Two phase III trials presented at the 2024 International Myeloma Society Annual Meeting, IFM 2020-02 MIDAS and AURIGA, are advancing the role of measurable residual disease (MRD) in guiding treatment strategies for multiple myeloma. These studies explore MRD-adapted approaches to consolidation and maintenance therapy, respectively, demonstrating the feasibility and clinical benefit of using MRD status to personalize treatment.
IFM2020-02 MIDAS Trial: MRD-Adapted Consolidation
The IFM 2020-02 MIDAS trial investigated an MRD response–adapted strategy for consolidation therapy following induction in transplant-eligible patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. The study, led by Aurore Perrot, MD, PhD, evaluated the quadruplet regimen of isatuximab, carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (Isa-KRd) for induction.
The results showed a 95% overall response rate after induction with Isa-KRd. Notably, MRD-negativity rates were 63% at a sensitivity of 10⁻⁵ and 47% at 10⁻⁶ in the intent-to-treat population. According to Dr. Perrot, these MRD negativity rates are the highest reported to date, comparing favorably to previous trials such as CASSIOPEIA, GRIFFIN, and IsKia. The trial design incorporates risk stratification based on MRD status post-induction, with standard-risk patients randomized to consolidation Isa-KRd with or without autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) followed by lenalidomide maintenance, and high-risk patients randomized to ASCT plus Isa-KRd or tandem ASCT followed by isatuximab plus iberdomide maintenance therapy.
Sagar Lonial, MD, emphasized the importance of the MIDAS trial's novel design, noting that it will set a new standard for future trials by integrating genetics and depth of response to personalize myeloma treatment.
AURIGA Trial: Daratumumab in MRD-Positive Maintenance
The phase III AURIGA trial, presented by Ashraf Badros, MB, ChB, examined the efficacy of subcutaneous daratumumab plus lenalidomide as maintenance therapy in patients who remained MRD-positive after ASCT and consolidation. The study randomized 200 transplant-eligible patients to either daratumumab plus lenalidomide or lenalidomide alone.
The primary endpoint was MRD-negative conversion rate from baseline to 12 months. The combination therapy demonstrated a significantly higher MRD-negative conversion rate compared to lenalidomide alone (50.5% vs 18.8%). Furthermore, the doublet therapy improved progression-free survival, with a hazard ratio of 0.53 (P = .0361). At 32.3 months median follow-up, progression-free survival was 82.7% with the doublet and 66.4% with lenalidomide alone.
Expert Commentary
Luciano J. Costa, MD, PhD, commented on both trials, highlighting the significance of the AURIGA trial in demonstrating the feasibility of conducting trials in an MRD-defined patient population and endorsing MRD positivity as a starting point for therapy even in the absence of disease progression. He noted that AURIGA elegantly demonstrates that treatment augmentation informed by MRD status translates into improvement of clinically meaningful endpoints, such as progression-free survival.
Dr. Costa also emphasized the importance of the MIDAS trial as the first randomized trial to deploy MRD response–adapted therapy, recognizing MRD postinduction as a critical determinant of risk and tailoring treatment decisions based on MRD-defined subsets of patients. He sees this as an important step toward personalized therapy, incorporating MRD in treatment decisions.