Forums
2 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Multiple Myeloma therapy
Dear Dr. McCarthy, multiple myeloma is despite recent advandes one of the hematologic malignancies with the poorest outcome. So we as patients hope for new therapies, that are coming soon. Unfortunately a control of the disease will not be reached in the next 3 to 5 years, when you read the publications. In the economy, foremost in the software development, projects gets speed through faster information sharing. My question is, if I'm right with the observation, that medicine research is at the moment often published in print titles? 5-10 month after the research data, the publication is public. What do you think, how could myeloma therapy develop therapies faster than now? Would a myeloma platform help, where all research will be published? And finally, what are the big and clear defined milestones for you in the next 3-5 years (despite the heavily discussed agents carfilzomib, pomalidomide, elotuzumab). Thank you for your time. Patrizia Veglianti
Re: Multiple Myeloma therapy
Hi,
Good questions. There is a lot of research going forward on understanding the molecular basis of myeloma, the immune responses to this disease, new treatment approaches and cooperative groups trials to test new agents. The International Myeloma Working Group gathers experts from around the world to discuss and make recommendations for the best approaches to treating this disease. Many agencies in the US and other countries fund and conduct research on treating this type of cancer. The International Myeloma Foundation, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, the European Myeloma network, the French Myeloma Intergroup, the Dutch/Belgian Cooperative Trial Group, the Italian, German, Scandinavian, and Greek Myeloma Networks, the Cancer and Leukemia Group B, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, Southwest Oncology Group, Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network are some of the groups that promote education and research regarding multiple myeloma. (My apologies to anyone who I left out as there are many clinical and research centers that conduct myeloma research.) There are strong research groups in the US, Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and Australia that are conducting laboratory and clinical trials for the understanding and treatment of this disease. There is a large amount of data sharing that takes place at international meetings so that investigators are aware of the latest pre-clinical and clinical information. Of course when you have the disease, the pace of the research is never fast enough. I can speak from experience as one of my family members has chronic lymphocytic leukemia and I look forward to the day when there is a definitive cure for this type of leukemia.
So for the big milestones: Multiple myeloma is a heterogeneous disease as manifested by different cytogenetic abnormalities as well as other laboratory molecular tests. Understanding these differences will allow for the development of better therapies as well as the ability to predict response and hopefully chose the best treatment agents for a patient for both initial as well as salvage therapy. Testing new therapies will allow for prolonging responses as well salvaging patients whose disease comes back. The ultimate goal is cure of multiple myeloma but in the meantime, controlling this disease while maintaining good quality of life is an intermediate goal that is becoming more attainable.
Good questions. There is a lot of research going forward on understanding the molecular basis of myeloma, the immune responses to this disease, new treatment approaches and cooperative groups trials to test new agents. The International Myeloma Working Group gathers experts from around the world to discuss and make recommendations for the best approaches to treating this disease. Many agencies in the US and other countries fund and conduct research on treating this type of cancer. The International Myeloma Foundation, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, the European Myeloma network, the French Myeloma Intergroup, the Dutch/Belgian Cooperative Trial Group, the Italian, German, Scandinavian, and Greek Myeloma Networks, the Cancer and Leukemia Group B, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, Southwest Oncology Group, Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network are some of the groups that promote education and research regarding multiple myeloma. (My apologies to anyone who I left out as there are many clinical and research centers that conduct myeloma research.) There are strong research groups in the US, Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and Australia that are conducting laboratory and clinical trials for the understanding and treatment of this disease. There is a large amount of data sharing that takes place at international meetings so that investigators are aware of the latest pre-clinical and clinical information. Of course when you have the disease, the pace of the research is never fast enough. I can speak from experience as one of my family members has chronic lymphocytic leukemia and I look forward to the day when there is a definitive cure for this type of leukemia.
So for the big milestones: Multiple myeloma is a heterogeneous disease as manifested by different cytogenetic abnormalities as well as other laboratory molecular tests. Understanding these differences will allow for the development of better therapies as well as the ability to predict response and hopefully chose the best treatment agents for a patient for both initial as well as salvage therapy. Testing new therapies will allow for prolonging responses as well salvaging patients whose disease comes back. The ultimate goal is cure of multiple myeloma but in the meantime, controlling this disease while maintaining good quality of life is an intermediate goal that is becoming more attainable.
-
Dr. Philip McCarthy - Name: Philip McCarthy Jr., M.D.
2 posts
• Page 1 of 1