Recently, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) announced several updates and changes to its guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of multiple myeloma.

The NCCN guidelines are followed closely by physicians and by many U.S. health insurance companies, which frequently use them when making reimbursement decisions about different cancer treatments.

The guidelines are comprised of recommendations based on the results of recent clinical trials and ongoing scientific research.  A panel of specialists within the myeloma field is responsible for updating the NCCN guidelines for multiple myeloma.

Several changes have been made for the diagnosis, treatment, and…

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recently announced several additions and changes to its guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of multiple myeloma at the NCCN 16^th Annual Conference on March 11.

The NCCN guidelines are used by physicians when deciding among treatment options for their patients and also by Medicare to determine whether to pay for treatments if the drugs are used differently than their FDA-approved use.

Several treatment options for multiple myeloma were added to the latest edition of the NCCN guidelines.

For transplant candidates, the NCCN added…

In its latest version of guidelines for multiple myeloma treatment, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommended the use of Revlimid (lenalidomide) as a maintenance therapy after stem cell transplantation. The NCCN based their decision on the preliminary findings of three Phase 3 trials: MM-015, CALGB 100104, and IFM 2005-02.

“[Revlimid] as maintenance has been evaluated in three independent randomized clinical trials. Results from each of these trials show improvements in time-to-progression,” the NCCN myeloma guidelines state. “The panel felt that this warranted inclusion; however, this recommendation remains…

Medicare recently increased the number of drug compendia that it relies on when deciding whether to cover the off-label use of a drug. This policy change will likely result in expanded coverage of off-label uses of cancer drugs. While a previous Myeloma Beacon article reported on the expanded coverage, this article takes a closer look at the compendia and at what this policy change might mean for multiple myeloma patients.

Off-label prescribing is when a drug is prescribed for purposes other than for which the drug is formally approved…