Findings from a retrospective study of stem cell transplantation among U.S. and Canadian multiple myeloma patients show that the technique has become more common in the past 15 years.

In addition, the outcomes associated with the procedure have improved over time.

“There was progressively improved survival for multiple myeloma patients managed with autologous stem cell transplantation as an initial therapy,” said Dr. Luciano Costa from the Medical University of South Carolina, who presented the results at the American Society for Hematology (ASH) annual meeting last month.

“Stem cell transplants have also remained …

Results of a Canadian retrospective analysis indicate that multiple myeloma patients who develop one or more new monoclonal proteins (M-spikes) after stem cell transplantation may have improved progression-free and overall survival compared to those without a new M-spike.

Myeloma cells overproduce a single type of antibody, known as a monoclonal or M-protein. Different types of myeloma are classified according to the type of M-protein the patient’s myeloma cells produce.

When a patient’s original M-spike disappears and an M-spike of a different monoclonal protein appears, this is known as monoclonal banding.  When the …

Results from a recent retrospective study demonstrate that the risk of infection is significantly higher in multiple myeloma patients compared to the general population.

Furthermore, the study investigators found that the rate of infection in myeloma patients has increased in recent years.

“Our study raises the question whether modern myeloma therapy increases the risk of infections,” said Dr. Cecilie Blimark from the Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden, who presented the study findings at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting last month.

“The increasing risk [of developing an infection] in …

Daratumumab con­tinues to show promise for re­lapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients. Results from a Phase 1/2 study indicate that dara­tu­mu­mab may be effective and safe in heavily pre­treated patients.

In particular, dara­tu­mu­mab's activity as an anti-myeloma agent seems at least as good as that of the newest myeloma ther­a­pies.

“The response to dara­tu­mu­mab was accompanied by the clearance of myeloma cells,” said Dr. Torben Plesner from the Vejle Hospital in Denmark, who presented the findings from the dara­tu­mu­mab trial at the 2012 American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting last month.

“Daratumumab …

Results from an ongoing Phase 1 study demonstrate that lorvotuzumab mertansine in combination with Revlimid and dexamethasone is effective as a therapy for relapsed and refractory myeloma patients.

The updated trial results were presented by Dr. Jesus Berdeja from the Sarah Cannon Research Institute in Nashville, Tennessee, the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting in Atlanta last month.

Ten patients are currently continuing with the clinical trial. According to Dr. Berdeja, these interim results support the continued evaluation of the combination in relapsed and refractory myeloma patients. "This was a fairly …

Results from a Phase 1 study indicate that tabalumab in combination with Velcade demonstrates both efficacy and safety in myeloma patients who have relapsed after several previous therapies.

Dr. Nooper Raje from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston presented the results of the study at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting earlier this month. She explained that tabalumab was very promising in this particular patient population, and added that “this was a very well tolerated regimen.”

However, Dr. Raje emphasized that further study of tabalumab at higher doses and in combination …

This year’s meeting of the American Society of He­ma­tol­ogy (ASH) was held De­cem­ber 8 through 11 in Atlanta.

During the meeting, The Beacon pub­lished daily up­dates that provided overviews of the im­por­tant mul­ti­ple myeloma findings pre­sented during the meeting.  After the meeting concluded, The Beacon began pub­lishing in-depth articles about the key re­search findings.

This article, how­ever, shifts the focus to the bigger picture: What were the key findings of the meeting? Were there re­­sults with im­medi­ate implica­tions for the treat­ment of mul­ti­ple myeloma?  Did the re­search …