Articles tagged with: Amyloidosis
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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 (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 (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 in patients’ myeloma cells may impact the efficacy of Revlimid (lenalidomide). The researchers found that newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients with high cereblon levels responded better to treatment with Revlimid and dexamethasone (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 (pomalidomide) – to be effective against multiple myeloma (see related Beacon news). For more information, please see the study in the British Journal Of Haematology (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 (abstract).
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Progression From MGUS To Myeloma Is Similar Among Japanese And Westerners – A recent study found that Japanese people with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) progressed to multiple myeloma at rates similar to those previously reported for Westerners. Specifically, the results showed that 3 percent progressed within 5 years, 9 percent within 10 years, 11.4 percent within 15 years, and 32.1 percent within 20 years. For more information, see the study in the journal Rinsho Ketsueki (abstract).
Pomalidomide May Be Effective In Patients With Amyloidosis – Results from a Phase 2 study show that pomalidomide plus dexamethasone (Decadron), a combination being studied for the treatment of multiple myeloma, may also be effective in previously treated patients with immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis. Amyloidosis is a blood disorder that results in the abnormal accumulation of proteins in tissues and organs throughout the body. An estimated 10 percent to 15 percent of myeloma patients also develop symptoms associated with amyloidosis (see related Beacon news). Among the 33 amyloidosis patients included in the study, 48 percent had improved blood cell counts and 15 percent had organ improvement after treatment with pomalidomide and dexamethasone. The median progression-free survival was 14 months, and the median overall survival was 28 months. For more information, see the study in the journal Blood (abstract).
Participants Needed For Myeloma Risk Association Study – The International Myeloma Foundation is conducting a study to determine why certain races and family members are at an increased risk of developing multiple myeloma. The study is a brief survey that multiple myeloma patients can complete via the Internet. To participate, see the study website.
Clinical Insights Education Program – The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) is sponsoring an education program for myeloma patients and their families about multiple myeloma clinical insights. The event will be held on April 27 in New York City. Myeloma experts from leading cancer centers will speak about the latest advances in frontline therapy, stem cell transplants, relapsed and refractory myeloma, supportive care, and clinical trials. A question and answer session is included in the program. Registration will begin at 9 a.m., and the program will conclude at 2:30 p.m. For more information or to register, please see the MMRF website.
For a more detailed listing of myeloma-related events, please check the Myeloma Beacon Events Calendar.
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OncoPep and Dana-Farber Sign License Agreement For Myeloma Vaccine Technology – The biotechnology company OncoPep has signed a license agreement with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston to further develop and commercialize PVX-410, a potential vaccine-based treatment for multiple myeloma. PVX-410 has been shown to stimulate an immune response against myeloma cell lines. Researchers plan to conduct a Phase 1/2a study this year of PVX-410 in patients with smoldering multiple myeloma. OncoPep also hopes to use the PVX-410 technology to develop additional cancer vaccines. For more information, please see the OncoPep press release (pdf).
Celgene Invests $15 Million In Acetylon Pharmaceuticals – Celgene, the company that markets the myeloma treatments Revlimid (lenalidomide) and thalidomide (Thalomid), announced last week that it will invest $15 million in Acetylon Pharmaceuticals. Acetylon is developing ACY-1215, a selective HDAC inhibitor being investigated in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients. Other HDAC inhibitors under investigation for multiple myeloma include Zolinza (vorinostat) and panobinostat. Acetylon hopes that ACY-1215, which is more selective than other HDAC inhibitors, will be more effective and have fewer side effects. For more information, please see the Acetylon press release.
Anti-Alcoholism Drug Antabuse May Be Active Against Myeloma – In a recent preclinical study, Italian researchers demonstrated that Antabuse (disulfiram), a drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat chronic alcoholism, has anti-myeloma effect. Antabuse, alone or in combination with copper, killed myeloma cell lines and cells from 22 newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory myeloma patients. According to the Italian researchers, Antabuse was comparable to standard chemotherapy in terms of its ability to kill myeloma cells, but it did not harm healthy blood cells. For more information, please see the study in the International Journal of Cancer (abstract).
Generic Zometa Recommended For Approval In Europe – Zoledronic Acid Actavis, a generic version of Zometa (zoledronic acid) from the company Actavis, has received a positive recommendation for approval in the European Union. The committee that provides guidance to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) made the recommendation last week. If approved, Zoledronic Acid Actavis, like Zometa, will be available for use in the prevention of skeletal events in persons with advanced cancers involving bone, and for the treatment of tumor-involved high calcium levels. For more information, see the EMA announcement (pdf).
Cyclophosphamide-Velcade-Dexamethasone Combination Is Effective In Patients With Amyloidosis – Two research studies were published last week showing that a combination regimen used in the treatment of myeloma -- cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) in combination with Velcade (bortezomib) and dexamethasone (Decadron), often abbreviated CyBorD or VCD -- may be effective in the treatment of amyloidosis. Amyloidosis is a blood disorder that results in the abnormal accumulation of proteins in tissues and organs throughout the body. An estimated 10 percent to 15 percent of myeloma patients also develop symptoms associated with amyloidosis (see related Beacon news). Stem cell transplantation is a standard treatment for amyloidosis patients who are eligible. One of the studies published last week was a retrospective study that showed that 94 percent of amyloidosis patients responded to CyBorD treatment, and 18 percent of patients who were initially ineligible for a stem cell transplant became eligible following the treatment. The second study also was a retrospective analysis. It found that 81 percent of amyloidosis patients responded to CyBorD treatment, and researchers also observed a rapid improvement in patients’ organ function. For more information, please see the first and second studies in the journal Blood (abstracts).
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The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recently announced several additions and changes to its guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of multiple myeloma at the NCCN 16th Annual Conference on March 11.
The NCCN guidelines are used by physicians when deciding among treatment options for their patients and also by Medicare to determine whether to pay for treatments if the drugs are used differently than their FDA-approved use.
Several treatment options for multiple myeloma were added to the latest edition of the NCCN guidelines.
For transplant candidates, the NCCN added the combination …
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In 2003, Kathy Wilson, a former high school French teacher, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma at the age of 55. Six months later, she was diagnosed with amyloidosis, a rare disease that can occur in some multiple myeloma patients.
“Back in 2003, very few doctors knew what amyloidosis was, had ever seen it, or treated it. I dare say that a lot of doctors had never even seen the word or read anything about it,” stated Wilson.
Amyloidosis is a disease that affects organs such as the heart, liver and kidneys. It …
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During the course of their disease, multiple myeloma patients may develop a condition called amyloidosis. Amyloidosis is a disease in which proteins accumulate in organs such as the heart or kidneys, leading to organ damage and complications associated with some multiple myeloma treatments.
The following article describes amyloidosis as it relates to multiple myeloma and includes some of the current treatment recommendations for patients with this dual diagnosis.
What Is Amyloidosis?
Amyloidosis occurs when proteins accumulate in organs such as the heart, kidney, liver, or intestines.
There are …
