A recent retrospective study by researchers at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston shows that multiple myeloma patients with the chro­mosomal abnor­mality t(11;14) have better outcomes after stem cell trans­plan­ta­tion than patients with high-risk chromosomal abnormalities.

However, the progression-free and overall survival of patients with the t(11;14) abnormality were not as good as those of patients with normal chromosomal profiles.

According to the study investigators, these findings are consistent with other studies that have shown that patients with any …

European researchers found that the addition of Doxil to Velcade significantly extends the time to disease progression in relapsed / refractory multiple myeloma patients, regardless of age, number of previous therapies, disease stage, and resistance to previous therapy.

However, the addition of Doxil increased the rate of side effects in all patients. Despite the increased rate of side effects, the researchers suggested that Velcade plus Doxil should be considered as an additional standard of care option for myeloma patients, especially …

Danish researchers recently found that patients who underwent stem cell transplantation frequently experienced sexual dysfunction, sometimes for extended periods of time after transplantation.  Patients who experienced reduced sexual function also reported lower quality of life.

Given the frequency of sexual dysfunction in these patients, the researchers concluded that there is a strong need for treatment studies in this area.

“Sexuality and sexual function is a quality of life variable that is in particular need of further research and attention in …

European myeloma experts recently developed guidelines for the appropriate management of side effects associated with novel agent therapy for older multiple myeloma patients. This article, Part 4 in the series, covers the experts’ recommendations on novel agent use in specific patient populations.

In general, the European experts recommended that older patients with other diseases see a specialist for that specific disease before starting treatment with the novel agents Velcade (bortezomib), thalidomide (Thalomid), and Revlimid (lenalidomide) as well …

European myeloma experts recently developed guidelines for the appropriate management of side effects associated with novel agent therapy for older multiple myeloma patients. This article, Part 3 in a series, summarizes the guidelines for the management of Revlimid-related side effects. Part 1 describes the guidelines for the management of Velcade-related side effects, Part 2 summarizes the guidelines for thalidomide-related side effects, and Part 4 covers the European experts’ recommendations on novel agent use in specific patient populations.

Management …

European myeloma experts recently developed guidelines for the appropriate management of side effects associated with novel agent therapy for older multiple myeloma patients. This article, Part 2 in a series, summarizes the guidelines for the management of thalidomide-related side effects. Part 1 describes the guidelines for the management of Velcade-related side effects, Part 3 summarizes the guidelines for the management of Revlimid-related side effects, and Part 4 summarizes recommendations on novel agent use in specific patient populations.

Management Of Thalidomide-Related Side …

European myeloma experts recently developed guidelines for the appropriate management of side effects associated with novel agent therapy for older multiple myeloma patients. This article, Part 1 in a series, summarizes the guidelines for the management of Velcade-related side effects. Part 2 summarizes the European experts’ guidelines for the management of thalidomide-related side effects, Part 3 summarizes the guidelines for the management of Revlimid-related side effects, and Part 4 summarizes recommendations on novel agent use in specific patient …