Chromosomal Abnormality t(4;14) Can Sometimes Be Present In Only A Small Fraction Of Myeloma Cells – Results from a recent French study suggest that the chromosomal abnormality t(4;14) may sometimes be present only in a minor fraction of myeloma cells. Previous studies have shown that the abnormality t(4;14) is present in 15 percent to 20 percent of myeloma patients. In these patients, the abnormality is thought to occur at the origination of the myeloma (called a primary event) and therefore be universally present in all myeloma cells throughout various disease stages. Among the 306 patients in their study, the French researchers found that 8 percent of patients either ‘lost’ or ‘gained’ the t(4;14) abnormality in their myeloma cells during disease progression. More sensitive analysis of cells from 12 percent of such patients revealed that cells containing this abnormality were not entirely absent, but present at very low numbers, even when the abnormality was not detected by standard testing. The re­search­ers conclude that t(4;14) is not always a primary event and can sometimes be present in a small subset of a patient’s myeloma cells at diagnosis or relapse. For more information, please see the study in Clinical Cancer Research ^[1] (abstract).

Researchers Recommend Increased Hepatitis E Surveillance In Patients Receiving Donor Stem Cell Transplants – Dutch researchers suggest that patients receiving donor (allogeneic) stem cell transplants should be monitored for hepatitis E virus infection before and after transplantation. Previous studies have shown that the hepatitis E virus can cause hepatitis in patients with compromised immune function. In the current study, the investigators followed a group of 328 patients who received donor stem cell transplants. About 13 percent of participants had hepatitis E virus present in their blood prior to the transplant. After transplantation, 2.4 percent of patients developed hepatitis E virus infection; 63 percent of these patients developed chronic infection. Half of those who developed hepatitis E virus infection cleared the infection in a median time of 6.3 months, and the others died in a median time of 4.1 months. Based on their findings, the re­searchers suggest that recipients of donor stem cell transplants be screened for the presence of the hepatitis E virus before and after transplantation. They also recommend that physicians should consider hepatitis E virus when diagnosing the cause of liver problems in patients who underwent donor stem cell transplantation. For more information, please see the study in Blood ^[2] (abstract).

Study Investigates Benefits And Barriers To Exercise In Myeloma Patients – Australian researchers recently interviewed 24 myeloma patients to understand what they thought were the benefits and barriers to exercise. About 54 percent of participants were women, and the average participant was 62 years old. The most common forms of exercise were walking or gardening. Based on their interviews, the researchers found that the reported benefits included recovery from disease symptoms and treatment-related side effects, psychological benefits such as feeling good and feeling alert, and social benefits such as connect­ing with other people. Most of the participants also reported enjoying physical activity. Patients perceived disease symptoms and treatment-related side effects, such as pain, fatigue, and fear of infection, as barriers to exercise. Low self-motivation was also a barrier. The researchers advise that physical activity programs should be individualized to take into account patients’ interests and the impact of different types of therapy on physical activity. For more information, please see the study in BMC Cancer ^[3].