Results of a recent study conducted by the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, indicate that pomalidomide (Pomalyst) may be effective in patients who develop extramedullary disease during treatment with thalidomide, Revlimid, or Velcade.

However, the results also showed these patients had shorter overall survival times than patients who did not develop extramedullary disease during treatment.

The study authors indicated that further studies are required to determine whether novel drugs directly increase the likelihood of developing extramedullary …

Finding out that you have multiple myeloma can make you a little neurotic. What else would you expect from someone who has been diagnosed with an incurable form of cancer?

After all, learning you might die in the relatively near future is enough to drive anyone a little crazy.

But the key here is “relatively near future.”

Although there are exceptions, the younger one is when he or she receives their diagnosis, the more difficult the adjustment seems to …

According to a recent study, the bisphosphonate Aredia reduces skeletal-related events, such as bone lesions and bone fractures, in patients with smoldering multiple myeloma; however, it does not prevent disease progression to symptomatic myeloma.

According to the study authors, these findings are consistent with the findings of previous studies that had shorter follow-up times.

Bone disease is frequently associated with multiple myeloma and can cause bone pain and fractures (see related Beacon news). While the symptoms of bone disease …

There have been several additional developments in the past few weeks related to concerns about a potential link between Revlimid and secondary cancers.

A group of myeloma researchers issued a joint statement on the issue; the European Medicines Agency has begun an investigation into Revlimid’s risks and benefits; and there are subtle signs – but no official confirmation – that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration may be conducting its own investigation into Revlimid and its safety.

As the Beacon …

A group of mainly European multiple myeloma researchers has issued a statement regarding the potential link between Revlimid and secondary cancer.

According to the statement, the group initially met in Paris on February 23, 2011 at a meeting arranged by Celgene, the company that developed and markets Revlimid (lenalidomide).

The group includes 12 well-known multiple myeloma researchers, almost entirely from Europe. Among the group's members are investigators from the CALGB 100104, IFM 2005-02, and MM-015 clinical trials, which are the …

For some time, I have been reading about how close a number of multiple myeloma experts feel they are to turning multiple myeloma into a chronic disease.

This should be good news, right?  Novel therapy agents are delaying disease progression for years in a large majority of patients.  Median life expectancy has also jumped up, and these same experts expect that this number should continue to rise quickly.

But a number of multiple myeloma patients are saying “NOT SO FAST!” …

During a recent study, researchers sequenced the genomes of 38 multiple myeloma patients and identified a number of genetic mutations that may contribute to the onset of multiple myeloma.  These findings may help researchers develop improved therapies for myeloma.

Scientists from 21 of the leading research institutes in the United States and Canada contributed to this new genome study that will be published on Thursday in the journal Nature.

The study is important because “it gives insight into the biology …