Smoldering Multiple Myeloma: A Multi-Country Mixed-Methods Study on Disease Perceptions and Patient Treatment Preferences

Speaker(s)

Quaife M1, Jimenez-Moreno C1, Gros Otero B2, Asra A3, Gupta-Werner N4, Gries KS5, Leisten MK6, Matt K5, Carson R7, Dennis R8, He J5, Levitan B9, Bathija S5
1Patient Centred Research, Evidera, London, UK, 2Johnson and Johnson, Madrid, Spain, 3Janssen-Cilag, High Wycombe, UK, 4Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC., Horsham, PA, USA, 5Janssen Global Services, Raritan, NJ, USA, 6Janssen-Cilag GmbH, Neuss, Germany, 7Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Raritan, NJ, USA, 8Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Lanoka Harbor, NJ, USA, 9Janssen R&D, Titusville, NJ, USA

Presentation Documents

OBJECTIVES: To understand perceptions and treatment preferences of patients with current or previously diagnosed high-risk smouldering multiple myeloma (SMM), and to estimate the minimum progression-free survival (PFS) required to accept treatment burden.

METHODS: This mixed-methods study combined individual qualitative semi-structured interviews with a quantitative thresholding exercise. Interviews explored symptoms experienced, mental and physical impacts of SMM, and awareness and expectations of SMM treatments. An online thresholding exercise presented treatment and no-treatment alternatives to elicit the PFS threshold required for SMM patients to accept a treatment with 42% any-grade side effects risk that would go away untreated, with additional treatment or with treatment discontinuation, and three years of varying-frequency subcutaneous injections. The study interviewed 50 participants from US, France, Italy, and Spain.

RESULTS: Almost all participants 92% (n=46) reported worry and anxiety about SMM symptom burden and progression. The most frequently reported symptoms were fatigue (68%, n=34) and pain (56%, n=28); only 20% (n=10) reported no symptoms. Only 12% (n=6) had treatment experience during the SMM stage, and of those naive to treatment, 70% were not treated due to physician recommendations that treatment was not needed, burdensome, or not available. Eleven participants (22%) reported expecting to be fully ‘cured’ if treated, but delaying SMM progression was consistently highlighted as an important treatment outcome. The median minimum acceptable PFS for the given treatment profile was 60 months (IQR:42-99). Patients more open to starting a treatment before progression to MM reported a lower minimum acceptable PFS than those preferring to wait (55 vs 75 months).

CONCLUSIONS: Fatigue and pain cause substantial burden for SMM patients, alongside anxiety and worry about progression. Most patients are willing to receive treatment to delay progression and reduce symptomatic burden.

Code

PCR141

Topic

Patient-Centered Research

Topic Subcategory

Patient Engagement, Stated Preference & Patient Satisfaction

Disease

No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, Oncology