Gustatory dysfunction under talquetamab therapy in multiple myeloma: a cross-sectional study of patient-reported course, nutritional changes, and quality of life.
- 1Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Würzburg, Oberdürrbacherstr. 6, 97080, Würzburg, Germany. [email protected].
- 2Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Würzburg, Oberdürrbacherstr. 6, 97080, Würzburg, Germany.
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to characterize patient-reported taste disturbances, recalled symptom course, nutritional changes, and quality of life in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma treated with talquetamab. This single-center cross-sectional study combined taste-strip testing with a study-specific questionnaire, EORTC QLQ-C30, and PHQ-4 in 32 patients. Analyses used recorded aggregate correct-identification counts without a normative hypogeusia classification. Symptom timing and changes since treatment initiation were recalled at one assessment. All patients reported taste disturbances during therapy. The median identification count was 2.5 (interquartile range 0.75-7.25); eight patients had no correct identifications. Twenty-three (71.9%) described onset within 14 days. Current appetite reduction was reported by 20 patients (62.5%), whose mean identification count was lower than that of the other 12 patients (2.45 versus 7.83; mean difference - 5.38, 95% confidence interval - 8.20 to - 2.57; p = 0.0006). Sixteen patients (50.0%) reported directional weight loss, with a median loss of 4.5 kg. Ten (31.3%) had considered stopping talquetamab; seven explicitly cited taste disturbance. Mean global health status was 50.5/100 and correlated with identification count (r = 0.406; p = 0.021). Taste disturbances co-occurred with substantial nutritional concerns. Lower taste-identification counts were associated with current appetite reduction and lower global health status. The findings support attention to taste-related burden but do not establish causality, sustained recovery, or effects on adherence. Prospective evaluations of supportive care are needed.
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BibTeX
@article{fleischer2026gustatory,
title = {{Gustatory dysfunction under talquetamab therapy in multiple myeloma: a cross-sectional study of patient-reported course, nutritional changes, and quality of life.}},
author = {Anna Fleischer and Carolin Burger and Magdalena Roll and Franziska Panther and Patrick-Pascal Strunz and Jessica Peter and Sofie-Katrin Kadel and Anja Gesierich and Julia Mersi and Johannes Waldschmidt and Martin Kortüm and Hermann Einsele and Imad Maatouk and Leo Rasche},
journal = {Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1007/s00520-026-11288-4},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42834234},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Gustatory dysfunction under talquetamab therapy in multiple myeloma: a cross-sectional study of patient-reported course, nutritional changes, and quality of life.
AU - Anna Fleischer
AU - Carolin Burger
AU - Magdalena Roll
AU - Franziska Panther
AU - Patrick-Pascal Strunz
AU - Jessica Peter
AU - Sofie-Katrin Kadel
AU - Anja Gesierich
AU - Julia Mersi
AU - Johannes Waldschmidt
AU - Martin Kortüm
AU - Hermann Einsele
AU - Imad Maatouk
AU - Leo Rasche
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/05
JO - Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
DO - 10.1007/s00520-026-11288-4
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42834234
AB - The purpose of this study is to characterize patient-reported taste disturbances, recalled symptom course, nutritional changes, and quality of life in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma treated with talquetamab. This single-center cross-sectional study combined taste-strip testing with a study-specific questionnaire, EORTC QLQ-C30, and PHQ-4 in 32 patients. Analyses used recorded aggregate correct-identification counts without a normative hypogeusia classification. Symptom timing and changes since treatment initiation were recalled at one assessment. All patients reported taste disturbances during therapy. The median identification count was 2.5 (interquartile range 0.75-7.25); eight patients had no correct identifications. Twenty-three (71.9%) described onset within 14 days. Current appetite reduction was reported by 20 patients (62.5%), whose mean identification count was lower than that of the other 12 patients (2.45 versus 7.83; mean difference - 5.38, 95% confidence interval - 8.20 to - 2.57; p = 0.0006). Sixteen patients (50.0%) reported directional weight loss, with a median loss of 4.5 kg. Ten (31.3%) had considered stopping talquetamab; seven explicitly cited taste disturbance. Mean global health status was 50.5/100 and correlated with identification count (r = 0.406; p = 0.021). Taste disturbances co-occurred with substantial nutritional concerns. Lower taste-identification counts were associated with current appetite reduction and lower global health status. The findings support attention to taste-related burden but do not establish causality, sustained recovery, or effects on adherence. Prospective evaluations of supportive care are needed.
SN - 0941-4355
SN - 1433-7339
ER -