Newly diagnosed, high-risk multiple myeloma patients can be effectively treated with sequential therapy, according to the results of a recent Phase 2 study.  Participants in this study initially received a combination of Velcade, Doxil, and dexamethasone followed by a combination of thalidomide and dexamethasone, with the potential addition of Velcade to the second phase.

The study authors found that the sequential treatment provided rapid responses, which they said is crucial for patients with organ damage or those with advanced disease …

A group of international researchers analyzed the outcomes of multiple myeloma patients after they failed to respond to therapy with novel agents, such as Velcade, Revlimid, and thalidomide.

The study authors stated that the results will help physicians and patients better understand patients’ prognoses and select appropriate clinical trials.

“The study provides an estimate of the expected outcome among patients with myeloma that has stopped responding to the newly available drugs,” said Dr. Shaji Kumar from the Mayo Clinic in …

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 …

The results of a small, retrospective analysis show that stem cell transplants may be safe and feasible in multiple myeloma patients over the age of 70.

Based on their findings, the authors of the analysis concluded that older patients should not be excluded from stem cell transplants based on age alone.

However, according to Dr. Ashraf Badros, from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, who was not involved in the study, further trials are needed to confirm …

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 …

The results of a recent Phase 2 trial show that the addition of cyclophosphamide to Revlimid and low-dose dexamethasone may result in better responses for previously untreated myeloma patients.

“This [study] provides the efficacy of another regimen for use in patients with myeloma,” said the study’s lead author Dr. Shaji Kumar of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. “It is a fairly safe combination and is quite efficacious,” he stated in an e-mail to The Myeloma Beacon.

According to the …

The results of a recent study from Italy suggest that the combination treatment of melphalan, prednisone, and thalidomide may increase survival in newly diagnosed elderly multiple myeloma patients compared to melphalan and prednisone alone. However, the rate of side effects increased with the addition of thalidomide.

Despite the higher rate of side effects, the study authors suggested that the combination of melphalan (Alkeran), prednisone, and thalidomide (Thalidomid) (MPT) should be considered a standard of care for newly …