An American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting abstract describes initial results from an ongoing Phase 2 study of romidepsin combined with Velcade (bortezomib) for patients with relapsed or refractory myeloma.

Romidepsin is a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi). An HDACi is a compound that disrupts the function of enzymes called histone deacetylases, which contribute to the spread of myeloma.

Laboratory studies have determined that HDACis such as romidepsin significantly reduce the growth of myeloma cells. Additionally, HDACis can enhance the toxic effect of Velcade on myeloma cells.

According to the …

A recent report, published in conjunction with the 45th annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO), suggests that skeletal complications are an important prognostic factor in multiple myeloma patients treated with the drug Zometa (zoledronic acid).

The researchers studied osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), or death of bone tissue in the jaw, which is a common side effect of Zometa. They found that the development of ONJ was associated with a reduced risk of skeletal-related events, such as bone pain and fracture, and increased overall survival.

The …

A recent clinical trial examining the effect of Nexavar (sorafenib) on multiple myeloma patients was terminated because of lack of effectiveness.

Nexavar is currently approved for the treatment of advanced kidney and liver cancers. It acts to stop the activity of overactive proteins that can cause cells to become cancerous.

This Phase 2 study enrolled 23 heavily pretreated multiple myeloma patients, who were given a 400 mg oral dose of Nexavar daily until their disease progressed or toxicity was noted.

The study was terminated because of lack of effectiveness or severe toxicity in the …

An American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting abstract, to be presented on June 1 at the ASCO Annual Meeting, describes a study on the combined effects of tanespimycin and Velcade (bortezomib) on patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. Researchers found that combining tanespimycin and Velcade strengthened the drugs' effects; thus, the combined treatment compared favorably to therapy involving Velcade alone.

Tanespimycin, an antibiotic, binds to and disrupts Hsp90 (Heat Shock Protein 90). Hsp90 is a “chaperone” protein; it helps in the production of other proteins that contribute to …

A retrospective study conducted at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas will be presented at the 2009 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting. Published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the study examined the effects of autologous stem cell transplantation after combination drug therapy in 95 newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients and found that transplantation improved patients' responses.

Prior to autologous stem cell transplantation, patients in the study were treated with a combination regimen of Velcade (bortezomib), Revlimid (lenalidomide), and dexamethasone (Decadron) (VRD); …

On May 31 at the 45th meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO), researchers from Italy will report the results for a Phase 3 study currently comparing the combination Velcade (bortezomib)–melphalan (Alkeran)–prednisone–thalidomide (Thalomid) (VMPT) to Velcade-melphalan-prednisone (VMP) for the treatment of elderly, newly diagnosed myeloma patients.

Overall, the very good partial response rate for patients treated with VMPT was 55 percent, compared to 45 percent for those treated with VMP. After a median follow-up time of 14.5 months, the three-year progression-free survival was 74 percent in the …

The 45th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is set to kick off on May 29 in Orlando.

This year, nearly 30,000 clinical specialists are expected to attend the five day meeting to discuss the latest advances in oncology research, care, treatment, prevention, and survivorship. Over 4,000 presentations and posters are scheduled, with this year’s meeting highlighting personalized cancer care.

The ASCO meeting will include many presentations and seminars focused on multiple myeloma. Currently, 50 myeloma-based abstracts are listed. The Myeloma Beacon will be covering the meeting, and …