According to a small Italian study, multiple myeloma patients being treated for spinal fractures face a slightly lower risk of cement leakage following kyphoplasty compared to vertebroplasty.

Additionally, the Italian researchers found that several factors, including thicker cement, prior treatment with bone marrow transplantation, and injecting no more than 2 mL of cement regardless of the number of vertebrae being treated, are associated with a lower leakage risk.

Based on these findings, the researchers consider both vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty safe …

C3B3 May Be Active Against Multiple Myeloma Cancer Stem Cells – Results of a preclinical study conducted in Japan indicate that the antibody C3B3 is active in SP cells. SP cells are a specific kind of myeloma cell that demonstrate cancer stem cell-like activity. Specifically, the Japanese researchers found that C3B3 caused SP cell death and suppressed tumor formation. According to the researchers, the results suggest that C3B3 may overcome the drug resistance of myeloma cancer stem cells. They believe …

The results of a recent Phase 2 clinical trial comparing four Velcade-based combination therapies in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients show that a four-drug combination containing Velcade, Revlimid, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone led to similarly high response rates as the three-drug regimens, but resulted in a higher rate of side effects.

“We were hoping to see more activity at the same level of toxicity as the three-drug combination, but the result was similar efficacy at higher toxicity,” said Dr. Shaji Kumar …

According to a recent Swedish study, a family history of blood clots has a greater impact on the risk of developing blood clots in multiple myeloma patients than in the general population.

“There are probably synergistic effects; i.e., if you have a family history [of blood clots] and multiple myeloma, the risk is more then the sum of the individual risks,” explained Dr. Sigurdur Kristinsson of the Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden and lead investigator of the study.

Based on …

Health Canada Approves Subcutaneous Velcade – Janssen, the Johnson & Johnson subsidiary that markets Velcade (bortezomib) outside of the United States, announced last week that Health Canada has approved the subcutaneous (under-the-skin) administration of Velcade for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Subcutaneous Velcade has been shown to be as effective as intravenous Velcade but is associated with fewer and less severe side effects. The Canadian approval follows the approval of subcutaneous Velcade in the U.S. in January (see related …

Results of a small Phase 2 study show that newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients achieve similar response rates with alternating weeks of Revlimid and thalidomide in combination with dexamethasone as patients receiving Revlimid with dexamethasone or thalidomide with dexamethasone.

The study investigators point out that the alternating regimen was well tolerated even though Revlimid was administered at a higher than usual dose of 50 mg per day. However, the regimen was not, as they had hoped, more effective than either …

Results of a small Phase 2 study show that the four-drug combination therapy of Revlimid, Velcade, Doxil, and dexamethasone may be an effective and tolerable treatment option for relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients.

According to the study investigators, the four-drug regimen compares favorably to the three-drug combination without Revlimid in that it improves response rates without a significant increase in side effects.

The investigators recommend that future trials further investigate the number and specific types of previous treatments to …