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Myeloma Beacon To Launch Sponsorship Program – To continue expanding the content and services it provides the myeloma community, The Myeloma Beacon will launch a sponsorship program on September 6.  Sponsors will include myeloma treatment centers, pharmaceutical companies, and other organizations and individuals. Participation in the program will give sponsors a way to support the Beacon’s mission of providing objective news and information to patients and caregivers, while also providing sponsors greater visibility within the myeloma community.

Dr. Peter Voorhees Joins The Myeloma Beacon’s Medical Advisor Team – Dr. Peter Voorhees, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has joined The Myeloma Beacon’s team of Medical Advisors.  Beacon Medical Advisors assist with answering medical questions posted in the Beacon’s multiple myeloma forums.  For more information about getting medical advice answered in the forums, please see these instructions.

Modified Versions Of Ecstasy Could Treat Cancer – Researchers have made modified forms of the illegal drug ecstasy (MDMA) that kill white blood cell cancers 100 times more effectively than ecstasy itself.  Ecstasy has been known to kill cancers involving white blood cells, such as multiple myeloma, leukemia, and lymphoma.  However, the doses of ecstasy necessary to treat cancer would be lethal to the patient.  The new, more potent forms have the potential to be safe at therapeutic doses.  For more information, see the study in the journal Investigational New Drugs (abstract).

Teleconference On Living Well With Myeloma – Tomorrow, the International Myeloma Foundation will sponsor a teleconference about living well with multiple myeloma.  Timothy Tyler, director of pharmacy services at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, CA, will speak about drug interactions and contraindications (conditions making a particular drug or procedure inadvisable) as they pertain to myeloma treatments, over-the-counter medicines, and supplements.  The call will be held from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. PT.  For more information, please see the International Myeloma Foundation website.

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

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Protein May Interfere With Revlimid Doses In The Body – Results of a recent small Phase 1 clinical trial investigating the efficacy and safety of Revlimid (lenalidomide) in combination with Torisel (temsirolimus) suggest that P-glycoprotein, a protein that causes the removal of certain drugs from cells into the bloodstream, interferes with Revlimid dosing. High levels of P-glycoprotein in cancer cells may be the cause of drug resistance. The researchers observed higher than expected concentrations of Revlimid in the patients’ bloodstreams. Experiments in the lab showed that P-glycoprotein removed Revlimid from the cancer cells. The experiments also showed that the rate of removal was lower when Torisel was added to the experiments, which, according to the study authors, is evidence that the two drugs interact via P-glycoprotein. For more information, please see the study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (abstract) or the Ohio State University Medical Center press release.

Phase 2 Trial Of Carfilzomib For Multiple Myeloma Is Recruiting Patients – The Multiple Myeloma Clinical Research Section at the National Cancer Institute is recruiting participants for a Phase 2 trial to test the effectiveness of the investigational drug carfilzomib in combination with Revlimid and dexamethasone (Decadron) in newly-diagnosed multiple myeloma patients. Patients will receive eight 28-day treatment cycles. Those who show at least stable disease after the treatment may continue to receive 12 cycles of low-dose Revlimid maintenance therapy. In addition to current standard, clinical methods for determining responses to the drugs, the researchers will use new molecular methods to assess response and to detect minimal residual disease. To participate in the trial, please contact the research nurse, Mary Ann Yancey, at (301) 435-9227 or .

Chicago Area Workshop For Multiple Myeloma Patients – The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation will hold a one-day educational workshop for myeloma patients and their family members on August 20 in Oak Brook, IL. The program will be led by Dr. Todd Zimmerman, a myeloma expert from the University of Chicago Medical Center. Throughout the day, myeloma experts will talk about treatments options for newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory patients, including stem cell transplants, supportive care options, and clinical trials.  The specialists will also be available to answer questions.  Registration will begin at 9 a.m., and the program will last from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the Hamburger University at the Hyatt Lodge. For more information or to register, please see the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation website. 

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

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Dr. Ken Shain Joins The Beacon’s Medical Advisor Team – Dr. Ken Shain, an assistant professor of hematologic malignancies at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, FL, has joined The Myeloma Beacon’s team of Medical Advisors.  Beacon Medical Advisors assist with answering medical questions posted in the Beacon’s multiple myeloma forums.  For more information about getting medical questions answered in the forums, please see these instructions.

Onyx And MMRF Offer Carfilzomib Expanded Access Program For Myeloma Patients – Onyx Pharmaceuticals and the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) announced last week that they have created the Carfilzomib Myeloma Access Program (C-MAP), which will make carfilzomib available to relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients in the United States who do not have any treatment alternatives. Carfilzomib is currently being investigated as a treatment for multiple myeloma. The drug is not yet approved for use in the U.S.; however, under its expanded access program, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration allows ill patients who lack any other treatment options to try a promising drug that is still under development. For more information, please see the Onyx C-MAP website.

Janssen Launches Physician Access Program For Doxil – Janssen Products, the manufacturer of Doxil (doxorubicin liposomal), announced on Friday that, in response to a temporary shortage of Doxil, the company has established the Doxil C.A.R.E.S. Physician Access Program.  This program will allocate any newly available Doxil supply to physicians who are treating patients currently on the drug. The goal of the program is to ensure that patients currently on Doxil receive their medication.  Janssen announced manufacturing delays last month that resulted in a temporary shortage of the drug. Doxil is currently approved in combination with Velcade (bortezomib) for previously treated multiple myeloma patients. For more information, please see the Doxil website.

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U.K. Agency Approves Thalidomide And Velcade For Newly Diagnosed Myeloma Patients – The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), the agency that decides which treatments will be funded for patients in England and Wales, approved funding for thalidomide (Thalomid) and Velcade (bortezomib) for certain newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients.  According to the final guidelines, NICE approved thalidomide for patients ineligible for stem cell transplantation.  Due to Velcade’s higher cost, it was approved for the same patients only if they are unable to tolerate thalidomide.  Both drugs are supposed to be given in combination with an alkylating agent – e.g., melphalan (Alkeran) or cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) – and a corticosteroid – e.g., dexamethasone (Decadron) or prednisone.  For more information, see the NICE website.

Australian Myeloma Specialist Receives Lifetime Achievement Award – Dr. Douglas Joshua, a myeloma expert at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Australia, received the Robert A. Kyle lifetime achievement award last month from the International Myeloma Foundation for his work over the past 40 years in the field of multiple myeloma.  Dr. Joshua is the head of the Myeloma Research Unit and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at his hospital and has led basic and clinical research in myeloma.  For more information, see the Sydney Central.

San Diego Area Workshop For Myeloma Patients And Family – The International Myeloma Foundation will hold a free, one-day workshop for myeloma patients and their family members on August 13 in La Jolla, CA.  Myeloma specialist Dr. Morie Gertz from the Mayo Clinic and two other guest speakers will discuss topics important to myeloma patients and answer attendees’ questions.  The workshop will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Sheraton La Jolla and will last until 3 p.m.  Lunch will be provided.  For more information or to register, see the International Myeloma Foundation website.

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

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J&J Announces Shortage Of Doxil – Johnson & Johnson announced manufacturing delays last week that will result in a temporary shortage of Doxil (doxorubicin liposomal), which is approved in combination with Velcade (bortezomib) for previously treated multiple myeloma patients.  The company is estimating that shipments of Doxil will resume in late August and asked physicians not to start any new patients on Doxil until then.  Last month, the company informed doctors about the potential shortage so physicians could discuss treatment options with their patients who might be affected by the shortage.  For more information, see the Johnson & Johnson announcement about the shortage.  Updates on the situation will be available on the Doxil website.

Children Raise $8.4 Million In Spare Change To Support LLS – Students across the United States recently raised $8.4 million for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) to fund research for blood cancers, including multiple myeloma, as well as provide services and support for blood cancer patients. The students put collection jars in their classrooms and collected spare change over a three-week period during this past school year.  The top fundraising class at each school received a pasta party from Olive Garden.  Over the past 17 years, this program has raised more than $61 million for the LLS.  For more information, see the Olive Garden press release.

Multiple Myeloma Educational Program – An educational program for multiple myeloma patients will be held on August 6 in Richmond, VA. A physician specializing in multiple myeloma will talk about treatment options for myeloma patients as well as answer attendee’s questions. A multiple myeloma patient will also speak about his experiences. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m., and the program will start at 10 a.m. at the Westin Richmond. The event is sponsored by Millennium, the manufacturer of Velcade. For more information, see the Beacon event description or call 1-866-508-6181.

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