Treatment landscape and disease burden of patients with multiple myeloma in Japan: a real-world survey

AimMultiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological malignancy associated with poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Safe and effective treatments for MM are limited. There is a need for real-world data to improve understanding of treatment patterns and sequencing in routine clinical practice in Japan. This study evaluated disease burden, treatment patterns, treatment sequencing, and reasons for treatment selection in patients with MM in Japan.MethodsThis analysis used survey data of hematologists or hemato-oncologists and their adult patients with MM who received active treatment in a real-world setting in Japan between September 2022 and May 2023. Treatment and retreatment patterns and data from several validated patient reported outcome tools were analyzed. Formal sample size calculations were not applicable.ResultsFifty-one physicians provided data for 309 patients, of whom 52 completed a quality-of-life survey (median [interquartile range] overall health status by EQ-5D-3L questionnaire: 0.7 [0.6-1.0]). Of 309 patients, most (77%) of the first-line cohort received a lenalidomide-based therapy. Lenalidomide retreatment was common in patients with relapsed/refractory MM (80%).ConclusionPoor HRQoL and high retreatment rates indicate a need for new therapy options in patients with MM in Japan. These findings may guide healthcare policies and clinical practice in Japan.