OBJECTIVES: Understanding symptomatic multiple myeloma (MM) patient management, treatment patterns and outcomes in real-world practice in Romania and Poland.

METHODS: Data were collected through a cross-sectional (X) and retrospective (R) chart review (June/15–June/16) by oncologists/haematologists managing ≥15 symptomatic MM patients per month and responsible for treatment initiation. The X-phase collected clinical characteristics and treatment for MM patients seen during a 3–4 week time-frame. The R-phase recorded disease characteristics, including treatment response and duration. Each physician included patients who completed within 3 months the following lines of therapy: 3 first-line (1L) patients, 4 second-line (2L) patients and 7 third-line or later (3L+) patients. Analyses were descriptive.

RESULTS: The X-phase included 158 and 60 patients in Romania and Poland respectively, of whom 56% and 52% were <65 years. 72% of patients in Romania and 85% in Poland were currently undergoing treatment: in Romania, 1L, 2L and 3L+ treatments were mainly bortezomib-based (67%, 81% and 57% respectively); in Poland, 1L treatments were bortezomib and thalidomide-based (each 39%), while 2L and 3L+ regimens were mainly bortezomib (50%) and lenalidomide-based (70%). The R-phase included 52 patients in Romania and 55 in Poland; 60% and 49%, respectively, were <65 years. Physician-assessed depth of response decreased in later lines: 44% and 42% of patients in Romania and Poland achieved at least a very good partial response (≥VGPR) in 1L, while 21% and 16% of patients achieved ≥VGPR in 3L+. Median treatment durations across lines in Romania and Poland were 6 months each for bortezomib-based regimens, 12 and 6 months for lenalidomide-based regimens, and 5 and 7 months for thalidomide-based regimens.

CONCLUSIONS: Low response rates from 2L onwards and short median treatment duration suggest a need for more innovative and effective treatments and treatment combinations in both countries, to help avoid potential re-treatment with same agent and associated cumulative toxicities.