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Viracept Demonstrates Anti-Myeloma Activity – Results of a recent preclinical trial show that Viracept (nelfinavir), alone or in combination with other common myeloma drugs, prevents myeloma cell growth and causes cell death. Viracept is a protease inhibitor and is approved in the United States and Canada for the treatment of HIV.  Studies have suggested that protease inhibitors such as Viracept may be effective against cancer.  It is thought that they may work similarly to proteasome inhibitors like Velcade (bortezomib), In this preclinical study, Viracept enhanced the anti-cancer activity of myeloma drugs Velcade and dexamethasone (Decadron) as well as an anti-cancer compound called valproic acid.  Viracept also slowed tumor growth in mice with myeloma. For more information, see the study in Haematologica (pdf).

Study Helps Demonstrate How Green Tea Fights Myeloma – EGCG, an active compound in green tea, has previously been shown to have cancer preventative and cancer fighting properties.  However, little was known about the way EGCG works to fight cancer.  In this recent preclinical study, Japanese researchers showed that EGCG works by disrupting the outer membrane of myeloma cells, but not healthy cells, thereby selectively killing myeloma cells. For more information, please see the study in Biochemical Journal (pdf).  For information about green tea blocking the effectiveness of Velcade, see related Beacon news.

ACY-1215 In Combination With Velcade Shows Potential As Myeloma Treatment – The results of a recent preclinical study show that low doses of ACY-1215 in combination with Velcade kill multiple myeloma cells. ACY-1215, which is being developed by Acetylon Pharmaceuticals, belongs to a class of drugs called HDAC inhibitors. Zolinza (vorinostat) and panobinostat are also HDAC inhibitors that are being studied for the treatment of myeloma. The study showed that ACY-1215 in combination with Velcade slowed tumor growth and extended the overall survival of mice with myeloma. ACY-1215 is currently being studied in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in combination with Velcade and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. For more information or to enroll in the trial, please see the study in Blood (abstract) and the clinical trial description.

NVP-HSP990 May Be Active Against Myeloma – Results of a recent preclinical study show that NVP-HSP990, alone or in combination with other myeloma treatments, may be effective at treating multiple myeloma. NVP-HSP990, which is being developed by Novartis (NYSE: NVS), is a heat shock protein 90 inhibitor like tanespimycin, which was in Phase 3 trials for myeloma when its development was halted in 2010.  The recent study showed that NVP-HSP990 killed myeloma cells in the laboratory, and this activity was significantly enhanced in combination with melphalan (Alkeran).  For more information, see the study in Anticancer Research (abstract).

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Cardamonin Shows Anti-Myeloma Activity – Results of a recent Chinese preclinical study show that cardamonin, a compound derived from a plant used in Traditional Chinese medicine, prevents myeloma cells from growing and kills them. Cardamonin works by suppressing NF–κB, a protein that has been linked to cancer and disorders of the immune system. This study showed that cardamonin was effective after 24 hours of exposure. Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that further investigation of cardamonin as an anti-myeloma agent is warranted. For more information, please see the study in Leukemia Research (abstract).

CR2408 Shows Potential As Anti-Myeloma Agent – The investigational drug CR2408 demonstrates potential as an anti-myeloma agent, according to a German preclinical study. CR2408 is a novel pan-histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor. Other HDAC inhibitors that are being investigated for the treatment of multiple myeloma include Zolinza (vorinostat), panobinostat, and Istodax (romidepsin). The German researchers found that CR2408 works differently than previously explored HDAC inhibitors: it prevents cell growth and kills cells by causing DNA and cell fragmentation. In the laboratory, CR2408 was highly active at very low concentrations. It also had additive effects when combined with doxorubicin and Velcade (bortezomib). The researchers pointed out that further studies are needed to examine whether or not CR2408 differs from other HDAC inhibitors in terms of side effects. For more information, please see the study in the British Journal of Haematology (abstract).

BKM120 Shows Potential For Treating Myeloma – A recent preclinical study evaluating the therapeutic benefit of the investigational drug BKM120 in multiple myeloma suggests that the compound effectively halts growth of myeloma cells and kills them. BKM120 is already being investigated in Phase 1 clinical trials in solid breast, colon, ovarian, and endometrial tumors.  It is in the same class of drugs as perifosine, which is also being investigated for multiple myeloma. This study showed BKM120 had activity both as a single agent and in combination with dexamethasone (Decadron) in cells that respond to dexamethasone.  Additionally, the combination of both drugs at low doses effectively slowed the growth of myeloma and extended survival of mice with myeloma. For more information, please see the study in the Journal of Molecular Medicine (abstract).

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Inhibition Of MAGE-C1/CT7 Increases Sensitivity Of Myeloma Cells To Velcade – Results of a recent Brazilian study show that inhibiting the MAGE-C1/CT7 gene in myeloma cells increases their sensitivity to Velcade (bortezomib). Specifically, researchers found that Velcade decreased the number of dividing myeloma cells by 48 percent when the cells were inhibited from activating the MAGE-C1/CT7 gene; in comparison, when the cells were allowed to activate the gene, Velcade decreased the number of dividing myeloma cells by between 9 percent and 13 percent. The researchers also observed an increased frequency of programmed cell death when inhibited myeloma cells were treated with Velcade. Based on these results, the study authors concluded that the MAGE-C1/CT7 gene protects myeloma cells against the anti-cancer effects of Velcade. They speculated that targeting this gene could be a strategy for future multiple myeloma therapies. For more information, please see the article in the journal PLoS ONE.

GO-Y030 And GO-Y078 Inhibit Myeloma Cell Growth – Results of a recent Japanese study indicate that the molecules GO-Y030 and GO-Y078 suppress the growth of myeloma cells by inhibiting signaling pathways within the cells. GO-Y030 and GO-Y078 are synthetic variants of curcumin, a substance found in the Indian spice turmeric. In this study, researchers found that GO-Y030 and GO-Y078 were 7 to 12 times more effective at suppressing the growth of myeloma cells than curcumin. Moreover, GO-Y030 and GO-Y078 were 6 to 15 times more effective at inhibiting signaling pathways in myeloma cells and 14 times more effective at suppressing production of interleukin-6, a protein responsible for myeloma cell growth. Based on these results, the study authors concluded that GO-Y030 and GO-Y078 are potential candidates for future anti-myeloma therapies. For more information, please see the article in the journal Anticancer Research (abstract).

LLS Web Cast: Making Cancer Treatment Decisions – The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) will be hosting a web cast tomorrow at 1 p.m. EST about making cancer treatment decisions. Topics covered include questions patients should ask to make informed treatment decisions, benefits and risks of standard treatments, clinical trial design and participation, and financial considerations related to cancer treatment. Dr. Gail J. Roboz of Weill Medical College in New York and Beth Patterson of Mission Delivery in Hampton, VA will speak at the event. For more information about the event or to register, please visit the Leukemia & Lymphoma website.

Multiple Myeloma Educational Program – An educational program for multiple myeloma patients will be held on December 7 in St. Louis, MO. Multiple myeloma specialist Dr. Keith Stockerl-Goldstein will speak about treatment options for myeloma patients as well as answer patients’ questions. Multiple myeloma patient Karl V. will also speak about his experiences. Registration will begin at 6 p.m., and the program will start at 6:30 p.m. The event is sponsored by Millennium, the manufacturer of Velcade. For more information or to register, please call 1-866-508-6181.

For a more detailed listing of myeloma-related events, please check the Myeloma Beacon Events Calendar.

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Perifosine Combination Therapy May Be An Effective Treatment Option For Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma – Recently published results from a multicenter Phase 1/2 clinical trial demonstrate that the addition of perifosine to a Velcade (bortezomib) and dexamethasone (Decadron) regimen is effective and safe in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients.   The results were previously presented at the American Society of Hematology’s (ASH) 51st Annual Meeting in 2009.  The novel combination showed promising response rates in heavily pretreated patients, particularly those relapsed or refractory to Velcade treatment. Additionally, the treatment regimen resulted in few side effects. A Phase 3 clinical trial comparing a perifosine and Velcade plus dexamethasone regimen to Velcade and dexamethasone in relaspsed/refractory patients is currently underway.  For a more detailed summary of the results, please see the Beacon’s coverage of the ASH presentation or the study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology  (abstract).

Preclinical Study Shows Tysabri Decreases Multiple Myeloma Cell Growth – Results of a recent preclinical study showed that the drug Tysabri (natalizumab) inhibited growth of multiple myeloma cells and sensitized myeloma cells to Velcade. Tysabri is currently approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and Crohn’s disease. Based on these results, the study authors suggested clinical studies for the evaluation of Tysabri in combination with novel agents such as Velcade. For more information, please see the article in the British Journal of Haematology (abstract).

Enrollment For Masitinib Clinical Trial Begins – The pharmaceutical company AB Science has started recruiting multiple myeloma patients for a Phase 3 trial of its investigational drug masitinib. Masitinib works by impairing several factors required for growth in tumor cells and has already shown promise in clinical trials for pancreatic cancer.  The current trial is designed to study the efficacy and safety of masitinib in combination with Velcade and dexamethasone in relapsed multiple myeloma patients who have received one previous therapy.  Nearly 300 patients will be enrolled across 75 national and international centers.  Masitinib, sold in the U.S. under the brand name Kinavet, already has a conditional approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for certain skin tumors in dogs.  For more information on patient enrollment for the masitinib myeloma clinical trial, please see the AB Science press release.

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Weekly Polls About Multiple Myeloma Have Started In The Beacon Forums – The Myeloma Beacon has started conducting “Weekly Polls” in the Beacon forums.  These polls and their related discussions address important myeloma-related questions and are intended to provide useful information and insight for multiple myeloma patients and caregivers.  Each poll will begin on Wednesday and run for one week; results can be viewed at any time.  The first poll question is: How involved are you in your myeloma treatment decisions?  This poll will be open for another two days, so please feel free to vote or join the discussion.

Anti-Nausea Drug Zofran Should Not Be Used In Patients With A Certain Heart Condition – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline will be required to conduct a safety review and to add a warning to the product labels for the anti-nausea drug Zofran (ondansetron).  The updated labels will warn against use in patients with congenital long QT syndrome, a heart condition characterized by irregular heartbeats that may cause fainting, seizures, and sudden death. The revised labels will also recommend electrocardiogram heart monitoring in patients with electrolyte imbalances, congestive heart failure, slow heartbeat, or those taking other medications that can cause QT prolongation. Zofran is a class of drugs used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. For more information, please see the FDA press release.

Acetylon Pharmaceuticals Begins Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial Of ACY-1215 For Multiple Myeloma – Acetylon Pharmaceuticals recently announced the start of a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of the investigational drug ACY-1215 for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. The study will evaluate the effectiveness of ACY-1215 when taken alone or in combination with Velcade (bortezomib) plus dexamethasone (Decadron). ACY-1215 is an HDAC inhibitor like myeloma drug candidates Zolinza (vorinostat) and panobinostat.  However, ACY-1215 is intended to be more selective than other HDAC inhibitors, meaning that it may have higher efficacy and fewer side effects. For more information about the study or enrollment, please see the Acetylon press release or the clinical trial description.

Study Suggests Myeloma Patients Have Increased Risk Of Developing Kidney Cancer – Results of a recent, large analysis show that multiple myeloma patients may have a higher risk of developing a certain type of kidney cancer than the general population. The study included 34,156 myeloma patients diagnosed between 1973 and 2006. The myeloma patients were 1.9 times as likely to develop renal cell carcinoma as the general population. The study also determined that patients originally diagnosed with kidney cancer were at an increased risk of developing myeloma, suggesting that the two cancers share common risk factors. For more information, please see the article in the British Journal of Urology International (abstract).