Hybrid Drugs Based On Thalidomide And Curcumin May Be A Future Treat­ment Option For Myeloma Patients – Results from a recent preclinical study indicate that hybrid molecules combining chemical structures from thal­ido­mide (Thalomid) and curcumin may be potential treatments for multiple myeloma. Specifically, the investigators found that two particular hybrid mole­cules were effective in killing myeloma cells and were safer than either drug alone. Cur­cu­min is the major active compound in turmeric, a popular Indian spice. Several early-stage studies have investigated curcumin's potential as a myeloma treat­ment (see related Beacon news articles). Ac­cord­ing to the re­search­ers, hybrid drug therapy, which involves combining elements from two or more drugs into one molecule, is a promising treatment option for myeloma because it may be be safer and associated with a reduced risk of developing drug resistance. For more information, please refer to the study in the journal Organic and Bimolecular Chemistry (abstract).

Tandem Autologous Stem Cell Transplants May Not Cause Serious Heart Problems – Results from a small, retrospective Slovenian study suggest that two back-to-back, or tandem, autologous stem cell trans­plants (using the patient’s own cells) may not cause serious heart problems in the long-term. The study in­cluded 12 patients, each of whom received cyclo­phos­pha­mide (Cytoxan) for stem cell mobiliza­tion, and then high-dose chemotherapy with melphalan (Alkeran) prior to each transplant.  None of the patients de­vel­oped critical heart issues six years after their tandem transplant.  However, the re­search­ers did detect some signs of heart damage in the more detailed tests they carried out.  Thus, the authors recommend long-term follow-up studies with tandem transplant patients, in part because of the increasing life expectancy of myeloma patients. For more information, please see the study in journal Radiology and Oncology (full-text).

Methotrexate-Cytarabine Combination May Be Useful For Stem Cell Remobilization – Results from a small study conducted in South Korea indicate that a combination of high-dose methotrexate and cytarabine (Cyto­sar-U) plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) may be a useful alternative for stem cell mobili­za­tion.  Cytarabine is an older chemo­thera­py drug which has been used in the treatment of certain leukemias and lymphomas.  Methotrexate also is an older drug, which has been used in high doses as a chemo­thera­py agent, and in low doses to treat various auto­immune dis­orders, including rheuma­toid arthritis.  The Ko­re­an study included eight patients who had previously failed to mobilize sufficient stem cells using regimens including G-CSF and conventional chemo­therapy agents.  Of those eight patients, all but one were able to mobilize a sufficient number of stem cells using the methotrexate-cytarabine-G-CSF combination. The re­search­ers point out that larger studies are necessary to confirm their findings. For more information, please refer to the study in the journal Transfusion (abstract).

Donated, Virus-Specific White Blood Cells Effective For Severe Viral Infections After Donor Trans­plan­ta­tion – Results of a recent study show that donated t-cells, a type of white blood cell, can be used to treat severe viral infections in patients who have undergone allogeneic (donor) stem cell trans­plan­ta­tion.  During the study, virus-specific t-cells were collected from individuals who were immune to certain viral infections. The do­nated t-cells were then used to treat a total of 50 patients who had undergone a donor stem cell trans­plant and then developed a severe viral in­fec­tion.  In 74 percent of the cases, the donated t-cell treat­ment led to either a partial or complete elimination of the viral infection.  According to the researchers, the treatment was well tolerated; there were no infusion-related side effects, and only 4 percent of the patients developed graft-versus-host disease after the t-cell infusions.  Graft-versus-host disease is a com­pli­ca­tion that arises when donor cells identify the recipient cells as foreign and attack them. For more information, please the study in the journal Blood (full text).