Exploring what matters most to patients in relapsed refractory multiple myeloma treatment: a Canadian discrete choice experiment with patients, caregivers and physicians

Abstract Background Relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) significantly impacts patients’ quality of life. This study investigated treatment characteristic preferences for RRMM in Canada, comparing attributes of conventional treatments to those of Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy...

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Main Authors: Rebekah Hall, Gin Nie Chua, Bonnie Macfarlane, Richard K Plante, Kun Shi, Stephanie Soltys, Arleigh McCurdy, Martine Elias, Jessy Ranger
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Cancer
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-14490-5
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author Rebekah Hall
Gin Nie Chua
Bonnie Macfarlane
Richard K Plante
Kun Shi
Stephanie Soltys
Arleigh McCurdy
Martine Elias
Jessy Ranger
author_facet Rebekah Hall
Gin Nie Chua
Bonnie Macfarlane
Richard K Plante
Kun Shi
Stephanie Soltys
Arleigh McCurdy
Martine Elias
Jessy Ranger
author_sort Rebekah Hall
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) significantly impacts patients’ quality of life. This study investigated treatment characteristic preferences for RRMM in Canada, comparing attributes of conventional treatments to those of Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. It aimed to understand patient preferences and how caregivers and healthcare professionals (HCPs) perceive these preferences. Methods A discrete choice experiment (DCE) was conducted with 101 RRMM patients, 46 caregivers, and 49 HCPs. Five attributes were explored: progression-free survival (PFS), 10-year survival chance, risk of serious side effects, risk of long-term moderate side effects, and treatment administration. Participants were asked to choose between two hypothetical treatments in a series of 12 questions. Hypothetical treatments included CAR-T-administered treatments and alternative treatments administered by conventional means (“conventional treatments”) with varying levels of performance across remaining attributes. Results Prolonged PFS and 10-year survival chance were the most critical factors in treatment decisions across all groups. Long-term moderate side effects were more concerning than serious short-term side effects, while treatment administration was least important. Patients were willing to accept higher side effect risks for improved survival. High agreement was found between patients’ preferences and caregivers’ and HCPs’ perceptions of these preferences. Conclusions While participants showed no significant preference between the administration profiles of CAR-T therapy and conventional treatments, CAR-T therapy was favored for its clinical benefits of potentially increased survival and lower long-term side effect risks. These findings are valuable for Canadian patient-centered clinical and reimbursement decision-making, highlighting the potential role of CAR-T therapy in addressing patient needs.
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spelling doaj-art-1a3253411d54467a8b02bdb66265f8c52025-08-20T04:01:41ZengBMCBMC Cancer1471-24072025-07-0125111410.1186/s12885-025-14490-5Exploring what matters most to patients in relapsed refractory multiple myeloma treatment: a Canadian discrete choice experiment with patients, caregivers and physiciansRebekah Hall0Gin Nie Chua1Bonnie Macfarlane2Richard K Plante3Kun Shi4Stephanie Soltys5Arleigh McCurdy6Martine Elias7Jessy Ranger8Acaster Lloyd Consulting LtdAcaster Lloyd Consulting LtdJohnson & JohnsonIndependent ResearcherJohnson & JohnsonJohnson & JohnsonThe Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteMyeloma CanadaMyeloma CanadaAbstract Background Relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) significantly impacts patients’ quality of life. This study investigated treatment characteristic preferences for RRMM in Canada, comparing attributes of conventional treatments to those of Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. It aimed to understand patient preferences and how caregivers and healthcare professionals (HCPs) perceive these preferences. Methods A discrete choice experiment (DCE) was conducted with 101 RRMM patients, 46 caregivers, and 49 HCPs. Five attributes were explored: progression-free survival (PFS), 10-year survival chance, risk of serious side effects, risk of long-term moderate side effects, and treatment administration. Participants were asked to choose between two hypothetical treatments in a series of 12 questions. Hypothetical treatments included CAR-T-administered treatments and alternative treatments administered by conventional means (“conventional treatments”) with varying levels of performance across remaining attributes. Results Prolonged PFS and 10-year survival chance were the most critical factors in treatment decisions across all groups. Long-term moderate side effects were more concerning than serious short-term side effects, while treatment administration was least important. Patients were willing to accept higher side effect risks for improved survival. High agreement was found between patients’ preferences and caregivers’ and HCPs’ perceptions of these preferences. Conclusions While participants showed no significant preference between the administration profiles of CAR-T therapy and conventional treatments, CAR-T therapy was favored for its clinical benefits of potentially increased survival and lower long-term side effect risks. These findings are valuable for Canadian patient-centered clinical and reimbursement decision-making, highlighting the potential role of CAR-T therapy in addressing patient needs.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-14490-5Relapsed/refractory multiple myelomaCAR-T therapyPatient preferenceCaregiver preferenceHealthcare professionals preferenceDiscrete choice experiment
spellingShingle Rebekah Hall
Gin Nie Chua
Bonnie Macfarlane
Richard K Plante
Kun Shi
Stephanie Soltys
Arleigh McCurdy
Martine Elias
Jessy Ranger
Exploring what matters most to patients in relapsed refractory multiple myeloma treatment: a Canadian discrete choice experiment with patients, caregivers and physicians
BMC Cancer
Relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma
CAR-T therapy
Patient preference
Caregiver preference
Healthcare professionals preference
Discrete choice experiment
title Exploring what matters most to patients in relapsed refractory multiple myeloma treatment: a Canadian discrete choice experiment with patients, caregivers and physicians
title_full Exploring what matters most to patients in relapsed refractory multiple myeloma treatment: a Canadian discrete choice experiment with patients, caregivers and physicians
title_fullStr Exploring what matters most to patients in relapsed refractory multiple myeloma treatment: a Canadian discrete choice experiment with patients, caregivers and physicians
title_full_unstemmed Exploring what matters most to patients in relapsed refractory multiple myeloma treatment: a Canadian discrete choice experiment with patients, caregivers and physicians
title_short Exploring what matters most to patients in relapsed refractory multiple myeloma treatment: a Canadian discrete choice experiment with patients, caregivers and physicians
title_sort exploring what matters most to patients in relapsed refractory multiple myeloma treatment a canadian discrete choice experiment with patients caregivers and physicians
topic Relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma
CAR-T therapy
Patient preference
Caregiver preference
Healthcare professionals preference
Discrete choice experiment
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-14490-5
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