francesca farina

Hematologist at IRCCS San Raffaele Milan, mum of 2, wife

[Vincent Rajkumar @VincentRK]

PERSEUS is the gold standard benchmark outcome for Newly Diagnosed Myeloma

6 year overall survival: 86%
6 year PFS 81%
with quad induction and Dara-Len maintenance.

As we test bispecifics, ADCs, CARTs etc, any new approach should be better. A new therapy CANNOT have even 5% all cause mortality in first 4 years.

There is no room for error with infection related mortality. No early drop off. No learning curve. As a field we have to establish preventive measures to prevent infection related deaths. #IMS26

[Vincent Rajkumar @VincentRK]

Unprecedented. #ASH25

Tec-Dara in relapsed myeloma.
@mvmateos

[The International Society Of Amyloidosis @ISA_Amyloidosis]

The ISA 2026 Symposium preliminary program is now available!

Explore the exciting topics planned for this global gathering of experts in amyloidosis.

View it today: https://t.co/MamDsPQqMM

[Niccolo Bolli @nickbolli]

The NDMM prognostic score from the IMS is out. How should we deal with it in daily practice, across laboratories with different expertises and resources? Within the European Myeloma Network we discuss this issue @Hemasphere_EHA #mmsm #MultipleMyeloma #RRMM
https://t.co/K1ceTSgTat

[Vincent Rajkumar @VincentRK]

Advances in Myeloma.
2025 Edition

Key takeaways from #IMS25

1) Early intervention is here: Given recent EU approval of daratumumab for high risk smoldering myeloma in Europe, and NCCN category 1 recommendation in the US, ~55% of the attendees would offer early intervention for high risk smoldering myeloma. A major shift over the last year. Paradigm change.

2) The choice of frontline therapy is now based more on frailty assessment than transplant eligibility. Outcomes are excellent with quads with or without transplant.

3) Doublet maintenance for high risk is important and seems accepted as standard. Data continue to accumulate supporting doublet maintenance perhaps even for standard risk myeloma especially if MRD+ post initial therapy.

4) I think lenalidomide starting dose in elderly patients should be 15mg, not 25mg.

5) Outcomes for myeloma refractory to Imids, PIs, anti CD38, alkylators, and anti BCMA strategies (Penta-Class Refractory myeloma) is not good. Thus despite all the progress and the 20 drugs in 20 years success story, this unmet need clinical situation in myeloma is common and needs the promising options I list below to come to the clinic quickly for the sake of our patients.

6) New immunotherapy options beyond BCMA CAR-T and bispecifics is gaining ground and we saw promising data: trispecifics, Dual targeting CAR-T, CAR-NK, belantamab alone without the cytotoxic conjugate etc.

7) For t(11;14) myeloma, the response and PFS data with sonrotoclax is promising.

8) Data presented by @FrancescoMaura4 is important and shows that most of smoldering myeloma and almost all of high risk smoldering myeloma is biologically malignancy, not premalignancy, sharing genomic features indistinguishable from active myeloma. The question is why do some not progress despite having biological features of malignancy. What immune or microenvironmental control holds the malignancy in check? When and how is that lost? We need to answer these questions. (Keep in mind with time, almost all high risk smoldering myeloma will progress).

[Bruno Paiva @BrunoPaiva_UNAV]

#EHA2025 lifetime achievement award to Jesús San Miguel; my boss, mentor, friend, wedding planner and second-father! 18 years ago I was blessed by start working under his leadership, and I'm looking forward to the next 18 years!
#mmsm
@ClinicaNavarra @CIMA_unav @sehh_es @_pethema

[francesca farina @ffranci3]

I won't add anything else #EHA2025

[Jonathan Friedberg @DrJFriedberg]

International Myeloma Society/International Myeloma Working Group Consensus Recommendations on the Definition of High-Risk Multiple Myeloma | @JCO_ASCO https://t.co/lUkJMatEtq

[Robert Z. Orlowski @Myeloma_Doc]

#Myeloma Paper of the Day: Evaluation of characteristics and prognostic factors of early progressive disease in newly diagnosed myeloma (<18 months) finds higher median age, β2, LDH, stage, more ultra-high risk disease and lower hemoglobin and eGFR: https://t.co/yWnMx8ZnKz. #mmsm

[Jon Salmanton-García @SalmantonGarcia]

📢 #EPICOVIDEHA in @AjHematology

#CARV in #hem_onc Aut.-Win.'23-'24

🧑‍🦱1,312 pax
🔹 #SARSCoV2 49%
🔹 #Influenza 19%
🔹 #RSV 12%

📈SARS-CoV-2 till Dec'23, influenza from Jan'24

6% mortality, ⏫#parainfluenza
⚠️Risks: 2° infections, ICU, lymphopenia

📖https://t.co/mZx8itdx2A

[Nature Medicine @NatureMedicine]

Infections account for about half of all non-relapse-related deaths after #CARTcelltherapy, underscoring the necessity for clinical risk-mitigating strategies.
News & Views from @MarcelaMaus and @vikblumenberg @MGHCancerCenter
https://t.co/CbflVFDq0O

[francesca farina @ffranci3]

Congratulations @giorgio_orofino and @vago_luca LAB for the super work to fight leukemia! #EBMT24

[francesca farina @ffranci3]

#ebmt2024

[Rémy Duléry @RemyDulery]

Despite medical advances, haematological malignancy patients are still at high risk for severe #COVID19.
Understanding their risk factors is crucial.
This study also emphasizes the importance of vaccination and early interventions. 💉💪🦠

ARTICLE👉 https://t.co/wRwLzRXWHf

[Jon Salmanton-García @SalmantonGarcia]

#EPICOVIDEHA findings underscore the critical need for tailored approaches to manage COVID-19 in patients with haematological malignancies, emphasizing the importance of vaccination, early intervention, and ongoing research efforts. 🩺💉

https://t.co/dwrbs6ScXf

[Jon Salmanton-García @SalmantonGarcia]

📊 Behold the revelations! Severe infections decline, but 2020 sees higher mortality. Older age, active CML, ICU admissions - the keys to unraveling the mystery. 🗝️ Let's decode the survival rates together! 🔍 #MortalityRevealed #SurvivalDecoded

[EMN @EMN_EuMMnet]

Thanks to all physicians and collaborators involved in the 15th EMN Trialist Forum in Baveno - Italy. An interesting update on ongoing EMN studies and a unique opportunity to discuss future trials & projects, and start new collaborations. See you in 2024!

[francesca farina @ffranci3]

@SalmantonGarcia @EHA_Hematology @EHAInfectionsH1 @young_eha Great to meet you personally!

[Jon Salmanton-García @SalmantonGarcia]

#EPICOVIDEHA has become #EPICOVIDEHA_EPIFLUEHA, expanding its focus to gather viral infection cases in #hematological patients since 2023

#Influenza #Parainfluenza #RSV #SARS_CoV_2 and others!!!

More info: https://t.co/pLtjJyVZTX

[Jon Salmanton-García @SalmantonGarcia]

1/ Age + hem.malig. are critical factors in #COVID19 outcomes. This study uncovers their impact on mortality. 🧪📊 #EPICOVIDEHA We focus also on different pandemic waves, with valuable data for managing the elderly in future pandemics. 📄👵@ISID_org

https://t.co/ovUEv5jdsC