The Myeloma Beacon™
Independent, up-to-date news and information for multiple myeloma patients and their families.
| ' [ by Michelle Spektor | Jul 30, 2010 5:19 pm | No Comment ]  The results of a recent study suggest that consecutive low-dose melphalan and high-dose melphalan treatment combined with autologous stem cell transplants is an effective treatment for multiple myeloma patients with manageable side effects. “The low-dose melphalan step led to complete response and very good partial response rates similar to those of combinations containing Velcade and steroids at a fraction of the cost,” wrote Dr. Nicolas Novitzky, the study’s lead author, in an email to The Myeloma Beacon. Melphalan (Alkeran) is a chemotherapeutic drug that is frequently used in combination with stem cell transplants to treat younger multiple myeloma patients. Melphalan can cause severe side effects, including neutropenia (low white blood cell count), nausea, and blood-related complications. Higher doses of melphalan are usually associated with more severe side effects. A previous study showed, however, that higher doses of melphalan are more… Read the full story » |
Late last year, my mother-in-law, Marie, lost her long battle with colon cancer. A few months before she died, I remember visiting her in the nursing home on a particularly bad day in September.
Marie was in pain—a lot of pain. I checked with the nurses station. The evening nurse was sympathetic, but unable or unwilling to help.
Fast forward one week. Marie seemed to be doing better. But not before my wife, Pattie, and I “rattled a few cages” and convinced Marie’s physician, nurses, and nursing home personnel…
A statistical analysis of two Phase 3 trials found relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients who achieved complete remission and very good partial response to Revlimid and dexamethasone combination treatment had higher overall survival rates and longer times to disease progression compared to patients who only achieved partial response.
The analysis also showed that patients’ response to Revlimid and dexamethasone improved over time with continuous treatment.
The authors of the analysis therefore suggested continuing treatment in patients who achieved partial response as long as possible to achieve best outcome.
They…
Onyx Pharmaceuticals announced yesterday the results of an ongoing Phase 2b trial of single-agent carfilzomib for heavily pre-treated relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients. The overall response rate after 12 cycles of single-agent carfilzomib treatment in this trial was 24 percent, and the median duration of response was 7.4 months.
According to Dr. Michael Kauffman, Chief Medical Officer of Onyx Pharmaceuticals, the company’s newly released results demonstrate the potential for carfilzomib to significantly improve the outlook for relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients.
He cited a recent study…
A recent study showed that maintenance therapy with thalidomide and interferon delayed progression, but did not extend survival, in elderly multiple myeloma patients. Additionally, the thalidomide-interferon maintenance therapy caused slightly more side effects than maintenance therapy with interferon alone.
Previous studies have indicated that in younger patients, maintenance therapy with thalidomide (Thalomid) after stem cell transplantation resulted in increased progression-free survival time in all trials and in increased overall survival time in two out of five trials (see related Beacon news 1, 2, and 3).
However,…
Onyx Pharmaceuticals Initiates Phase 3 Myeloma Trial Of Carfilzomib – Onyx Pharmaceuticals on Wednesday announced the start of enrollment for an international Phase 3 trial of carfilzomib in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients. The trial will enroll 700 patients and will test carfilzomib in combination with Revlimid (lenalidomide) and low-dose dexamethasone (Decadron) versus Revlimid and low-dose dexamethasone without carfilzomib. Carfilzomib is a proteasome inhibitor that prevents the growth and spread of myeloma cells by interrupting their protein-related cellular processes. For more information, please see the Onyx Pharmaceuticals press release and the clinical trial description.
EntreMed’s ENMD-0276 Shows Anti-Myeloma Activity – EntreMed announced last week that its new cancer compound ENMD-0276 showed significant anti-myeloma activity in pre-clinical studies. EntreMed has already launched a Phase 1 study in multiple myeloma patients. ENMD-0276 prevents the growth and spread of myeloma cells by interfering with cell division. For more information, please see the EntreMed press release and the clinical trial description.
IMF Will Hold Myeloma Patient & Family Seminar – The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) will be holding a seminar for myeloma patients and their families August 13 to 14 in Philadelphia, PA. Myeloma experts Dr. Brian Durie and Dr. Robert Kyle are among the speakers scheduled to present during Saturday’s general session. The cost for the seminar is $60 per person. For more information or to register, please visit the IMF website.
For a more detailed listing of myeloma-related events, please check the Myeloma Beacon Events Calendar.
