New hope for multiple myeloma patients as breakthrough treatment becomes available

Treatment options for patients with the deadly disease, the second most common form of blood cancer, have traditionally been limited to chemotherapy, immunotherapy or a stem cell transplant.

While many patients on these treatments have commonly relapsed within twelve months, CAR-T has shown strong results in clinical trials. Despite this, few patients have been able to access the new treatment unless recruited to these limited trials.

For trial participant Cam Johnston, 58, access to a CAR-T trial saved his life, after being critically unwell and exhausting treatment options.

"Before the trial, the disease took a toll. It was a long three years,” said the Brisbane entrepreneur and Alfred patient.

“While I tried to stay positive, I was in and out of hospital, really unwell and close to the end.”

In early 2024, Cam was offered one of only 10 places available on a year-long worldwide CAR-T trial for adults whose multiple myeloma had relapsed or was not responding to other treatments.
 
Within six months his specialists at The Alfred saw promising results and, after two years of completing the treatment, he remains cancer free.

“I always believed it would work but, when the results came in, it didn’t just feel like I was given more time, I was given my whole life back.”

Blood cancer specialists have welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement that eligible Australians with multiple myeloma will now have access to the therapy as part of their care – currently only offered at The Alfred and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.

“For a long time, myeloma has been considered incurable,” said Prof Andrew Spencer, Head of the Malignant Haematology, Transplantation and Cellular Therapies Service at The Alfred.

“While recent advances in immunotherapies have delivered encouraging results, many patients whose disease returns still face limited choices.”

“Making this therapy available to Australian patients with relapsed myeloma represents a potentially game‑changing step forward. It brings real hope for patients and families and is a significant milestone in our ongoing effort to improve outcomes for people living with myeloma.”

CAR-T involves taking a patient’s own blood, extracting the T-cells (a type of white blood cell) and genetically altering the T-cell to attack cancerous cells once the T-cells are infused back into the patient’s body.

While CAR-T cell therapy may not be the best option for all patients, it is already used widely and available to treat a range of other blood cancers, including mantle cell lymphoma and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Patients should discuss treatment options with their clinician.

See the Australian Government announcement for more: www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-mark-butler-mp/media/free-multiple-myeloma-therapy-now-available