Marc Braunstein, MD, PhD, FACP

In #myeloma, why do we perform an SPEP using serum and not plasma? Serum = plasma minus clotting factors. A plasma protein electrophoresis (show below) might obscure a monoclonal protein due to clotting factors such as fibrinogen. (Ref: Clinical Immunology 3rd Ed, Chapter 96)

Why do many regulatory oncology phase III trials not accrue sufficient US patients? This issue came up repeatedly at today’s ODAC for belantamab for myeloma. And I can address it at least for myeloma. 1) In our healthcare system, opening a trial in a timely manner is a…

While I think the alterantive anti-BCMA agents such as bispecifics and CART are highly effective, the FDA voted against the approval of #blenrep due to ocular toxicity despite positive efficacy data in the randomized DREAMM-7 and -8 studies. #mmsm

Given the more recent results of the MIDAS study (Perrot NEJM 2025) and others such as STaMINA (Hari JCO 2020), is there still a role for tandem autologous transplants in #myeloma? #mmsm

To new residents/fellows starting this week, a bit of advice: after 15 years of training following undergrad, what is still most important to my patients is being attentive to their concerns, sometimes at odd hours. Patients value how much you care, not just how much you know.

Nice #MMsm work by @joshgustine @andrew02114 @NoopurRajeMD et al. CHIP with BCMA CAR-T doesn’t affect PFS or SPM (n=104), but risk on ICAHT needing support: # mut matters. Q is of course if SC boost can help here - probably depends on when in tx journey cells were collected!

Had a chance to speak with CancerNetwork alongside @lungoncdoc, @MinhTriMD, @nerealiamd and @docbraunstein about one of the most underdiscussed—and overwhelming—periods in our careers: preparing for the boards while transitioning from fellowship to faculty. The facts: 📚…

Preparing for Oncology Board Certification, Career Transitions, and Combating Burnout cancernetwork.com/view/preparing… via @CancerNetwrk

Join me and my colleague Dr. Marta Wronska this Tuesday at 12pm ET a #ASCOMedEdCoP grand rounds on use of simulation for educating fellows. Registration link below. #MedEd @nyulisom @OncMedEdCoP docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI…

Always a pleasure to speak with Dr. John Sweetenham and the #ASCODailyNews Podcast about updates in hematologic malignancies from #ASCO25 #mmsm @Perlmutter_CC Link: dailynews.ascopubs.org/do/podcast-pre…

Update on CAR T-cells in CLL with @VuMedi @Perlmutter_CC #CLL vumedi.com/video/overview…

Key Myeloma therapy update for 2025 1) Newly diagnosed: Start treatment with quads, if possible. (Dara-VRd or Isa-VRd). 2) Auto Transplant: can be deferred for standard risk patients, especially if good response to induction. But collect and store stem cells for future use.…

#Myeloma Paper of the Day: Review of monoclonal gammopathy of cutaneous significance (MGCS), a paraproteinemia w/ serious cutaneous sequelae which warrants co-management w/ hematology & treatment to address underlying Ig- or plasma cell disorder: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40466947/. #mmsm

#ASCO25 And another one! @JCO_ASCO: 5-yr CARTITUDE-1 results for cilta-cel CAR-T. 97 pts, 6 prior #MMsm lines, treated 2018-2019. All likely would have died; instead, 1/3 alive & well 5 yrs out with no maintenance! 👏 Beginning of the end for #plateauenvy? (cc @ninashah33)

🧵 Top 10 ASCO 2025 Myeloma Abstracts – A Thread Here’s what stands out from this year’s abstracts - more to come after presentations! Updates in bispecifics, MRD-guided therapy, CAR-T, and trispecifics. 👇

Had the privilege of hooding my mentee Dr. Mohammed Shah at ⁦⁦@nyulisom⁩ medical school graduation. Also photo op my fellow faculty council leaders. Congratulations ⁦@nyulisom⁩ class of 2025! ⁦@NYULangoneLI⁩

Looking forward to working with @ASCO @OncMedEdCoP as Community Engagement Chair.

Thank you to @chadinabhan for hosting our @NYULISOM_HemOnc grand rounds today on the future of cancer care.

Fascinating #MMsm article in @BCD_AACR : congrats @BrunoPaiva_UNAV @camilagdeblois et al! CH ⬆️ with time in myeloma but not associated with ⬇️PFS or ⬆️OS. Interestingly, ⬆️ BMPC% increases CH risk 3x. Good reassurance for when we find CH as part of workup for cytopenias!

Join me and my colleagues tonight at 5pm ET for the @NewYorkACP Early Career Physician Webinar Series Part 1: The transition from Residency to independent practice: What I wish I knew. nyacp.org/i4a/pages/inde… Register: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regist…