Articles tagged with: Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
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Dr. Adam Cohen Joins The Myeloma Beacon’s Medical Advisor Team – Dr. Adam Cohen, an assistant professor of clinical oncology at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, 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.
Senesco Technologies And Mayo Clinic To Begin Clinical Trial Of SNS01-T For Myeloma – On August 24, Senesco Technologies announced an agreement with the Mayo Clinic to conduct a clinical trial to study SNS01-T, an investigational drug that Senesco is developing for multiple myeloma. The trial will assess the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of SNS01-T in relapsed as well as refractory multiple myeloma patients. The trial is expected to start by the end of September. For more information, please see the Senesco website.
Retaspimycin Shows Modest Activity In Phase 1 Trial For Myeloma – Results from a Phase 1 clinical trial showed that retaspimycin hydrochloride (IPI-504), an investigational drug being developed by Infinity Pharmaceuticals, has modest activity in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients. Retaspimycin stabilized disease in four of eighteen patients participating in the trial. The most common side effect was pain at the infusion site. All side effects were mild or moderate. For more information, see the study in the journal Leukemia and Lymphoma (abstract).
Boston Workshop For Multiple Myeloma Patients – The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) will hold a one-day workshop for myeloma patients and their families on September 9 in Boston. Dr. Paul Richardson, a myeloma expert from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, will lead the program. Throughout the day, myeloma experts will talk about prognosis, treatments for newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory patients, 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 run from 10 a.m. until 3.30 p.m. at the Westin Copley Place. For more information or to register, please see the MMRF website.
For a more detailed list of myeloma-related events, please see 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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Opinion: Kadian, A Little-Known Pain Drug – In the latest article published in the opinion section of the Myeloma Beacon, Lori Puente, whose husband Dave is a myeloma patient, writes about Dave’s experiences managing pain after a T8 vertebra fracture in 2008. Dave had been on a fentanyl patch as well as two oral pain drugs, but did not respond well to these drugs. Lori requested that Dave’s doctor prescribe Kadian, a morphine sulfate extended-release oral pain drug, based on a recommendation from an internal medicine physician. Lori describes in her article how Kadian has helped Dave manage his pain. To receive a copy of all opinion articles when they are published or if you are interested in contributing an opinion piece, please send an email to .
Geraldine Ferraro Dies Of Myeloma-Related Complications – Geraldine A. Ferraro, the first female U.S. vice-presidential candidate, died of myeloma-related complications at the age of 75 on Saturday. She was diagnosed with smoldering myeloma in November 1998 at the age of 63. She progressed to active myeloma in June 2000 and has since been treated by Dr. Kenneth Anderson at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. She first received treatment with thalidomide (Thalomid). When that stopped working for her, she participated in a clinical trial for Revlimid (lenalidomide). She then received a stem cell transplant in 2005, followed by Velcade (bortezomib) maintenance therapy.
Ferraro did not disclose her disease until June 2001 when she testified on behalf of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation in front of Congress for the passage of the Hematological Cancer Research Investment and Education Act, which was aimed at expanding blood cancer research and cancer education. Since then, Ferraro has been an avid advocate of raising awareness about the disease. In addition, she was an honorary board member of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.
MMRF Patient Seminar On Clinical Insights To Be Held In Short Hills, NJ – The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) is hosting a seminar on April 2 for multiple myeloma patients to learn about treatment options and to ask questions for myeloma experts. Topics include treatment for newly diagnosed patients, stem cell transplantation, relapsed/refractory treatments, supportive care options, and clinical trials. The seminar is chaired by Dr. David Siegel and Dr. David Vesole from the John Theurer Cancer Center in Hackensack, NJ. For more information or to register, please visit the MMRF website.
British Society For Haematology 51st Annual Meeting – The British Society for Haematology will be holding its 51st annual meeting at the Brighton Centre from April 4 to April 6. Myeloma-related talks include adopting myeloma protocols in high-risk settings, the diagnosis and management of myeloma, and future advances in myeloma treatment. For more information, please see the British Society for Haematology website.
For a more detailed listing of myeloma-related events, please check the Myeloma Beacon Events Calendar.
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Bafetinib May Prevent Bone Loss For Cancer Patients – A series of preclinical studies indicate that the drug bafetinib (INNO-406) inhibits bone deterioration in cancer patients who are at high risk for bone loss, including multiple myeloma patients. Although bafetinib is being developed by CytRX for the treatment of certain types of leukemia, the latest preclinical studies showed that bafetinib also suppresses the activity of bone cells that break down bone and cause fractures, bone pain, and high blood calcium levels. Bafetinib is also being tested in ongoing clinical trials for effectiveness against prostate cancer and brain tumors. For more information, please see the CytRx Corporation press release.
Phase 2 Study Will Examine Curcumin’s Ability To Reduce Myeloma Symptoms During Maintenance Therapy – M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston will begin a Phase 2 clinical trial to determine whether curcumin, the active ingredient in the Indian spice turmeric, can reduce symptoms of myeloma for patients taking Revlimid (lenalidomide) as maintenance therapy. Researchers will assess the effects of curcumin on pain, fatigue, bone aches, numbness, and disturbed sleep. The trial, which is not yet enrolling patients, will begin in June and include approximately 70 participants. For more information, please see the United States Clinical Trials Registry.
MMRF Patient Symposium To Be Held In Los Angeles – The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) will hold a symposium for myeloma patients and their families on February 26 at Intercontinental Los Angeles Century City. After a basic introduction to multiple myeloma, leading myeloma experts will speak about managing bone disease, treatment options for myeloma patients, and clinical trials. A panel of myeloma experts will also be available to answer questions from patients and family members. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m., and the program will conclude at 2:30 p.m. For more information or to register, please visit the MMRF website.
For a more detailed listing of myeloma-related events, please check the Myeloma Beacon Events Calendar.
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General Discussion Forum Added To The Myeloma Beacon Forums – The Beacon forums have been expanded to include a forum for general discussion not specifically related to multiple myeloma. This new area of the forums is called “The Burgundy Café” and allows those within the Beacon community to get to know each other better through discussions about a wide variety of topics. Feel free to discuss within the Burgundy Café whatever may be on your mind, as long as the conversation remains respectful and courteous.
Senesco Technologies Submits Application To FDA For Investigational Myeloma Drug SNS01-T – Senesco Technologies announced today that it filed an “Investigational New Drug” application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the company’s compound SNS01-T, which has shown potential for treating multiple myeloma. Approval of this application would allow Senesco to initiate clinical testing of the compound. For more information, see the Senesco press release.
John Theurer Cancer Center Receives $2 Million To Improve Safety Of Donor Transplants For Myeloma Patients – Dr. Thea Friedman from the John Theurer Cancer Center in Hackensack, NJ, received a $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute to support her research over the next five years. Dr. Friedman has been studying ways to improve the outcomes of multiple myeloma patients undergoing allogeneic (donor) stem cell transplants. She plans to start a Phase 1 clinical trial near the end of the year. For more information, see the John Theurer Cancer Center website.
MMRF And Synta Pharmaceuticals Collaborate To Develop Ganetespib For Myeloma – The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) and Synta Pharmaceuticals established a joint collaboration to develop Synta’s compound ganetespib (STA-9090) for the treatment of multiple myeloma. The MMRF will provide $1 million to fund a Phase 1 clinical trial studying ganetespib alone and in combination with Velcade (bortezomib) in relapsed multiple myeloma patients. Ganetespib belongs to a class of drugs known as Hsp90 inhibitors, which includes tanespimycin and several other compounds that have shown promise in myeloma clinical trials. Hsp90 inhibitors promote the degradation of proteins that are critical for myeloma cell growth, survival, and drug resistance. For more information, see the MMRF website.
