Starting a new year with hope for myeloma treatment
2025 ended with talk of a possible 'functional cure'
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I’m writing this a few days after the end of ASH 2025, the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology. As I mentioned in a previous column, more than 8,000 abstracts were presented at the gathering, held Dec. 6-9 in Orlando, Florida.
Those who cover multiple myeloma news are still sorting through a lot of information. I’ve been poring over lots of medical news to see what I might want to discuss at my next meeting with my oncologist.
I’m particularly excited about one late-breaking abstract about treatment for relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. Though I’m nearly six years into a stringent complete response, and my labs are still good, I know relapse is much more a matter of “when” than “if,” and I regularly talk to my doctor about our relapse plan. So I’m always happy to see new tools in the myeloma toolbox.
In this case, the tools aren’t new, but the MajesTEC-3 trial is looking at them in a new combination. “TEC” is for teclistamab, a bispecific antibody approved as Tecvayli by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration a few years ago. In one set of patients, the researchers paired it with the monoclonal antibody daratumumab. All study participants had previously received one to three lines of therapy for myeloma; those who had received only one line were required to be refractory, or nonresponsive, to lenalidomide — just like I am!
Exciting results
The researchers found that patients receiving the teclistamab-daratumumab combination had “significantly improved progression-free survival” than those in the other groups. MedPage Today quotes one researcher as saying that this result suggests the “potential for functional cure.”
Cure.
I’ve always said I fully intend to live until there’s a cure.
The International Myeloma Foundation defines three levels of cure. Functional cure is a prolonged remission, with some myeloma still remaining. This is the level the MajesTEC-3 researchers were talking about. Then there’s normal relative survival, where you’re in remission and live as long as you might have done otherwise.
True cure is the eventual goal. I have even more reasons to be optimistic about seeing us reach it.
More reasons for hope
Earlier this month, Rare Cancer News shared a report from the Berenson Cancer Center in California about its “unprecedented” cancer survival rate for patients, which researchers said was the longest ever reported. This was just one of many positive developments for myeloma patients in 2025. A September headline announced, “Survival time for myeloma patients nearly doubled since 2005.”
Granted, the next line cautions, “But lead researcher in real-world study says survival still ‘devastatingly low.’”
The report from the United Kingdom found an average survival time of 4.5 years for individuals diagnosed in 2019 — just like me! That study seems to suggest the odds are against me, but as Han Solo said, “Never tell me the odds!”
Instead, tell me what gives you hope as we head into 2026. Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Note: Rare Cancer News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Rare Cancer News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to rare cancer.
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