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 ^[1] (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 ^[2] 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 ^[3] (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 ^[4] (Cytoxan) for stem cell mobiliza­tion, and then high-dose chemotherapy with melphalan ^[5] (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 ^[6] (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 ^[7] (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 ^[8] (full text).