The combination therapy of Velcade (bortezomib), melphalan (Alkeran), and prednisone, commonly referred to as VMP, extends overall survival in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients, compared to melphalan-prednisone (MP) therapy, even after prolonged follow-up and extensive subsequent therapy. Researchers also found that VMP did not increase resistance to subsequent therapy.

The Phase 3 clinical trial, known as VISTA, had shown that VMP therapy improved outcomes in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients compared to MP therapy. In particular, patients …

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center To Field Questions At The Beacon's Forums This Week – Dr. William Bensinger, myeloma expert at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, WA, will be be responding to medical questions posted in the Myeloma Beacon's forums this week. Readers who have not yet visited the Beacon's new myeloma discussion forums are encouraged to do so, as they already contain a number of informative postings about topics such as myeloma treatment options, managing treatment side effects, and alternative myeloma therapies.

Treanda Combination …

A recent study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology reports that the combination therapy of Velcade (bortezomib), thalidomide (Thalomid), and dexamethasone (Decadron), commonly referred to as VTD, was successful at improving response and eliminating residual cancer cells in multiple myeloma patients after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT).

In ASCT, the patients’ own stem cells that were collected before high-dose chemotherapy are transplanted back into the patients. Most myeloma patients retain a small number of cancerous cells in …

The combination therapy of cyclophosphamide, thalidomide (Thalomid) and dexamethasone (Decadron), commonly referred to as CTD, is effective and well tolerated in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients, according to a new study published in the journal Clinical Lymphoma, Myeloma & Leukemia. Patients who underwent autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) after CTD therapy had higher success rates and longer survival.

Currently, thalidomide plus dexamethasone is one of the standard treatments for newly diagnosed myeloma patients. However, this treatment is …

The presence and number of bone marrow lesions detected by whole body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to determine the likelihood of progression from smoldering (asymptomatic) multiple myeloma to active (symptomatic) myeloma, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Patients with more than one bone marrow lesion progressed sooner than those with one or zero.

Currently, MRI, a technique commonly used to visualize internal structure of the body, is one of …

Exposure to prior myeloma therapies, specifically thalidomide (Thalomid) and autologous stem cell transplants (ASCT), does not influence the superior efficacy of Velcade (bortezomib) compared to dexamethasone (Decadron) in patients with relapsed/refractory myeloma, according to an analysis published in the British Journal of Haematology.

Researchers had previously found that Velcade resulted in a better response rate, time to progression, and overall survival compared to dexamethasone in relapsed/refractory myeloma patients. Based on these results, Velcade has become one of the …