The survival time of a multiple myeloma patient is strongly dependent on the patient’s age at diagnosis, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The study, which evaluated the impact of age on disease outcome, compared the survival time (from diagnosis) between patients in different age groups and treatment regimens. Researchers also compared the life spans for patients with myeloma versus patients without myeloma.

Following diagnosis with multiple myeloma, the average survival time varies based …

A recent paper published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology updated the outcomes of multiple myeloma trials conducted by the Intergroupe Francophone du Myelome, the Southwest Oncology Group, and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

The update provides a fuller, long-term picture of the advantages of some of the autotransplant regimens being tested. It represents the first international effort at systematically updating previously reported trial results, which had indicated that autotransplantation with high-dose melphalan (Alkeran) therapy significantly extends …

The use of thalidomide (Thalomid) in induction and maintenance therapies for multiple myeloma patients receiving a stem cell transplant resulted in better overall response rates but did not significantly improve overall survival, according to a Phase 3 study recently published in the journal Blood.

In their study, researchers randomly assigned 556 patients to receive three cycles of either vincristine (Oncovin), doxorubicin, and dexamethasone [VAD] or thalidomide, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), and dexamethasone (Decadron) [TAD] as induction therapy. All …

A recent study confirmed that the multi-drug regimen known as Total Therapy 3 (TT3) has a high response rate for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients. The study was conducted by physicians at the University of Arkansas Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy and was published in the journal Blood.

The term “Total Therapy” indicates the use of all therapeutic agents and methods of treatment that have been shown to be effective against the disease. The Myeloma Beacon previously reported …

A new study published in the British Journal of Haematology suggests that the drug combination regimen of Revlimid (lenalidomide), cyclophosphamide, and prednisone (RCP) is highly effective in multiple myeloma patients who are refractory (not responsive) to Revlimid-dexamethasone (Decadron) treatment.

The researchers of the study had previously shown that continuous low-dose oral cyclophosphamide in combination with prednisone was effective in relapsed multiple myeloma. To further improve the efficacy of the oral regimen, they added Revlimid to …

The findings of a recent study suggest that the progression of both multiple myeloma and myeloma-related bone disease may be determined by measuring the levels of key proteins commonly found in bones. The study was published in the European Journal of Haematology.

Myeloma cells not only stimulate the formation of cells that break down bone, but also inhibit cells responsible for bone formation.  As a result, multiple myeloma patients have a high rate of bone disease characterized by bone pain …

A combination regimen of Velcade (bortezomib), Doxil (pegylated liposomal doxorubicin), and dexamethasone (Decadron), known as the VDD regimen, followed by Revlimid (lenalidomide) after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is an effective therapy for untreated multiple myeloma patients, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Velcade is a highly active therapeutic agent in multiple myeloma patients. It suppresses tumor growth by inhibiting the enzymes that break down critical proteins in cancerous cells. …