Results of a recent Canadian study show that the use of novel agents, particularly Velcade and Revlimid, as salvage therapy after stem cell transplantation improves overall survival and post-relapse survival of multiple myeloma patients, including high-risk patients who relapsed early following transplantation.

Although multiple myeloma remains an incurable disease, the introduction of novel agents, such as thalidomide (Thalomid), Velcade (bortezomib), and Revlimid (lenalidomide) has lead to significant improvements in disease outcomes.

In their analysis, the Canadian researchers …

The results of a Phase 1 clinical trial in multiple myeloma patients indicate that total body irradiation using a technique that focuses radiation on the bone marrow is a safe and effective way to prepare the bone marrow for stem cell transplantation. By focusing the radiation on the bone marrow, the researchers were able to limit damage to organs in the body and reduce resulting side effects.

Total body irradiation is commonly used prior to stem cell transplantation to destroy …

According to the results of a Phase 1/2 clinical trial, Torisel in combination with Velcade was well tolerated and effective for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Dr. Irene Ghobrial of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute presented the results at the 2010 annual American Society of Hematology (ASH) conference held in Orlando last month.

Dr. Ghobrial said the trial results were promising in heavily pretreated myeloma patients and that the combination of Torisel (temsirolimus) and Velcade (bortezomib) warrants further …

Results of a Phase 1 clinical trial suggest that the cancer drug Treanda, in combination with Revlimid and dexamethasone, is highly active and well tolerated in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients.

Dr. Suzanne Lentzsch, of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Cancer Institute, presented the results of the study at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2010 annual meeting in Orlando.

Based on the safety of the Treanda, Revlimid, dexamethasone regimen observed in this study, Dr. Lentzsch …

The results of a number of clinical trials for the treatment of multiple myeloma with Zolinza were presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2010 annual meeting. The trials, ranging from Phase 1 to Phase 3, studied Zolinza in combination with a variety of approved myeloma drugs for the treatment of both early and advanced stages of the disease.

Zolinza (vorinostat) is manufactured by Merck Pharmaceuticals.  It is currently approved for a certain type of lymphoma and is …

Carfilzomib is well tolerated and highly active in both newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients as well as re­lapsed and treat­ment-resistant patients, according to the results of two recent clinical trials that were presented at the American Society of Hematology 2010 annual meeting in Orlando earlier this month.

These results further underscore car­filz­o­mib’s activity in multiple myeloma.  Several studies with promising results were also reported in poster sessions during the annual meeting (see related Beacon news).

Like Velcade (bor­tez­o­mib), …

The re­­sults of three on­go­ing clin­i­cal trials sug­gest that elotuzumab in com­bi­na­tion with either Velcade (bor­tez­o­mib) or Revlimid (lena­lido­mide) plus low-dose dexamethasone (Decadron) is ef­fec­tive and well-tolerated in patients who have re­lapsed or have treat­ment-resistant mul­ti­ple myeloma.

The findings were pre­sented at the American Society of He­ma­tol­ogy (ASH) annual meeting in Orlando last week.

Elotuzumab is a new drug being devel­oped by Facet Biotech and Bristol-Myers Squibb as a po­ten­tial treat­ment for …