We should start developing more curative therapies instead of more and more maintenance therapies. Although maintenance therapies are certainly important, the goal should definitely be cure and not control – but I feel like too often too much time is spent on developing maintenance therapies and not curative therapies. I believe the development of more curative therapies in clinical trials for myeloma would bring a cure closer than we think.
Potential examples:
Curative one-shot systemic virotherapy in murine myeloma - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22425894
Targeting Tumour-Initiating Cells with TRAIL Based Combination Therapy Ensures Complete and Lasting Eradication of Multiple Myeloma Tumours In Vivo -
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22615740
Forums
Re: Time until a cure for myeloma
JimNY-
My two SCTs were autologous, not allo. So, is a chance for cure less likely?
My two SCTs were autologous, not allo. So, is a chance for cure less likely?
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lyndaclark - Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: August 2005
- Age at diagnosis: 49
Re: Time until a cure for myeloma
Well Dr. Ken Shain, as a Moffitt patient I appreciate your comments, but the question was about cure and you demonstrate that we are not even close because we don't know very much about it. I'm not sure of the cancers for which you espouse a cure. I am a prostate cancer survivor, after prostatectomy and BMRT because the surgery did not get it all. Not a cure. And still hanging over my head because no one claims it is a cure. I had 3 surgeries for one melanoma, so I undergo detailed examination every 6 months for the following 10 yesrs. Not a cure. I have had 10mm polyps removed during colonoscopy so I am on a 3-year cycle of colonoscopies. No cure. I repeatedly undergo CT scans for lung spots that disappear, but not before exposing me to more radiation. No cure. No disrespect to patients or caregivers or staff. They provide a wonderful level of support, but they do not provide hope of a cure. So now I have multiple myeloma and the "cure" is an allogeneic SCT but that is very dangerous and no one will consider it at this stage. And the "cure" rate is questionable. The alternative of autologous SCT is a postponement, not a cure.
All of the effort and capital put into breast cancer research and we have a great survival rate for those of us who can afford insurance or who are on Medicare, but there is no cure. We are seeing better survival from esophageal cancer, liver cancer and the like. But there is no cure and the treatment contributes to our demise. The treatments are profitable but the cures don't exist because they are not profitable. Not to big Pharma, not to specialists, not to general practitioners.
Some of us got really blind-sided with this multiple myeloma diagnosis. How the hell did we end up here? Some of us had the be-jesus scared out of us by a "specialist" who told us we had 2-3 years to live. I do not look forward to chemo, where you kill me softly with your song. As I said in my original response, I have had promises of a cure for cancer for 64 years and it has not happened. We put men on the moon in less than 10 years, but a cure for cancer has eluded us. I don't think this is due to lack of interest, but the REAL money goes to treatment without cure.
i appreciate and donate to orgs like the IMF and MMRF. Their model is good, but it is treatment focused rather than cure focused. So in response to the original question, I certainly do NOT expect an multiple myeloma cure in my lifetime. The incentives do not exist any more than they do for acne, lung cancer, obesity, heart disease, dementia, or diabetes. Treatment is profitable, cure is not. This is what we on this end of the stethoscope experience.
All of the effort and capital put into breast cancer research and we have a great survival rate for those of us who can afford insurance or who are on Medicare, but there is no cure. We are seeing better survival from esophageal cancer, liver cancer and the like. But there is no cure and the treatment contributes to our demise. The treatments are profitable but the cures don't exist because they are not profitable. Not to big Pharma, not to specialists, not to general practitioners.
Some of us got really blind-sided with this multiple myeloma diagnosis. How the hell did we end up here? Some of us had the be-jesus scared out of us by a "specialist" who told us we had 2-3 years to live. I do not look forward to chemo, where you kill me softly with your song. As I said in my original response, I have had promises of a cure for cancer for 64 years and it has not happened. We put men on the moon in less than 10 years, but a cure for cancer has eluded us. I don't think this is due to lack of interest, but the REAL money goes to treatment without cure.
i appreciate and donate to orgs like the IMF and MMRF. Their model is good, but it is treatment focused rather than cure focused. So in response to the original question, I certainly do NOT expect an multiple myeloma cure in my lifetime. The incentives do not exist any more than they do for acne, lung cancer, obesity, heart disease, dementia, or diabetes. Treatment is profitable, cure is not. This is what we on this end of the stethoscope experience.
A new article regarding curative strategies against myeloma
As noted by the authors, the following engineered reovirus being tested against multiple myeloma has already entered already Phase II clinical trials for solid tumors.
So there is an established safety basis for applying such tools to attack myeloma.
Clin Cancer Res. 2012 Jul 3. [Epub ahead of print]
Reovirus as a viable therapeutic option for the treatment of multiple myeloma.
Thirukkumaran CM, Shi ZQ, Luider J, Kopciuk K, Gao H, Bahlis NJ, Neri P, Pho M, Stewart D, Mansoor A, Morris D.
SourceOncology, Tom Baker Cancer Centre.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Despite the recent advances made in the treatment of multiple myeloma (multiple myeloma) the disease still remains incurable. The oncolytic potential of reovirus has previously been demonstrated and is currently in phase III clinical trials for solid tumors. We tested the hypothesis that reovirus can successfully target human multiple myeloma in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo without affecting human hematopoietic stem cell (HHSC) re-population/differentiation in a murine model that partially recapitulates human multiple myeloma.
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Human myeloma cell lines and ex vivo tumor specimens were exposed to reovirus and oncolysis as well as mechanisms of cell death were assessed. RPMI 8226GFP+ cells were injected intravenously to NOD/SCID mice and treated with live reovirus (LV) or dead virus (DV). multiple myeloma disease progression was evaluated via whole body fluorescence and bone marrow infiltration. HHSCs exposed to LV/DV were injected to NOD/SCID mice and re-population/differentiation was monitored.
RESULTS: 6 of 7 myeloma cell lines and 5 of 7 patient tumor specimens exposed to reovirus showed significant in vitro sensitivity. Tumour response of multiple myeloma by LV but not DV was confirmed by comparison of total tumor weights (p=0.05), and bone marrow infiltration (1/6, LV; 5/6, DV). Mice injected with LV or DV exposed HHSCs maintained in vivo re-population /lineage differentiation demonstrating a lack of viral effect on the stem cell compartment. Reovirus oncolysis was mediated primarily by activation of the apoptotic pathways.
CONCLUSIONS: Reovirus's unique ability to selectively kill multiple myeloma while sparing HHSCs places it as a promising systemic multiple myeloma therapeutic for clinical testing.
So there is an established safety basis for applying such tools to attack myeloma.
Clin Cancer Res. 2012 Jul 3. [Epub ahead of print]
Reovirus as a viable therapeutic option for the treatment of multiple myeloma.
Thirukkumaran CM, Shi ZQ, Luider J, Kopciuk K, Gao H, Bahlis NJ, Neri P, Pho M, Stewart D, Mansoor A, Morris D.
SourceOncology, Tom Baker Cancer Centre.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Despite the recent advances made in the treatment of multiple myeloma (multiple myeloma) the disease still remains incurable. The oncolytic potential of reovirus has previously been demonstrated and is currently in phase III clinical trials for solid tumors. We tested the hypothesis that reovirus can successfully target human multiple myeloma in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo without affecting human hematopoietic stem cell (HHSC) re-population/differentiation in a murine model that partially recapitulates human multiple myeloma.
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Human myeloma cell lines and ex vivo tumor specimens were exposed to reovirus and oncolysis as well as mechanisms of cell death were assessed. RPMI 8226GFP+ cells were injected intravenously to NOD/SCID mice and treated with live reovirus (LV) or dead virus (DV). multiple myeloma disease progression was evaluated via whole body fluorescence and bone marrow infiltration. HHSCs exposed to LV/DV were injected to NOD/SCID mice and re-population/differentiation was monitored.
RESULTS: 6 of 7 myeloma cell lines and 5 of 7 patient tumor specimens exposed to reovirus showed significant in vitro sensitivity. Tumour response of multiple myeloma by LV but not DV was confirmed by comparison of total tumor weights (p=0.05), and bone marrow infiltration (1/6, LV; 5/6, DV). Mice injected with LV or DV exposed HHSCs maintained in vivo re-population /lineage differentiation demonstrating a lack of viral effect on the stem cell compartment. Reovirus oncolysis was mediated primarily by activation of the apoptotic pathways.
CONCLUSIONS: Reovirus's unique ability to selectively kill multiple myeloma while sparing HHSCs places it as a promising systemic multiple myeloma therapeutic for clinical testing.
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Dan D
Re: Time until a cure for myeloma
New cancer treatment may offer cure: researchers ecstatic over test results:
http://www.examiner.com/article/new-cancer-treatment-may-offer-cure-researchers-ecstatic-over-test-results
http://www.examiner.com/article/new-cancer-treatment-may-offer-cure-researchers-ecstatic-over-test-results
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Anonymous
Re: Time until a cure for myeloma
The article anonymous mentions appears to be about news that came out last August. It was discussed in this Beacon article,
https://myelomabeacon.org/news/2011/08/12/gene-therapy-advance-in-leukemia-suggests-new-treatment-options-for-multiple-myeloma/
It has also been previously discussed in these forums several times:
https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/leukemia-gene-therapy-trial-t554.html
https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/advances-in-cancer-drugs-t958.html#p4749
https://myelomabeacon.org/news/2011/08/12/gene-therapy-advance-in-leukemia-suggests-new-treatment-options-for-multiple-myeloma/
It has also been previously discussed in these forums several times:
https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/leukemia-gene-therapy-trial-t554.html
https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/advances-in-cancer-drugs-t958.html#p4749
Re: Time until a cure for myeloma
Hello everyone, I'm a 15 year old girl. Daughter of a 40 year old myeloma fighter, 36 when diagnosed! It was believed that my dad had this cancer a while before diagnosed but because of the young age, doctors didn't think to look for any symptoms of myeloma.
My dad was diagnosed on New Year's Eve 2008, worst start to a year EVER, I remember sleeping in my mums bed with her crying my eyes out!
Before being diagnosed, the cancer had caused my dad to break ribs just by things like coughing and sneezing! At one point, I thought he wouldn't come out of hospital, but thanks to the amazing doctors after sending my dad to Kings College hospital for two months (worst two months of my life, I'm a daddy's girl and I missed him so much) my dad was told he was in remission.
I remember my dad walking into the house for the first time in two months and he just layed on the sofa and cried which obviously set me off aswell!
Every month he goes for a drip and a check up to help keep the remission going and after 3 years of remission the cancer is slowly worming its way back in again but nowhere near as bad as the first time!
When first diagnosed my dads cancer count was 97! Now it is only 9 and my dad was given the choice yesterday to start round 2 of chemo then or wait a while, after thinking about it my dad decided to wait! If the cancer was that bad then the doctors would have just made him start chemo there and then! So I'm not too worried at the moment. However, without knowing my dad had broken another rib and shattered a vertebrae!
I have a tip for all people with any kind of cancer... GREEN TEA! I started drinking it and then after reading on the Internet how good it is for you, i made my dad start drinking it and it seems to be working wonders for him! The cancer count has stayed at 9 for the past two months so seriously, if you haven't already then please try it!
That's it from me, I have high expectations for my dads recovery and I would like to personally thanks all doctors and nurses out there because without you my dad would not be here today! He is my hero and my world! Thank you so much!!
P.S my dog missed my dad during that two month period aswell;)
My dad was diagnosed on New Year's Eve 2008, worst start to a year EVER, I remember sleeping in my mums bed with her crying my eyes out!
Before being diagnosed, the cancer had caused my dad to break ribs just by things like coughing and sneezing! At one point, I thought he wouldn't come out of hospital, but thanks to the amazing doctors after sending my dad to Kings College hospital for two months (worst two months of my life, I'm a daddy's girl and I missed him so much) my dad was told he was in remission.
I remember my dad walking into the house for the first time in two months and he just layed on the sofa and cried which obviously set me off aswell!
Every month he goes for a drip and a check up to help keep the remission going and after 3 years of remission the cancer is slowly worming its way back in again but nowhere near as bad as the first time!
When first diagnosed my dads cancer count was 97! Now it is only 9 and my dad was given the choice yesterday to start round 2 of chemo then or wait a while, after thinking about it my dad decided to wait! If the cancer was that bad then the doctors would have just made him start chemo there and then! So I'm not too worried at the moment. However, without knowing my dad had broken another rib and shattered a vertebrae!
I have a tip for all people with any kind of cancer... GREEN TEA! I started drinking it and then after reading on the Internet how good it is for you, i made my dad start drinking it and it seems to be working wonders for him! The cancer count has stayed at 9 for the past two months so seriously, if you haven't already then please try it!
That's it from me, I have high expectations for my dads recovery and I would like to personally thanks all doctors and nurses out there because without you my dad would not be here today! He is my hero and my world! Thank you so much!!
P.S my dog missed my dad during that two month period aswell;)
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Kelsie
17 posts
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