Preliminary results from an ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trial suggest that elotuzumab, in combination with Revlimid (lenalidomide) and low-dose dexamethasone (Decadron), may have potential in the treatment of multiple myeloma. The findings were presented at the American Society of Hematology’s 51^st Annual Meeting at the beginning of last month.

Dr. Ravi Vij from the University of Washington in St. Louis, co-author of the study, remarked, “The trial showed very high rates of response when elotuzumab is given…

The 2009 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Meeting showcased several presentations on Zolinza (vorinostat), a histone deacetylase inhibitor developed by Merck Pharmaceuticals that is currently investigated for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

Zolinza alters the way a cancer cell’s DNA creates proteins, which is important in cancer treatment because such a drug can slow down cell proliferation, minimize mutations in DNA and control cell death.

Zolinza With Revlimid And Dexamethasone

Preliminary data from an ongoing Phase 1 study suggest…

A new study suggests that Velcade (bortezomib), in combination with other drugs, is a better treatment method for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma than the previous standard drugs.

The study, titled “Velcade, Intravenous Cyclophosphamide, and Dexamethasone (VCD) Induction for Previously Untreated Multiple Myeloma (German DSMM XIa Trial),” will be presented on December 6 at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Meeting in New Orleans.

The researchers compared a drug cocktail consisting of Velcade, cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), and

As many multiple myeloma and other blood cancer patients know, it is illegal to pay bone marrow donors. But last week, the Institute for Justice (IJ) filed a lawsuit to overturn this ban. If the IJ is successful, physicians, donors, and especially patients may be significantly affected.

The IJ reports that more than 1,000 Americans die each year waiting for a donor match. “Myeloma patients are among those who need a transplant,” said Jeff Rowes, the IJ’s lead attorney on…

A study recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology suggests that thalidomide (Thalomid), used in conjunction with double autologous stem cell transplants, leads to better outcome in younger patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

Autologous stem cell transplants use stem cells collected from the patient’s own bone marrow rather than from a donor. In a double transplant treatment, two transplants are given to the patient within a six-month period.

The study authors retrospectively analyzed the data of…