A recent study in Leukemia compared two staging systems that are commonly used to predict outcome in multiple myeloma patients: the Durie-Salmon staging system (DSS) and the International Staging System (ISS).

In patients who underwent autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), neither proved to be significantly more predictive than the other in outcome.

Staging systems are used by physicians in an attempt to predict outcome in myeloma patients at diagnosis. The traditionally used staging system, first published in 1975, is …

The National League of Cities (NLC), a resource and advocate for thousands of cities, towns, and villages across the United States, recently investigated the link between firefighting and an elevated risk of cancer. The report was inspired by an increasing number of states passing legislation that would offer medical coverage to firefighters who develop cancer.

A Myeloma Beacon article published in February 2009 reported that a bill passed in the Oregon House could offer firefighters medical coverage for 12 …

A recent article in the journal Blood reported on the long-term outcome of multiple myeloma patients each treated with two stem cell transplants.

In this study, 102 patients with multiple myeloma began treatment with high-dose melphalan (Alkeran) as a conditioning regimen. Patients then received an autologous stem cell transplant, using stem cells collected from the patient before chemotherapy. This was followed by radiation therapy.

Finally, patients received high-dose chemotherapy in combination with an allogeneic stem cell transplant, in which …

A recent study has shown that thalidomide (Thalomid) given with prednisone can improve survival in multiple myeloma patients who have undergone autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Thalidomide has been known to be effective in patients with newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory myeloma, but its effect after ASCT has not been known.

In this study, 269 patients with newly diagnosed but stable myeloma underwent ASCT that had been conditioned with single high-dose melphalan (Alkeran). After the ASCT, 129 of …

At the XII International Myeloma Workshop held last month, physicians discussed induction therapy for patients who are not eligible for stem cell transplants.

Induction therapy is the initial treatment given to patients to reduce the number of cancer cells, usually given prior to subsequent treatments. For patients ineligible for transplants, such as the elderly, induction therapy has historically consisted of administering the drugs melphalan and prednisone, but this has changed considerably in recent years.

A …

This is the fourth and final article in a series covering investigative tools used for diagnosing multiple myeloma.

Previous articles covered the diagnostic work-up for detecting multiple myeloma, which traditionally includes: (1) confirmation of the excessive growth of certain plasma cells; (2) evaluation of organ damage; and (3) determination of possible factors that may affect therapy and long-term outcome. This article will discuss why select patients may be able to participate in specialized studies. …