Can a cancer drug stop myeloma before it starts?
NCT ID NCT03236428
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This phase 2 trial is testing the drug daratumumab in 42 people with high-risk MGUS or low-risk smoldering multiple myeloma—early, pre-cancerous conditions that can lead to multiple myeloma. The goal is to see if daratumumab can produce a deep response (very good partial response or better) after 20 cycles of treatment. Participants receive the drug intravenously, and the study tracks how well it controls the abnormal plasma cells.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Daratumumab (Darzalex)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that daratumumab can significantly reduce or eliminate abnormal plasma cells, potentially delaying or preventing progression to active multiple myeloma.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase study (42 participants) without a control group, so results may not be definitive. Daratumumab can cause infusion reactions and increase infection risk.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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42 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Nov 2017
- Expected to finish
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Oct 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 18 years * Must meet criteria for high-risk MGUS or low-risk smoldering myeloma as described below: High-Risk MGUS Must have \<10% plasma cells and \<3.0g/dL M-spike and at least 2 of the following 3 criteria: * Abnormal free light-chain (FLC) ratio (\<0.26 or \>1.65) * M-protein concentration (≥1.5 g/dL) * Non-IgG M protein (including IgA) Low-Risk Smoldering Multiple Myeloma Must only present with 1 of the following criterion: * Monoclonal Protein ≥ 3 g/dL ---≥ 10% Bone Marrow Plasma Cells * FLC ratio \< 0.125 or \> 8 -No evidence of CRAB criteria† or new criteria of active MM which including the following: * Increased calcium levels (corrected serum calcium \>0.25 mmol/dL above the upper limit of normal or \>0.275 mmol/dL) * Renal insufficiency (attributable to myeloma) * Anemia (Hb 2 g/dL below the lower limit of normal or \<10 g/dL) * Bone lesions (lytic lesions or generalized osteoporosis with compression fractures) * No evidence of the following new criteria for active MM including the following: Bone marrow plasma cells \>60%, Serum involved/uninvolved FLC ratio ≥100, and MRI with more than one focal lesion * Participants with CRAB criteria that are attributable to conditions other than the disease under study may be eligible * ECOG Performance Status (PS) 0, 1, or 2 (Appendix A) * The following laboratory values obtained ≤ 21 days prior to registration: * ANC ≥ 1000/uL * PLT ≥ 50,000/uL * Total bilirubin ≤ 2.0 mg/dL (If total is elevated check direct and if normal patient is eligible.) * AST ≤ 3 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) * ALT ≤ 3 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) * Creatinine ≤ 2 mg/dL or Creatinine Clearance ≥ 40 mL/min * Ability to understand and the willingness to sign an informed consent before performance of any study-related procedure not part of normal medical care, with the understanding that consent may be withdrawn by the subject at any time without prejudice to future medical care. * Female patients who are postmenopausal for at least 1 year before the screening visit or are surgically sterile are eligible. Females of childbearing potential (as defined below) may also be eligible but must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test with a sensitivity of at least 25 mIU/mL within 21 days of registration. * A female of childbearing potential is a sexually mature female who: * Has not undergone a hysterectomy (the surgical removal of the uterus) or bilateral oophorectomy (the surgical removal of both ovaries) OR ---Has not been naturally postmenopausal (amenorrhea following cancer therapy does not rule out childbearing potential) for at least 24 consecutive months (i.e., has had menses at any time during the preceding 24 consecutive months) Exclusion Criteria: * Any prior therapy for symptomatic Multiple Myeloma or smoldering Multiple Myeloma should also be excluded, including prior use of IMIDs, proteasome inhibitors, or CD138 inhibitors. Prior therapy for smoldering Multiple Myeloma with agents that are not therapeutically active against MM is not an exclusion criterion. * Other concurrent chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, or any ancillary therapy considered investigational. Prior therapy with bisphosphonates is allowed. Prior radiation therapy to a solitary plasmacytoma is allowed. * Concurrent exposure to any commercially available agents known to be active against SMM and MM. * Serious medical or psychiatric illness likely to interfere with participation in this clinical study. * Diagnosed or treated for another malignancy within 2 years of enrollment, with the exception of complete resection of basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, an in situ malignancy, or low-risk prostate cancer after curative therapy. * Subject has known chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with a Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1) \< 50% of predicted normal. * Note that FEV1 testing is required for patients suspected of having COPD and subjects must be excluded if FEV1 \<50% of predicted normal. * Subject has known moderate or severe persistent asthma within the past 2 years or currently has uncontrolled asthma of any classification. * Subjects who currently have controlled intermittent asthma or controlled mild persistent asthma are allowed in the study * Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, uncontrollable cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements. * Pregnant or nursing women will be excluded from the study. * History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to Daratumumab. * Known seropositive for or active viral infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV). Patients who are seropositive because of hepatitis B virus vaccine are eligible. Patients who are positive for hepatitis B core antibody or hepatitis B surface antigen must have a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) result before enrollment. Those who are PCR positive will be excluded. * Major surgery within 4 weeks before enrollment. * Subject is known or suspected of not being able to comply with the study protocol (eg, because of alcoholism, drug dependency, or psychological disorder). Subject has any condition for which, in the opinion of the investigator, participation would not be in the best interest of the subject (eg, compromise the well-being) or that could prevent, limit, or confound the protocol-specified assessments. * Vaccination with live attenuated vaccines within 4 weeks of first study agent administration * Subject has clinically significant cardiac disease, including significant ischemic coronary disease, congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association \[NYHA\] Class III or IV), unstable arrhythmias, myocardial infarction or unstable angina within 6 months before randomization, a history of additional risk factors for torsades de pointes (eg, electrolyte abnormalities, family history of Long QT Syndrome), or a family history of sudden cardiac death before age 40. * Participation in other therapeutic clinical trials, including those with other investigational agents not included in this trial, within 30 days of the start of this trial and throughout the duration of this trial
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
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Colorado Blood Cancer Institute
Denver, Colorado, 80218, United States
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Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
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Karmanos Cancer Insitute
Detroit, Michigan, 48201, United States
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Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02214, United States
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Pacific Cancer Care
Monterey, California, 93940, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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