Posted: Wednesday, November 12, 2025
In a prospective study performed by Ioannis Ntanasis-Stathopoulos of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and colleagues, sequential whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WBMRI) was evaluated in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM). The findings, which were presented during the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2025 (Abstract 1244MO), suggest that sequential imaging may complement standard serum-based disease response assessments and provide earlier insights into treatment outcomes.
The study included 93 patients (median age = 69 years) who underwent WBMRI at diagnosis, 2 months, and 1 year after treatment initiation. At baseline, 56 patients (60%) exhibited a focal disease pattern, while normal, diffuse, and mixed patterns were observed in 18 (19.3%), 11 (11.8%), and 8 (8.7%) patients, respectively. After 2 months, 82 patients (92.5%) had achieved at least partial remission (PR). Imaging-based responses were: 7% complete response (CR), 44.1% near-CR, and 17.2% PR. At a median follow-up of 6.2 months, 4 patients had disease progression and 4 had died.
At the 1-year mark, 34 patients underwent a third scan. Of these, 16 patients (47.1%) had achieved CR and 11 (32.4%) near-CR. Baseline imaging patterns were significantly associated with subsequent imaging response at both timepoints, but not with serum response levels. Notably, new fractures developed in 14% of patients at 2 months, likely reflecting preexisting skeletal fragility rather than progressive disease.
The investigators concluded that sequential WBMRI may complement serum disease response in patients with NDMM, but they emphasized the need for further validation.
Disclosure: For full disclosures of all study authors, visit https://cslide.ctimeetingtech.com/esmo2025/attendee/confcal/session/calendar?q=1244MO
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