The Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC) announced Friday that it will partner with Merck & Co. to initiate Phase 2B clinical trials of Zolinza (vorinostat) in combination with Velcade (bortezomib). The trial is currently open for the enrollment of patients with relapsed multiple myeloma.

Zolinza, an oral histone deacetylase inhibitor that increases the cellular proteins that prevent cancer, has previously been approved for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Velcade has been previously approved for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

As a Phase 2 trial, this study is designed to test how the drug works and to continue safety assessments determined by Phase 1 trials. Phase 2B trials such as this are designed to test how well a drug works at the prescribed dose, while Phase 2A trials are specifically designed to test dosing requirements.

This clinical trial is part of the Vorinostat Clinical Trials in Hematologic and Solid Malignancies (VANTAGE) program and will enroll 142 patients from more than 60 clinical centers. All patients must have been nonresponsive to Velcade and have been exposed to prior therapies, such as Revlimid (lenalidomide) or thalidomide (Thalomid). The study will specifically test the response rate, progression-free survival, overall survival, time to disease progression, and tolerability of the combination.

According to Kenneth Anderson, a member of the MMRC and Director of the Multiple Myeloma Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, “[Zolinza] is one of a promising class of drugs that may offer a new treatment option for patients with multiple myeloma.”

For more information, see the MMRC press release about the clinical trial and the related Beacon article about how Zolinza works.

Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – Walt Disney World’s annual marathon and half-marathon will take place on January 11, 2009, in their theme parks in Orlando, FL. This year, the beneficiary is the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. For more information, visit the LLS Web site.

Boca Raton South Florida Collector Car Auction – Lifestyle Auctions and Kruse International held its 35th anniversary vintage car auction at Royal Palm Polo Grounds in Boca Raton, FL, from January 1 to January 4.  A portion of the proceeds from the car and memorabilia auction will benefit the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. For more information, visit Lifestyle Auctions.

Current Trends In Leukemia, Lymphoma, And Myeloma – On January 10, 2009, Physicians’ Education Resource will be hosting symposiums at the Fairmont San Francisco and the Westin Galleria Dallas to update cancer treatment providers on data presented at hematology conferences in 2008.  Advances will be discussed through presentations, interactive case discussions, and Q&A opportunities. For more information, visit the Web sites for the Dallas and San Francisco conferences.

There are several types of radiation treatments commonly used with multiple myeloma. Local radiation in high doses (often used in conjunction with chemotherapy) is used to treat solitary tumors in bone and soft tissue. High dose radiation to a large part of the body is used to reduce the number of tumor cells. Local low-dose therapy is used to relieve pain and treat bone fractures and spinal cord compression. Total body irradiation is used with high-dose chemotherapy in preparation for a stem cell transplantation in order to help kill myeloma cells in the bone marrow.

This new radiotherapy is used to kill cancer cells in the system before a stem cell transplant. The same dose of traditional radiotherapy would cause severe damage to the body, especially the liver and kidneys. The new system, however, only delivers the radioisotope to the surface of cancer cells, and the healthy tissue remains unaffected.

Dr. Kim Orchard, who is leading the trial, says that the sensitivity of healthy organs limits the dose of radiation that can be tolerated. “The key to this new treatment,” he says, “is that the antibody accumulates only in the bone marrow.” This new radiotherapy will also lead to more successful long-treatment, as one of the main reasons stem cell transplants fail is due to the continued presence of cancer cells in bone marrow before the transplant. The new radiotherapy will also be more effective, cheaper, and less toxic than traditional radiotherapies.

Pauline Pain of the Isle of Wight, a multiple myeloma patient, was the first person to receive this new treatment. She was able to return home immediately following her radiotherapy, whereas a conventional total body irradiation would have meant a longer hospital stay. Aside from temporary tiredness and mild sickness, Pain reported no remarkable side effects.

The treatment has started on patients with multiple myeloma, but may be extended to other blood and bone marrow diseases like leukemia.

For more information about these clinical trials, see the Telegraph.

A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging process that uses a radioactive tracer to depict the organs and tissues in a body. The PET scanner converts the energy from the tracer to a three-dimensional picture. A doctor can then look at cross-sectional images of the organ from any angle to detect any functional problems. For multiple myeloma, a PET scan may be used to supplement an MRI or a CT scan.

Currently, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) restricts the reimbursement of PET scans to only nine types of cancers. The NOPR was originally launched in response to a proposal to expand coverage of PET to other cancers.

The study looked at PET for 18 cancer types, none of which are currently on the list for CMS reimbursement. The experiment looked at three indications: initial staging, restaging, and detection of recurrence.

Coauthor Barry Seigel, professor of radiology at Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology in St. Louis, Missouri admits that “This result was a little unexpected, but it leads us to believe that a continual parsing of PET’s usefulness, cancer by cancer and indication by indication, for purposes of reimbursement does not make clinical sense.”

Siegel says that his research was an attempt to inform CMS policy. In light of the recent developments, he recommends that PET be covered for all cancers.

The CMS is expected to decide on the reimbursement of PET scans in other cancers soon. A draft is expected on January 10, 2009, and the final National Coverage Determination will be made on April 9, 2009.

The full article can be found in the December issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine. A summary of the finding can also be found at Medscape.

Heat shock proteins protect cells stressed by elevated temperatures by assisting in protein folding. Hsp90 helps proteins that are associated with the underlying causes of various cancers, including the insulin growth factor-1 receptor in myeloma. Hsp90 inhibitors degrade tumor cells containing mutant forms of specific proteins and are effective in combination therapy.

The first second-generation Hsp90 inhibitor at the Phase 3 stage is retaspimycin hydrochloride. Its clinical trial was initiated in late October, involving 200 patients with refractory gastrointestinal stromal tumors in 20 countries. In the next year, retaspimycin is expected to enter into Phase 3 registration trials in women with breast cancer and myeloma patients.

The anticancer properties of the first-generation Hsp90 inhibitor (17-AAG) were discovered 20 years ago. The second-generation inhibitors use alternative formulations that have greater bioavailability and are less toxic. However, they still require intravenous administrations weekly and risk possible liver damage. In contrast, the third-generation drugs are small-molecule agents and are taken orally, allowing for daily dosing. They are also less toxic, more stable in the body, and have greater anticancer properties.

Source: OncologyStat

Each year, the parade organizers nominate a charity for which to collect. LBF, supported entirely by donations, is the only organization in New Zealand dedicated to supporting patients and families with blood-related diseases.

The parade is the largest in New Zealand and is celebrating its 75th anniversary.

Source: Scoop

Donations are still being accepted for the cause. To give a donation or for more information visit the Light the Night Web site.

Source: Woodland Online

Kennedy Wins American Cancer Society’s Medal Of Honor For Cancer Control – Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts was presented with the American Cancer Society’s highest honor, the Medal of Honor for Cancer Control, on Friday for his forty-year legislative fight against cancer. Kennedy, who is fighting his own battle with brain cancer, has advocated for issues ranging from equal access to health care, increased funding for cancer research, and early detection cancer screenings during his time in the Senate. As chairman of the Senate’s health subcommittee, he led the passage of the National Cancer Act, which authorized increased funding for federal cancer research, currently amounting to over $4 billion per year. He has also supported research and education related to blood cancers like leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. In the upcoming 111th Congress, Kennedy is looking to introduce comprehensive cancer legislation that will address all of cancer care, ranging from prevention to treatment to cure.

Source: American Cancer Society

CSCs continually renew themselves and have the ability to give rise to all cell types found in a particular cancer, causing tumors to rapidly spread and grow. CSCs are thought to persist in tumors by resistance to chemotherapy. Targeting CSCs with a vaccine may destroy the cells at their source, while remaining non-toxic to the patient.

IMUC’s stem cell vaccine is designed to stimulate the body’s immune system to attack specific CSCs. Subject to FDA approval, IMUC will test the safety of their vaccine in a Phase 1 clinical trial. This trial is scheduled to start in the second quarter of next year.

IMUC presented these findings at the International Society for Biological Therapy of Cancer Conference in San Diego.

Hi-Rex Studios and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team Up for Video Game Charity Event – Hi-Rez Studios, an independent online entertainment developer, is working with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and other community organizations to raise money at MISSION: Pwning for a Cure. This event (free to the general public) will be held at the Computer Arena in Roswell, Georgia, on Saturday, November 8 from noon to 5 p.m. This event will include activities geared towards the video game enthusiast, as well as a charity auction and raffle, with all proceeds going to the LLS. For more information, visit the Hi-Rez Studios Web site.