Aeterna Zentaris announced this morning that the company will be continuing development of perifosine as a potential treatment for multiple myeloma.

Speculation arose last month that an ongoing Phase 3 trial of perifosine in myeloma might be canceled due to disappointing results from a Phase 3 trial of perifosine in colorectal cancer.

Perifosine (KRX-0401) is an orally administered drug that belongs to a new class of anti-cancer drugs known as “Akt-inhibitors.” Akt is a protein believed to play an important role …

Solitary bone plasmacytoma is a plasma cell disorder characterized by the formation of a single tumor in the bone.

The tumor, also called a plasmacytoma, occurs when abnormal plasma cells originating in the bone marrow accumulate on the interior surface of the bone. However, in patients with solitary bone plasmacytoma, these malignant plasma cells are typically not present throughout the bone marrow itself or in the soft tissues surrounding the bone.

The following article provides a detailed introduction to solitary …

When we were kids, I bet almost no one ever said, “I want to be an oncology nurse when I grow up!”

All nurses are important.  But oncology nurses are special.  To spend four or five days a week doing hands-on work with cancer patients can be a thankless job.  Sure, there are lots of victories these days – patients are living longer than ever after receiving treatment for most cancers.   But losing patients who have invariably become friends can’t …

File this one away in the ‘I Don't Think They Love Me Anymore’ drawer.  Here’s how a recent phone call went:

“Thank you, Mr. Murray. I will be sure to mark this request urgent. Is there anything else that I may do for you?”

“Yes, there is, actually – and thanks for asking. According to my notes, there have been one, two, three, let’s see, at least six people who have told me that they’ve marked my request urgent and …

Results from a Polish study suggest that a gain in chromosome 1, called 1q21 gain, must be accompanied by other chromosomal abnormalities to negatively affect prognosis in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients on thalidomide therapy.

Based on their findings, the Polish researchers conclude that thalidomide (Thalomid)-based regimens may not help overcome the negative impact of the 1q21 gain on patient survival when multiple chromosomal abnormalities are present.

“The key message [from our study] is that accumulation of adverse genetic abnormalities …

Onyx Pharmaceuticals has proposed ‘Kyprolis’ as the trademarked brand name for car­filz­o­mib.  The name was announced this morning by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The FDA con­firmed in the announcement that the agency’s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee, which advises the FDA during its review of potential new cancer drugs, will discuss the new drug application for Kyprolis (carfilzomib) on June 20.  Onyx (NASDAQ: ONXX), the com­pany developing car­filz­o­mib, announced the review date last week …

When my stem cells were harvested and put in the deep freeze in June 2010, my hematologist said the timing for the transplant was not yet critical.  As long as my blood counts remained reasonably level, and as long I could tolerate the side effects of Revlimid (lenalidomide) and dexamethasone (Decadron), he felt I could postpone the procedure.

A few weeks after the stem cell harvest, I retired from my job because of dexamethasone-related side effects (see my …