Articles tagged with: ASH 2010 Meeting
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A recent study showed that Velcade maintenance therapy modestly increased and deepened responses in elderly, newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients after Velcade-based induction therapy. Maintenance therapy also caused small increases in the frequency of side effects.
Dr. Ruben Niesvizky of Weill Cornell Medical College in New York presented the study results at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting in Orlando at the beginning of the month.
Prior to the recent development of novel therapeutic agents, the treatment for multiple myeloma was limited primarily to conventional chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation. …
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Carfilzomib is well tolerated and highly active in both newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients as well as relapsed and treatment-resistant patients, according to the results of two recent clinical trials that were presented at the American Society of Hematology 2010 annual meeting in Orlando earlier this month.
These results further underscore carfilzomib’s activity in multiple myeloma. Several studies with promising results were also reported in poster sessions during the annual meeting (see related Beacon news).
Like Velcade (bortezomib), carfilzomib (Kyprolis), which is being developed by Onyx Pharmaceuticals, is a …
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Patients under age 65 who undergo autologous stem cell transplantation early have significantly higher survival rates than patients who receive continued treatment with Revlimid and dexamethasone, according to a retrospective analysis of a recent clinical trial.
However, Dr. David Siegel, from the Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey and lead investigator of the study, pointed out that these results need to be interpreted cautiously, because the patients were not randomly selected to receive either an early or late stem cell transplant.
The results do suggest, however, that early transplantation may be …
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The results of three ongoing clinical trials suggest that elotuzumab in combination with either Velcade (bortezomib) or Revlimid (lenalidomide) plus low-dose dexamethasone (Decadron) is effective and well-tolerated in patients who have relapsed or have treatment-resistant multiple myeloma.
The findings were presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting in Orlando last week.
Elotuzumab is a new drug being developed by Facet Biotech and Bristol-Myers Squibb as a potential treatment for multiple myeloma. It recognizes and binds to unique proteins on the surface …
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The use of subcutaneous injections to deliver Velcade treatment is comparable in activity, but associated with fewer side effects, than the standard delivery of IV injections in multiple myeloma patients.
“We have similar efficacy with subcutaneous [injections] and a more convenient route of administration for patients, especially those with poor venous access. We don’t require IV central lines, and we do have, most importantly, a reduction in toxicities, which, in my opinion, is really important for our patients,” said Dr. Philippe Moreau, the lead investigator of the University Hospital in Nantes, France, …
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Myeloma Expert Dr. Philip McCarthy To Field Questions At The Beacon Forums Next Week – During the week of December 13 through 17, multiple myeloma patients will have the opportunity to get expert answers to their myeloma-related questions: Myeloma expert Dr. Philip McCarthy from the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NY, will answer medical questions posted to the Beacon’s multiple myeloma forums throughout the week. Readers are encouraged to start posting their questions in the forums.
BT-062 Is Safe In Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma (ASH 2010) – The investigational drug BT-062, which is being developed by the German company Biotest AG, is safe in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients, according to the Phase 1 trial results presented at the 2010 Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH). Researchers tested seven different dose levels (10 mg/m² to 200 mg/m²). Researchers observed severe skin- and mucous membrane-related side effects at the highest dose level. They therefore determined the maximum tolerated dose to be 160 mg/m². A sufficient amount of anti-myeloma activity was observed for this drug to continue to Phase 1/2 testing, which puts more emphasis on the efficacy of the drug. For more information, please see abstract 3060 on the ASH annual meeting website.
ARRY-520 Shows Single-Agent Activity in Relapsed/Refractory Myeloma (ASH 2010) – Phase 1 clinical trial results presented at ASH earlier this week showed that the experimental drug ARRY-520 (filanesib) from Array BioPharma has anti-myeloma effects as a single agent. Four of 30 relapsed/refractory myeloma patients enrolled in the study responded to treatment. ARRY-520 was administered intravenously at different doses (1 mg/m2 to 2.25 mg/m2) on days 1 and 2 of a 14-day cycle with or without growth factors. The maximum tolerated dose was 1.25 mg/m2 ARRY-520, but the dose could be increased with the addition of growth factors. The most commonly reported side effect was low white blood cell counts. Inflammation of the digestive tract mucus membrane was observed at higher dose levels. The maximum tolerated dose in combination with growth factors, which is still being investigated, will be used in the Phase 2 trials that Array BioPharma plans to initiate soon. For more information, please see abstract 1959 on the ASH meeting website and the Array BioPharma press release.
Panobinostat Combination Shows Potential For Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma (ASH 2010) – According to Phase 1 trial results presented at ASH, the oral experimental cancer drug panobinostat (Farydak, LBH589) from Novartis showed promising results in combination with melphalan (Alkeran), prednisone, and thalidomide (Thalomid). Of the 24 relapsed/refractory myeloma patients enrolled in the study, 50 percent responded to the treatment, with 17 percent achieving a very good partial response. However, the initial dose of 15 mg of panobinostat was associated with severe side effects (low white blood cell counts in 69 percent of patients and low platelet counts in 46 percent). Therefore, researchers decided to lower the dose to 10 mg. The rate of low platelet counts decreased, but the rate of low white blood cell counts remained high. The researchers concluded that different dosing schedules need to be investigated to further decrease the rate of blood-related side effects. For more information, please see abstract 3019 on the ASH meeting website.
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Three studies presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition in Orlando support the use of Revlimid as maintenance therapy for multiple myeloma patients.
In two studies, Revlimid (lenalidomide) maintenance increased time to disease progression among multiple myeloma patients after stem cell transplantation.
A third study showed the same benefit for older newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients who are not candidates for stem cell transplantation.
Side effects were minor across all three studies. However, the researchers did observe the occurrence of secondary cancers in a small …
