Articles tagged with: Alkeran
News, Opinion»
The 2014 International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) Annual Summit took place in Milan, Italy on June 9 and 10.
The summit is a special meeting organized by the International Myeloma Foundation in which leading myeloma researchers get to brainstorm collectively about the most pressing issues in the field, find ways to collaborate, and plan future laboratory and clinical studies.
The IMWG summit is hailed by most attendees as the most important meeting for myeloma researchers worldwide. It is a unique opportunity for investigators in the field to engage in lively debate but, …
News»
This year’s American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting began yesterday morning in Chicago and will run through Tuesday.
Myeloma-related presentations were made during two sessions yesterday.
One session was designed to better educate physicians about personalized therapy for elderly patients with lymphoid malignancies. During that session, Dr. Tanya Marya Wildes from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis talked about how to navigate treatment options for older multiple myeloma patients.
The key myeloma-related research presented yesterday was made public during a poster session in the afternoon about studies …
News»
The findings of a recent retrospective study may alleviate some of the concerns patients and physicians have had about Revlimid and the risk of secondary cancers.
The study found that the risk of developing a secondary cancer as a result of treatment with Revlimid occurred mainly when a patient had been treated with oral melphalan at the same time as Revlimid.
Revlimid (lenalidomide) did not appear to be associated with an increased risk of secondary cancers when administered together with dexamethasone or cyclophosphamide.
In addition, although treatment with Revlimid before …
News»
One of the key presentations during the recent American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting in New Orleans was one that summarized initial results of a large international Phase 3 clinical trial known as the "FIRST", or MM-020, trial.
The trial results show that continuous administration of Revlimid and dexamethasone improves response rates as well as progression-free and overall survival in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients who are older or not eligible for stem cell transplantation.
Specifically, the researchers found that the overall response rate was highest (75 percent) among patients who received …
NewsFlash »
Entinostat And Treanda Enhance Each Other’s Efficacy Against Myeloma Cells – Results from a recent preclinical study show that Treanda (bendamustine) and the investigational drug entinostat (SNDX-275) enhance each other’s efficacy against multiple myeloma cells. The two drugs, when given together, were more effective than expected based on the efficacy of either drug alone. Entinostat is an oral treatment that belongs to a family of anti-cancer drugs called HDAC inhibitors. Other HDAC inhibitors under investigation for multiple myeloma include Zolinza (vorinostat) and panobinostat. Entinostat is currently being studied in clinical trials for patients with leukemia and breast cancer. A Phase 1 study of Entinostat in myeloma patients and other blood cancer patients was recently completed, but the results have not been published yet. Treanda is approved in the United States as a treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and certain lymphomas, and it is being investigated as a treatment for myeloma. It belongs to a class of drugs known as alkylating agents, which also includes melphalan (Alkeran) and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan). These drugs damage the DNA of cancer cells, triggering their death. For more information, please refer to the study in Cancer Letters (abstract).
Low Levels Of Adiponectin May Be Associated With A Higher Risk Of Developing Myeloma – Findings from a prospective study show that low levels of the protein adiponectin may be associated with a higher risk of developing multiple myeloma. Adiponectin regulates glucose levels in the blood and is found at lower levels in people who have type-2 diabetes or who are obese. The investigators of the current study compared the levels of different proteins known as adipokines in 174 myeloma patients and 348 healthy individuals. They found that myeloma patients had lower levels of adiponectin than healthy individuals. Based on their findings, the researchers recommend further study of adiponectin as a possible therapeutic target for myeloma. For more information, please see the study in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention (abstract).
Etoposide, Thiotepa, and Melphalan May Be More Effective Than Melphalan Alone – Results from a recent Israeli study show that treatment with etoposide (VP-16), thiotepa, and melphalan may be more effective than melphalan alone prior to stem cell transplantation. In particular, patients who received the three-drug combination had a longer time to progression (44 months versus 17 months) and longer overall survival (not yet reached after a median of 108 months follow-up versus 59 months) than those who received melphalan alone. However, the researchers said that based on the small number of patients included in the study, the three-drug combination appeared to be slightly more toxic than melphalan alone. The investigators still believe that the three-drug combination can be effective in certain myeloma patients receiving a stem cell transplant. Etoposide is a chemotherapy drug used as a treatment for lung and testicular cancer. Previous studies have shown that etoposide is highly effective in mobilizing stem cells. Thiotepa, like melphalan, is an alkylating agent that damages the DNA of cancer cells. For more information, please refer to the study in the journal Leukemia and Lymphoma (abstract).
NewsFlash »
Painkiller May Mobilize Stem Cells – Results of a recent U.S.-based study indicate that the painkiller meloxicam (Mobic) mobilizes stem cells from the bone marrow to the circulating blood so that they can be collected for stem cell transplantation. Like ibuprofen and aspirin, meloxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is being used for the treatment of pain, fever, and inflammation. However, it causes fewer gastrointestinal side effects than ibuprofen and aspirin. The researchers found that meloxicam inhibited prostaglandin E2, a hormone-like substance that participates in a wide range of body functions, which in turn caused modest levels of stem cells, as the study investigators described it, to leave the bone marrow. For more information, please see the study in the journal Nature (abstract).
Spectrum Licenses New Formulation Of Melphalan From Ligand – Spectrum Pharmaceuticals announced earlier this month that they have licensed a new intravenous formulation of melphalan (Alkeran) from Ligand Pharmaceuticals. The new formulation does not include propylene glycol, which is used in the current intravenous formulation of melphalan and has been reported to cause kidney- and heart-related side effects. If the new formulation proves to be safer, it may allow physicians to administer melphalan at higher doses. The new formulation has received orphan drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA’s orphan drug program encourages the development of treatments for rare diseases. Companies developing an orphan-designated drug receive targeted tax incentives and fee reductions. In addition, if an orphan-designated drug is eventually approved by the FDA, it is given extended protection against certain kinds of competition. Spectrum expects to file a new drug application with the FDA in the first half of 2014. For more information, please see the Spectrum Pharmaceuticals press release.
Good Oral And Dental Health May Help Prevent Osteonecrosis Of The Jaw In Myeloma Patients – Results of a small German study indicate that good oral and dental health may help prevent the development of osteonecrosis of the jaw in multiple myeloma patients. Osteonecrosis of the jaw is a condition that is associated with a loss of blood supply to the jaw, causing the jawbone tissue to die. It can occur in multiple myeloma patients during bisphosphonate treatment. The German researchers found that patients with good oral and dental health had a significantly longer time without osteonecrosis of the jaw after the start of bisphosphonate treatment (40 months) than patients with poor oral and dental health (14 months). However, the researchers also found that these factors did not play a role in the course of the ostenecrosis once the disease occurred. For more information, please see the study in the journal Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (abstract).
News»
Results of a recent small Australian study suggest that multiple myeloma patients who relapse within 12 months of their first transplant may benefit from a second transplant with melphalan plus Velcade as the intensive therapy immediately prior to their second transplant.
Based on these findings, the investigators propose that this regimen be further explored in the context of back-to-back stem cell transplants in patients who are at risk for an early relapse.
The study investigators note, however, that their study was small and retrospective in nature, and that a follow-up study with …