During the course of their disease, multiple myeloma patients may develop a condition called amyloidosis.  Amyloidosis is a disease in which proteins accumulate in organs such as the heart or kidneys, leading to organ damage and complications associated with some multiple myeloma treatments.

The following article describes amyloidosis as it relates to multiple myeloma and includes some of the current treatment recommendations for patients with this dual diagnosis.

What Is Amyloidosis?

Amyloidosis occurs when proteins accumulate …

The International Myeloma Working Group, a group of leading myeloma specialists, recently published a report establishing recommendations regarding the use of donor stem cell transplantation as a treatment option for multiple myeloma. The myeloma experts came to the conclusion that due to the risks associated with donor stem cell transplantation and limited data supporting its efficacy, it should only be recommended to multiple myeloma patients during clinical trials.

Over the past decade, the life expectancy of multiple myeloma patients has …

A combination of cyclophosphamide, low-dose thalidomide, and dexamethasone is effective and well tolerated in multiple myeloma patients, according to a recent Polish study. Response rates were favorable for both newly diagnosed and relapsed or treatment-resistant multiple myeloma patients.

 “Low-dose thalidomide was well tolerated, and serious side effects described with high or even intermediate doses were diminished,” said Dr. Anna Dmoszynska, the lead author of the study, in an email to the Beacon.

In recent years, thalidomide (Thalomid) has proven …

Newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients who achieved a complete response to the combination of Velcade, melphalan, and prednisone experienced longer time to disease progression, time to next therapy, and treatment-free interval compared to patients who achieved a partial response. 

The benefits associated with complete response were similar regardless of whether complete response was achieved early or late in the treatment course.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that the achievement of a complete response should be considered an important …

In a recent study, Spanish researchers found that oral busulfan increased progression-free survival following stem cell transplant in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients compared to melphalan. However, there was no difference in overall survival between the two treatments.  Furthermore, oral busulfan treatment was associated with an increased risk of death due to the drug’s side effects.

The current standard of care for multiple myeloma patients under the age of 65 is treatment with high dose chemotherapy followed by stem cell …

Results of a recent study suggest that etoposide used in combination with G-CSF is a safe and effective mobilization strategy prior to stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma patients. The combination treatment resulted in a high stem cell harvest after one day of collection in most patients.

Stem cell mobilization is the process of increasing the number hematopoietic (blood forming) stem cells in the circulating blood to ensure that enough are available to be collected for the transplant. Hematopoietic stem …

The International Myeloma Working Group, a group of top myeloma doctors, recently published a report identifying risk factors for disease progression in patients with the multiple myeloma precursor diseases, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and smoldering myeloma. In addition, the myeloma experts established guidelines for the monitoring and management of these two conditions.  This article, Part 2 in a series, covers the results for smoldering myeloma. Part 1 covers the results for myeloma monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance.

The …