Early in 2012, The Myeloma Beacon published its first annual review of the previous year's most popular news articles.  The review described 2011 as a year "filled with important multiple myeloma-related news."

The same can be said for 2012.

During 2012, a new drug, Kyprolis ^[1], was approved for the treatment of multiple myeloma; researchers presented new findings about other potential new treatments; experts learned more about the factors that influence a patient's prognosis; second cancers as a results of myeloma treatment were once again in the news; the role of stem cell trans­planta­tion and whether to use maintenance therapy were issues that continued to garner debate; and much more.

To give its readers some perspective on the wide range of myeloma news published in the past twelve months, The Beacon has compiled a list of the news articles and topics its readers found particularly interesting during 2012.

#1: FDA Approval Of Kyprolis ^[2] – In July, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Kyprolis (carfilzomib ^[3]) for the treatment of people with multiple myeloma who have received at least two prior therapies.  Despite the FDA’s initial concerns ^[4] about the safety of Kyprolis, the FDA followed the advice ^[5] of its advisory committee ^[6] and approved ^[7] the drug.  It was the agency's first approval of a new myeloma treatment since it approved Revlimid ^[8] (lenalidomide) for myeloma in 2006.

#2: Prognosis ^[9] – Beacon readers were very interested in articles about the prognosis of people diagnosed with multiple myeloma.  They found particularly interesting a column ^[10] written by Dr. Vincent Rajkumar of the Mayo Clinic as well as news about factors linked to longer survival among newly diagnosed ^[11] myeloma patients and patients who undergo stem cell transplantation ^[12].

#3: Stem Cell Transplantation ^[13] – Beacon readers were also very interested in myeloma experts’ opinions about the role of stem cell transplantation in the treatment of multiple myeloma.  One popular Beacon article covered a debate ^[14] between two myeloma experts on the topic of whether newly diagnosed myeloma patients should undergo stem cell transplantation, as compared to treatment with novel agents.  Another popular article covered an educational talk ^[15] about who is eligible for a transplant, when to perform a transplant, and what type of transplant and post-transplant treatment are appropriate.

#4: Revlimid And Secondary Cancers ^[16] – Results from three studies presented in late 2010 first showed that long-term maintenance therapy with Revlimid ^[8] (lenalidomide) may increase a myeloma patient’s risk of developing a second cancer.  Further light was shed on the subject throughout 2012.  Beacon readers were particularly interested in the FDA’s extensive update ^[17] regarding the risk of developing a second cancer while being treated with Revlimid.  Soon afterward, Celgene, the company that markets Revlimid, withdrew its applica­tion ^[18] in Europe to have the drug approved for use as initial therapy for newly diagnosed myeloma patients as well as for maintenance therapy, and the company postponed the submission of a similar application to the FDA.

#5: Highlights From Medical Meetings, Particularly Data On Potential New Myeloma Treatments ^[19] – Each year, the latest myeloma-related research findings, including results from clinical trials testing potential new treatments, are presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the American Society of Hematology (ASH) meetings.  The Beacon's articles about the ASCO ^[20]and ASH ^[21] research related to potential new therapies were popular among readers, as was the Beacon's look back at all the key myeloma research ^[22] presented at the ASH meeting.

#6: Maintenance Therapy ^[23] – Beacon readers were also very interested in the latest research related to maintenance therapy and its role in the treatment of multiple myeloma.  Dr. David Vesole from the John Theurer Cancer Center wrote a column ^[24] about what is currently known about the benefits and risks of maintenance therapy, and a group of myeloma experts published a consensus statement ^[25] summarizing the main findings from clinical trials investigating different maintenance therapies.  In addition, results from three major clinical trials ^[26] showed that Revlimid maintenance therapy significantly extends progression-free survival and one showed that the treatment improves overall survival, but all three studies showed that Revlimid maintenance also increases a patient’s risk of developing a second cancer.

#7: Pomalyst ^[27] – As was already mentioned, several of the most popular news articles from last year were ones about potential new myeloma treatments.  Among all the potential new therapies being developed for myeloma, Beacon readers were especially interested in Pomalyst (pomalidomide ^[28]). The latest poma­lido­mide clinical trial results presented at ASCO ^[29] garnered particular attention, as did the news that Celgene, the company developing Pomalyst, submitted ^[30] an application to the FDA for the approval of Pomalyst as a treatment for relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma.

#8: Perifosine ^[31] – Another potential new myeloma therapy, perifosine (KRX-0401), also attracted the attention of Beacon readers.  Results of a Phase 1/2 clinical trial ^[32] indicated that perifosine in combi­nation with Velcade ^[33] (bortezomib) and dexamethasone ^[34] (Decadron) may be effective in mul­ti­ple myeloma patients who previously relapsed from, or were treatment-resistant to, Velcade.

#9: Smoldering Multiple Myeloma ^[35] – In an interview with The Beacon ^[36], Dr. Ola Landgren from the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute discussed the implications of a study that showed active treatment may be beneficial for certain patients with smoldering multiple myeloma.  Smoldering multiple myeloma, also called inactive or asymptomatic myeloma, is an early stage of myeloma in which the patient does not yet show any of the common myeloma-related symptoms, such as elevated calcium levels in the blood, kidney damage, anemia, or bone disease.

#10: Gene Therapy ^[37] – Initial results from a study published in 2011 showed promise that an experimental method for treating leukemia using a genetically altered version of each patient's own immune cells may point the way to important new treatment options for multiple myeloma. Follow-up results and additional studies ^[38] conducted in 2012 continued to indicate that this technique may be an important new treatment option in the future for leukemia as well as myeloma patients.