Results from a recent German analysis suggest that Velcade-based treatment both before and after stem cell transplantation leads to better survival outcomes than treatment without Velcade in multiple myeloma patients with a deletion in chromosome 17.

The German analysis used data from a Phase 3 clinical trial in which some patients with chromosomal abnormalities were treated with Velcade (bortezo­mib)-based therapy, while others were not.

For all types of chromosomal abnormalities, survival was similar or better for patients in the …

In my last column, I described how a couple of incidents, one on the subway and one at work, during the first few months of steroid and Revlimid (lenalidomide) treatment had given me hints that more than physical effects were going to be involved in my multiple myeloma treatments.

After five months on chemotherapy, it seemed that, while my medicines were apparently going to control the myeloma – I was approaching “very good partial response” – I could …

Onyx Pharmaceuticals this afternoon issued an announcement summarizing its full year and fourth quarter 2011 financial results.

Company man­agement also discussed the firm's financial results and near-term plans in an analyst conference call later in the day.

Contrary to speculation by some analysts, today's announcement and man­agement discussion did not provide any significant new in­­for­ma­tion about the ongoing review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of carfilzomib (Kyprolis).

Onyx (NASDAQ: ONXX) has submitted a …

According to the results of a recent large Swedish study, patients with the myeloma precursor disease monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance may have a higher risk of developing infections than the general population.

The researchers found that patients with monoclonal gammopathy of unde­termined significance (MGUS) were more than twice as likely as the general population to develop either a bacterial or viral infection.

However, they found infections did not increase an MGUS patient’s risk of progressing to multiple myeloma.

The …

Say, how’s your brain working these days?

That’s a question for many cancer patients and survivors, but it is particularly one for those multiple myeloma patients who have had at least one stem cell transplant.

Getting a stem cell transplant is pretty intense.

First you start treatment with a cancer drug regimen, or radiation, to reduce the level of myeloma cells in your body and to get your myeloma into the best remission that can be accomplished.

Then you take …

Results of a recent retrospective analysis suggest that donor lymphocyte infusions appear to work better when they are used in patients who have residual multiple myeloma than in those who have relapsed after a donor stem cell transplant.

Donor lymphocyte infusions are considered a preemptive treatment when used in transplant patients with residual disease, and a salvage treatment when used in transplant patients who have relapsed.

“The relapse rate is high with allogeneic (donor) stem cell transplants. Donor lymphocyte infusions …

In keeping with my "war-against-cancer" theme, I thought I'd touch on the topic of unsung heroes this month.

I had originally planned a different topic for this month’s column, but after reading Nancy D’s comment regarding not having a strong support group (in a reply to Nancy S’s recent column), I began reflecting on the people that support me.

Every war has its unsung heroes, those individuals that work behind the lines making sure the war runs smoothly but rarely …