P-072: Multiple Myeloma Patient Perceptions of Minimal Residual Disease Testing

Introduction: Minimal residual disease (MRD) testing is a valuable tool for detecting residual malignant cells in multiple myeloma (MM) patients (pts). MRD negativity has a strong predictive power and is linked to favorable outcomes in various diseases and treatments. However, not all MM pts are aware of this testing method and whether it could be integrated into their disease management. This study aimed to evaluate the awareness and perception of MRD testing in MM pts.

Methods: HealthTree® Cure Hub for Multiple Myeloma, an online portal for pts with plasma cell dyscrasias, was used to conduct a 10-question survey to investigate the awareness, use, and opinions of MRD testing for MM pts. The statistical analysis was performed with R, R Studio, Knitr, and LaTex. Chi-square and T-Tests were used to evaluate if responses were different between pts confirmed to have had or not had MRD testing. Alpha was set at 0.05 with a two-tailed test.

Results: A total of 635 pts from HealthTree Cure Hub answered the survey between September 30th 2022 to October 31st, 2022. Of the total participants, 486 were diagnosed with MM (83%), and most of them were reported as being in remission (60%). Validated medical records were available for 289 pts allowing for a comparison between pts confirmed to have had MRD testing and those that have yet to use the test. From the sample with validated MRD status, 81% of pts correctly identified they have had an MRD test, while 19% did not know they had an MRD test or were unsure. In contrast, 60% of pts correctly reported they never had an MRD test, but 40% of pts incorrectly reported they had had an MRD test or were unsure. Interestingly, only 15% of pts answered not being aware of MRD testing, and 36% were somewhat or slightly familiar with the MRD test and, as expected, pts validated to have had MRD testing reported to be more familiar with it (5-point Likert scale: 3.8±1.2 v. 3.2±1.2, p < 0.001). The majority of pts that were familiar with the test found it to be useful (96%) and would recommend it (84%). Additionally, more than half of the pts (77%) reported being interested in learning more about MRD testing. The top two sources of information for learning about MM care options were: doctor/care team (89%) and patient support/advocacy groups (e.g., HealthTree, MMRF) / online community (78%).

Conclusions: This survey investigated MRD testing awareness, usage, and opinions among a large sample of pts with MM. More than half of pts lacked MRD testing usage or knowledge, and 30% of the validated cohort had incorrect knowledge of their MRD status. Nevertheless, among pts familiar with MRD testing, a high proportion found it useful and would recommend it to others. Moreover, a considerable number of pts reported interest in learning more about MRD testing. These findings underscore the need for increased awareness and understanding of MRD testing among pts with MM.