University Of Arkansas Begins Phase 2 Study Of Natural Killer Cell Therapy For Multiple Myeloma – Researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences are cur­rently recruiting high-risk, re­lapsed multiple myeloma patients to par­tic­i­pate in a Phase 2 clin­i­cal trial investigating the effectiveness of natural killer cell ther­apy. A natural killer cell is a type of white blood cell that fights cancer cells. Participants will be treated with Velcade ^[1] (bor­tez­o­mib) as well as natural killer cell infusions and protein infusions that increase natural killer cell activity.  Natural killer cells for each participant will be obtained from a family member, if avail­able, or from the patient directly. Participants must be between the ages of 18 and 75. If interested in participating in the study, please contact Dr. Bijay Nair at . For more in­for­ma­tion, see the clinical trial ^[2] description and results from a Phase 1 study ^[3] of this ther­apy.

National Cancer Institute To Begin Phase 1 Study Of Reolysin For Multiple Myeloma – Oncolytics Biotech, the com­pany devel­op­ing the drug Reolysin, recently announced plans for a Phase 1 clin­i­cal trial investigating the effectiveness of Reolysin in re­lapsed multiple myeloma patients. Reolysin is a formulation of a common human virus that is able to infect and kill certain cancer cells, including myeloma cells. The study is sponsored by the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program of the U.S. National Cancer Institute and is not yet recruiting participants. For more in­for­ma­tion, please see the Oncolytics ^[4] press release.

Multiple Myeloma Education Programs – Two educational pro­grams for multiple myeloma patients will be held on May 21. Dr. Robert Vescio ^[5] will speak at the event held in Riverside, CA, and Dr. Ruben Niesvizky ^[6] will speak at the event in Albany, NY. The physicians will also answer patients’ questions. In addi­tion, a multiple myeloma patient will speak at each pro­gram. Attendees can also connect with others at the event who have been affected by myeloma. Both events are sponsored by Millennium. For more in­for­ma­tion, please see the Beacon event descriptions (Riverside ^[7], Albany ^[8]). To register, call 1-866-508-6181.

For a more detailed listing of myeloma-related events, please check the Myeloma Beacon Events Calendar ^[9].