Myeloma Crowd: Syed Abbas Ali, MD, Johns Hopkins

When should myeloma vaccines be used for patients? Dr. Syed Abbas Ali, MD of Johns Hopkins Medicine joins Myeloma Crowd Radio to share how post-treatments vaccines could be used to extend remissions after stem cell transplant or when patients are on maintenance and their myeloma is under control. 

Dr. Ali shares his open GVAX vaccine study for patients who have low risk myeloma or reasonably controlled myeloma. The vaccine is given to patients in combination with lenalidomide (Revlimid). The goal is to prevent myeloma from coming back and to teach the immune system to kill what might be left following traditional therapy. With this vaccine, some patients can experience a deeper remission and have a longer progression free survival. 

Learn more about how vaccines can be used to improve immune system surveillance and boost immune cell functions in this important show.  

Thanks to our episode sponsor, Bristol Myers Squibb