At the recent ASH conference, Palumbo and colleagues presented a new induction therapy composed of bortezomib (Velcade), doxurubicin, and dexamethasone that is specifically targeted to elderly patients.

Palumbo and colleagues…

A study presented at the 2008 American Society for Hematology (ASH) meeting reports on a treatment called Tandem Auto/AlloHCT, a combination of stem cell transplants that uses cells from both the multiple myeloma patient and a donor.

In the study, newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients first underwent autologous cell transplantation, a procedure in which a patient’s own stem cells are transplanted into his or her bone marrow. This was followed by non-myeloablative allotransplantation, which uses stem cells from a donor and is accompanied by a less aggressive conditioning regime than…

Carfilzomib, a new drug similar to Velcade (bortezomib), has been shown to be 18 percent to 54 percent effective against multiple myeloma in relapsed and refractory patients, depending on the level of prior treatment.

Carfilzomib therapy has previously been shown to result in greater than 80 percent proteasome inhibition. Furthermore, carfilzomib in comparison to current treatments presents a reduction in the occurrence of peripheral neuropathy, a painful side effect that causes pain and numbness in the hands and feet. A previous article discusses how carfilzomib uses proteasome inhibition…

Carfilzomib, a new drug similar to Velcade (bortezomib), has been shown to be effective against multiple myeloma in relapsed and refractory patients.

Like Velcade, carfilzomib (also called PR-171) is a proteasome inhibitor that blocks the activity of proteasomes, cellular complexes that break down proteins.  Without proteasome activity, it is believed that cells self-induce death (apoptosis), thereby inhibiting tumor growth.

A Phase I study shows that carfilzomib therapy results in greater than 80% proteasome inhibition.  Two ongoing Phase II studies have demonstrated complete or partial positive responses in 18% to 54% of…

Long-term follow-up results of two stem cell transplantation trials were presented at the 2008 American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting. The trials were conducted from April 2000 to April 2004 in high risk de novo multiple myeloma patients. De novo multiple myeloma refers to the first occurrence of cancer in the body.

The two trials compared autologous transplantation followed by non-myeloablative allotransplantation (trial IFM99-03) with tandem (double) autologous transplantation (trial IFM99-04).  In the autologous transplantation procedure, a patient’s stem cells are collected and stored prior to chemotherapy and later returned…