000/year), but the lead phrase “Multiple myeloma is the second most common type of blood cancer in the United States” creates an exaggerated impression. The American Cancer Society calls multiple myeloma “a relatively uncommon cancer.” The ACS estimates it accounts for about 2 percent of all cancer cases and deaths.

Does the news release identify funding sources & disclose conflicts of interest?

Not Satisfactory

The release reports that this trial is supported by Amgen and Janssen, makers of two of the drugs it uses. (Executives at Janssen may not be happy that the release misspelled the company’s name as “Janseen”.) The disclosure would have been more complete if it had noted that the lead investigator, Luciano Costa, MD, PhD, has also received speaking fees and other personal payments from Amgen and Celgene (which sells another one of the drugs being tested).

Does the news release compare the new approach with existing alternatives?

Not Satisfactory

The release repeatedly touts the promise that this experimental therapy will prove to be superior to standard treatments, without clearly stating that even after this trial is done the answer to that fundamental question won’t be known, because there is no direct comparison. What’s more, the release highlights problems with and risks of standard care, even as it neglects the potential risks of the experimental treatment.

Does the news release establish the true novelty of the approach?

Not Satisfactory

Most readers of this release will get the impression that this trial is unique, when actually several groups are testing the same drug combination. The release highlights the researchers’ plan to use “next generation sequencing technology to detect minimal residual disease” (MRD) and to use those MRD results to guide treatment. There is much discussion of using MRD to monitor response to therapy but it is certainly not ready for widespread use.

Some of the other similar trials also track minimal residual disease, though a quick review of trial descriptions on www.ClinicalTrials.gov does not make clear whether this trial is unique in using the MRD test results to guide treatment decisions or whether this feature is important.

Similar trials include:

A Study of Daratumumab in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma

Daratumumab, Carfilzomib, Lenalidomide and Low Dose Dexamethasone (DKRd) in Newly Diagnosed, Multiple Myeloma

Selinexor and Backbone Treatments of Multiple Myeloma Patients

Aggressive Smoldering Curative Approach Evaluating Novel Therapies and Transplant

2015-12: A Study Exploring the Use of Early and Late Consolidation/Maintenance Therapy

Does the news release include unjustifiable, sensational language, including in the quotes of researchers?

Not Satisfactory

A quote from the lead investigator captures how this release dangles promises that go well beyond the evidence:

“I believe for the first time that we have treatments that are effective enough to make it possible to eradicate multiple myeloma definitively in a substantial proportion of patients, along with having the technology to detect that the disease has been targeted and that treatment can be stopped,” said Luciano Costa, M.D., Ph.D.

In the interview noted above, Costa was careful to note that there is no proof this approach is better than existing treatments. The release should have highlighted similar basic caveats.