Here's something different ... A myeloma specialist is suggesting that the arthritis drug leflunomide (Arava) may be useful as a myeloma treatment:
http://www.cancernetwork.com/conference-reports/ash2012/content/article/10165/2118934
The discussion about leflunomide starts about 2/3 down into the article. Here's the key text:
"The other initiative involves a drug that’s been used to treat rheumatologic conditions, leflunomide. Leflunomide is very potent in treating arthritic problems. It’s involved with urate metabolism. A number of labs have shown that it can have potential anticancer effects in the test tube. In our case we looked at myeloma. This was based on some historic work we did relating to gene expression profiling in myeloma. Last year an elderly woman who had run out of all therapeutic options, whose blood counts were low, we had limited alternatives. We talked about her receiving leflunomide as a single agent, off of a trial but just as a compound that you can purchase. She went on the drug and it had a profound effect on her myeloma that lasted over a year until her life was taken by completely unrelated circumstances."
One thing that makes this drug attractive as a potential treatment is that it is pretty cheap. You can get generic leflunomide at most drug stores.
Here's an article that discusses lab research into the potential effect of the drug on myeloma cells:
http://mct.aacrjournals.org/content/8/2/366.full.pdf
If anyone out there seems to be running out of alternatives for their myeloma, this may be something to keep in mind.
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