The results of a small, retrospective study indicate that donor stem cell trans­plan­ta­tion may be effective and well tolerated in multiple myeloma patients who have a deep response to initial therapy.

Specifically, the researchers found that for the majority of patients, stem cell trans­plan­ta­tion deepened their initial response to a complete or stringent com­plete response.

Two years following transplantation, three-quarters of the patients were disease-free, which according to the researchers shows that donor transplantation may be a good tool for …

A recent retrospective study finds that initial treatment with Revlimid may not prevent myeloma patients from collecting enough stem cells for transplantation.

Many of the study's results confirm the findings of previous research, which has shown that Revlimid (lenalidomide) reduces a patient's ability to mobilize stem cells for stem cell collection (see related Beacon news).

However, only 2 percent of the patients in the new study were unable to mobilize enough stem cells for at least a single transplant, and this …

A subgroup analysis of recent Phase 1/2 clinical trial results shows that Kyprolis in com­bi­na­tion with Revlimid and low-dose dexa­meth­a­sone is effective and well tolerated in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients over the age of 65.

All of the evaluated patients responded to treat­ment, with 83 per­cent of patients reaching at least a near complete response.

According to Dr. Andrzei Jakubowiak of the University of Chicago Medical Center, who presented the findings earlier this month at the Inter­na­tional Myeloma Workshop …

During a session at the International Myeloma Workshop (IMW) held in Japan last week, Dr. Keith Stewart from the Mayo Clinic summarized the latest findings from research related to the protein cereblon and its im­pact on certain myeloma treatments.

Dr. Stewart reported that low levels of cereblon are associated with lower re­sponse rates and reduced survival outcomes in multiple myeloma patients treated with the immunomodulatory agents Revlimid (lena­lido­mide), thalidomide (Thalomid), and Pomalyst (pomalidomide).

He explained …

Long-term results from a European study indicate that an autologous stem cell transplant followed by a reduced-intensity donor transplant may lead to better survival outcomes in multiple myeloma patients than either a single autologous transplant or two back-to-back autologous transplants.

After a median follow-up of eight years, patients who received an autologous stem cell transplant followed by a reduced-intensity donor (allogeneic) stem cell transplant had higher progression-free and overall survival rates than patients who received either a single autologous transplant …

A team of European researchers recently found that advanced age, kidney failure, infections, heart and gastrointestinal complications, and drug discontinuation are associated with poor survival among elderly myeloma patients.

The results are from a combined analysis of data from four major Euro­pean clinical trials.  All the trials involved elderly multiple myeloma patients treated with either conventional anti-myeloma agents or combi­na­tions of conventional and novel agents.

The study also found that intensive anti-myeloma treatment regimens – that is, regimens combining conventional …

A recent Greek study highlights the distinct symptoms and disease course of multiple myeloma patients who develop extramedullary disease at relapse.

The results are consistent with those from previous studies and demonstrate that myeloma patients who develop extramedullary disease have poorer overall survival than those who do not. Furthermore, the study investigators identified clinical differences at diagnosis and at relapse between myeloma patients with and without extramedullary disease.

They conclude that myeloma patients with extramedullary disease exhibit a particularly aggressive …