Stem Cell Remobilization With Mozobil Is Possible – Results of a small retro­spec­tive study conducted at City of Hope National Medical Center show that remobilization of stem cells with Mozobil ^[1] (plerixafor) is possible in multiple myeloma patients. Specifically, the researchers found that most multiple myeloma patients (83 percent) who previously failed to collect enough stem cells with Mozobil to proceed to transplantation collected enough stem cells after a second round of mobilization with Mozobil. For more information, please refer to the study in the journal Transfusion ^[2] (abstract).

Another Study Finds Link Between Cereblon Levels And Revlimid Efficacy – Results of a retrospective analysis conducted in Austria and Italy show that levels of the protein cereblon ^[3] in patients’ myeloma cells may impact the efficacy of Revlimid ^[4] (lenalidomide). The researchers found that newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients with high cereblon levels responded better to treatment with Revlimid and dexa­metha­sone ^[5] (Decadron) than those with low cereblon levels. The results of the current study support results of previous studies that showed that cereblon is necessary for the immunomodulatory drugs – particularly Revlimid and Pomalyst ^[6] (pomalidomide) – to be effective against multiple myeloma (see related Beacon ^[7] news). For more information, please see the study in the British Journal Of Haematology ^[8] (abstract).

Stem Cell Transplantation May Be More Effective In Amyloidosis Than Multiple Myeloma – Results of a recent retrospective analysis conducted at the Mayo Clinic indicate that patients with immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis may benefit more from stem cell transplantation than patients with multiple myeloma. Specifically, the researchers found that more light chain amyloidosis patients achieved a complete re­sponse, compared to multiple myeloma patients (40 percent versus 29 percent, respectively). Overall sur­viv­al was also superior in patients with amyloidosis (9.4 years versus 5 years, respectively). The re­searchers found that even among those who achieved a complete response, survival was longer for those with amy­loid­osis. They therefore hypothesize that the biology of the two diseases is very different, despite the simi­lar­i­ty in the two types of plasma cell disorders. For more information, please see the study in the jour­nal Bone Marrow Transplantation ^[9] (abstract).