A group of multiple myeloma experts from the International Myeloma Working Group recently published a review of management strategies for drug-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with multiple myeloma.

This Beacon article, the first in a three-part series describes peripheral neuropathy and summarizes the symptoms of drug-induced neuropathy as well as the risk of developing neuropathy associated with myeloma therapies.

A second Beacon article will discuss the experts’ recommendations for the treatment of drug-induced peripheral neuropathy, and a third article will summarize their recommendations for prevention of peripheral neuropathy as well…

According to a recent Swedish study, a family history of blood clots has a greater impact on the risk of developing blood clots in multiple myeloma patients than in the general population.

“There are probably synergistic effects; i.e., if you have a family history [of blood clots] and multiple myeloma, the risk is more then the sum of the individual risks,” explained Dr. Sigurdur Kristinsson of the Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden and lead investigator of the study.

Based on the study’s findings, Dr. Kristinsson said, “Perhaps family history should…

Results of a small Phase 2 study show that newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients achieve similar response rates with alternating weeks of Revlimid and thalidomide in combination with dexamethasone as patients receiving Revlimid with dexamethasone or thalidomide with dexamethasone.

The study investigators point out that the alternating regimen was well tolerated even though Revlimid was administered at a higher than usual dose of 50 mg per day. However, the regimen was not, as they had hoped, more effective than either Revlimid (lenalidomide) or thalidomide (Thalomid) alone in combination…

The results of a small Phase 2 study indicate that sequential mainte­nance therapy involving six months of Velcade followed by six months of thalidomide is both effective and tolerable in multiple myeloma patients who have received a stem cell transplant.

The Phase 2 trial was carried out recently at the City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, California.

Many patients in the trial experienced peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage that causes pain and tingling in the extremities).

However, the City of Hope researchers believe a key result of their study…

A group of myeloma experts from the International Myeloma Working Group recently published a consensus statement on maintenance therapies for myeloma patients.

In their statement, the experts reviewed the main findings from previous clinical trials that investigated the impact of maintenance therapies containing the novel agents thalidomide (Thalomid), Revlimid (lenalidomide), and Velcade (bortezomib).

Maintenance therapy is a prolonged, and often low-dose, form of treatment given to myeloma patients after their initial therapy. The goal of maintenance therapy is to prevent disease progression for as long as possible…