The 13^th International Myeloma Workshop will take place Tuesday, May 3, through Friday, May 6, in Paris.  During the four-day meeting, multiple myeloma specialists from all over the world will discuss the current understanding of the biology and treatment of myeloma.

Additionally, much awaited data about the safety and effectiveness of Revlimid (lenalidomide) maintenance therapy will be presented at the meeting.

The Myeloma Beacon will be covering the event, so readers can expect many articles during the meeting and in the weeks afterward about the key myeloma findings.

The International Myeloma Workshop (IMW) is a meeting organized by an international group of myeloma specialists and held every other year.

The first day of this year’s meeting will focus on the biology of multiple myeloma and bone involvement.

Some of the highlights from the second day will include sessions on high-risk myeloma, the continuum of care for myeloma patients, and treating younger newly diagnosed patients as well as a debate about whether to treat smoldering myeloma patients and a poster session on myeloma therapy.

The third day will feature sessions on treating older newly diagnosed patients, new drugs and therapeutic approaches, secondary cancers, and individualizing patient treatment.

The meeting will conclude on the fourth day with discussions about supportive care and a session on clinical trial results.

Abstracts for many of the presentations are now available on the IMW website.

The most recent data from the CALG-B study show that Revlimid maintenance extends survival compared to placebo.  As of February 2011, 91 percent of patients treated with Revlimid maintenance were still alive compared to 84 percent of patients who did not receive Revlimid.

These results are important as the debate continues about whether the benefits of Revlimid maintenance outweigh the risk that it may be linked to higher rates of patients developing a second cancer (see related Beacon news).  Updated data and more discussions about Revlimid and second cancers are expected at the meeting.

Additional information about the meeting, including details about registration, the meeting schedule, and abstracts, can be found at the IMW website.