Duke Hospital: Leading Multiple Myeloma Treatment

Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, has a team of specialists dedicated to treating people with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer. The hospital's cancer program is nationally ranked and is the highest-ranked program in North Carolina, according to U.S. News & World Report for 2024–2025. Duke's multiple myeloma specialists use the latest medical advances to detect and treat the disease, offering a wide range of treatments, including clinical trials, bone marrow transplants, chemotherapy, and supportive care interventions.

Duke's multiple myeloma specialists

Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, has a team of specialists dedicated to treating people with multiple myeloma. The hospital's cancer program is the highest-ranked in North Carolina, according to U.S. News & World Report for 2024–2025.

The Duke Hematologic Malignancies Clinic is staffed by specialists who evaluate and treat people with blood cancers, including multiple myeloma. They work with patients to create a personalized treatment plan that includes hematologic and oncologic care and routine check-ups. The clinic is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Duke Health contracts with most major health insurance carriers and transplant networks. However, before scheduling an appointment, patients are strongly recommended to contact their insurance company to verify that the Duke Health location or provider they plan to visit is included in their network.

Clinical trials

Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, has a team of specialists who work with people who have multiple myeloma. The hospital offers a wide range of clinical trials that provide access to new drugs and approaches not offered at other hospitals. For example, Duke offers clinical trials in bone marrow transplants and promising new drugs that are not yet available outside of a clinical trial setting.

Duke's multiple myeloma specialists use the latest medical advances to detect and treat myeloma, a form of blood cancer, at the earliest possible stage. The Duke Hematologic Malignancies Clinic is staffed by specialists who evaluate and treat people with blood cancers, including myeloma, and work with patients to create personalized treatment plans that include hematologic and oncologic care and routine check-ups.

The hospital offers a range of treatments for multiple myeloma, including stem cell transplants, radiation, and chemotherapy. They also provide supportive care interventions such as exercise and stress management techniques, as well as senior adult assessments. Many of these approaches were pioneered at Duke and offer new hope to people with myeloma.

Duke University Hospital is the highest-ranked cancer program in North Carolina, according to U.S. News & World Report for 2024-2025. The hospital treats 1,000 people with blood cancer each year, more than any other facility in the state.

To find a doctor specializing in multiple myeloma at Duke University Hospital, patients can visit the "Find A Specialist" section on the Duke Department of Medicine website.

Treatment options

Duke University Hospital in Durham, Raleigh, North Carolina, is home to the largest Multiple Myeloma Center in the state. The hospital treats 1,000 people with blood cancer each year, more than any other facility in North Carolina. Duke's multiple myeloma specialists use the latest medical advances to detect and treat myeloma, a form of blood cancer, at the earliest possible stage.

Multiple myeloma damages the cells in the bone marrow where healthy white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets are made. Treatment options for the disease include:

• Blood or bone marrow transplant: This is a very intensive and complex treatment that kills or slows the growth of cancer cells. You may be eligible for a blood or bone marrow transplant using your own cells (autologous) or cells from a donor (allogeneic).
• Chemotherapy: Systemic chemotherapy can be administered orally or infused through a vein. Newer drugs target precise targets in the cells, while sparing normal cells.
• Radiation therapy: Radiation treatments can be used to treat multiple myeloma.
• Stem cell transplant: A stem cell transplant is often followed by maintenance (continuous) therapy to help keep the myeloma from growing back. Revlimid is an FDA-approved maintenance therapy option; Velcade and Ninlaro are also acceptable options.
• Induction therapy: The standard of care for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.
• Immunotherapy: A medical oncologist may treat cancer with medicines such as targeted therapy or immunotherapy.
• Targeted therapy: This is another treatment option offered by a medical oncologist.
• Supportive care interventions: Duke offers supportive care interventions such as exercise and stress management techniques, and senior adult assessments.
• Clinical trials: Duke offers a wide range of clinical trials that may give access to new drugs and new approaches not offered at other hospitals.

Genetic studies

Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, offers treatment for multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer. The hospital has a team of specialists who work with patients who have multiple myeloma.

Genome-wide association studies have identified common risk alleles at 24 independent loci, and sequencing studies of familial cases have identified candidate genes where variants may influence MM risk. Functional studies are also providing insights into how identified risk alleles promote MM development.

Gene expression analysis has been used to identify cytogenetic alterations in MM patients, with studies examining SVs, insertions, deletions, and SNVs from MM patient samples. This has helped to identify spatial differences in chromosomal aberrations and confirm primary events in MM progression.

Patient care

Duke Health's Hematologic Malignancies Clinic in Durham, North Carolina, offers patient care for multiple myeloma. The clinic is recognised as a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, meeting rigorous standards for myeloma research and treatment.

Duke's multiple myeloma specialists use the latest medical advances to detect and treat myeloma, a form of blood cancer, at the earliest possible stage. The team includes hematologist-oncologists, radiation oncologists, imaging specialists, specialised nurses, nutritionists, and social workers.

During visits, patients may receive a personalised treatment plan that includes hematologic and oncologic care, routine check-ups, and sick visits. The clinic also provides access to clinical trials and new treatments, such as stem cell and bone marrow transplants, cellular therapy, and immunotherapy.

Duke Health also offers free interpreter services for patients who prefer to communicate in a language other than English, and parking is available in the adjacent parking garage for a fee.

One patient, Thomas Goode, shared his experience with being diagnosed with multiple myeloma and receiving treatment at Duke Health. He underwent a stem cell transplant, radiation, and chemotherapy, and praised the doctors for providing him with the care he needed.

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