Today was the third day of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, and the morning was filled with oral presentations about important myeloma-related studies.  Most of the talks were about potential new anti-myeloma drugs.

This update summarizes the presentations about panobinostat (Farydak), obatoclax, Treanda (bendamustine), and MLN9708 (ixazomib), which are all being developed as potential multiple myeloma treat­ments.  In addi­tion, the update includes a recap …

Results from many important multiple myeloma studies were presented this morning during the third day of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting.  Most of the talks were about potential new anti-myeloma drugs.

This update will summarize the presentations about carfilzomib (Kyprolis) and pomalidomide (Pomalyst), two of the most promising new treat­ments being developed for multiple myeloma.  Both of these drugs have been submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for potential approval …

Today was the second day of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting.  Although the day has not been as busy with myeloma-related presentations as tomorrow and Monday will be, there still were some interesting presentations and discussions.

The Beacon published an update earlier today with news from a morning poster session that featured several presentations related to multiple myeloma (see related Beacon news).

This article covers material from an early-afternoon education session that was titled: "Controversies in …

This year’s American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, which is being held in Chicago, began yesterday and goes through Tuesday.

The first of the myeloma-related sessions at this year's meeting began this morning with a poster session, in which important new research findings were summarized on posters throughout a large conference hall.

MLN9708

This morning’s session included two posters about MLN9708 (ixazomib), an oral drug that works similarly to Velcade (bor­tez­o­mib) and …

Results of a small German study indicate that the combination regimen of Velcade, Treanda, and prednisone is effective and well tolerated in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients with kidney impairment.

The majority of patients showed improved kidney function after treatment. The study investigators point out that patients responded rapidly, which may have prevented the development of irreversible kidney failure.

Based on their findings, the investigators recommend that the combination therapy be investigated further in larger clinical trials.

Impaired kidney function …

Do you remember reading about or watching the video of Randy Pausch a few years back?  He’s the dynamic Carnegie Mellon professor who became famous after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer — and then gave an incredible lecture, “The Last Lecture,” about his impending death.  A video of his talk went viral — before viral was even cool.

Randy lived and died with such grace that it is easy to forget that he had a wife and caregiver, …

Multiple myeloma patients receiving an infusion of their own stem cells either one day or two days after undergoing treatment with high-dose melphalan demonstrate similar clinical outcomes, according to a recent U.S. study.

The study investigators conclude that a day of rest between treatment with melphalan and stem cell infusion appears not to be necessary.  Based on their findings, they recommend that melphalan administration the day before stem cell infusion should be considered as standard of care.

According to Dr. …