Results from a recent study suggest that multiple myeloma patients whose monoclonal (M) protein levels continue to decrease after 100 days following stem cell trans­planta­tion may experience improved survival.

Both progression-free survival and overall survival were longer in patients who showed such a continued response without additional therapy after autologous stem cell trans­planta­tion (using their own cells).

“This study confirms the observation that the depth of response continues to improve after trans­plant,” said the study’s lead investigator Dr. Shaji Kumar from the Mayo Clinic. “It is of particular importance to patients who …

Results from a retrospective study show that delaying stem cell trans­plan­ta­tion following initial therapy may result in shorter progression-free survival following transplantation compared to transplantation soon after diagnosis.

However, the results also show that the timing of transplantation does not significantly impact overall survival.

The median progression-free survival after transplantation was 28 months for those who underwent early transplantation (within 12 months of diagnosis) compared to 18 months for those who underwent delayed transplantation (more than 12 months after diagnosis).  This difference was not statistically significant, but the study investigators explain that …

In last month’s column, I wrote about how much my perspective on myeloma therapy has changed over the past six years since my diagnosis.  In a nutshell, I’m more willing to try new things and endure troubling side effects now than I was back when I was still a “rookie.”

My attitude about stem cell transplants is a perfect example of this.  I look at stem cell transplants differently now – both allogeneic transplants (using donor stem cells) and autologous transplants (using my own stem cells).  Not only would I be …

Researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin recently found that mul­ti­ple myeloma patients are at an increased risk of engraftment syndrome following stem cell transplantation, compared to patients with lym­pho­ma. Engraftment syndrome is a complication that can occur soon after stem cell transplantation.

Within the myeloma population, the risk of engraftment syndrome was in­creased in patients who are over 60 years of age, have been treated with the novel agents Revlimid (lenalidomide) and/or Velcade (bortezo­mib), or have not been treated with cyclo­phos­phamide (Cytoxan).

“The most important finding is the increased …

Results from a small Phase 2 study conducted in Italy demon­strate that se­quen­tial treatment with novel agents and au­tol­o­gous stem cell trans­plan­ta­tion with intermediate-dose melphalan is a safe and ef­fec­tive treat­ment for older, newly diagnosed myeloma patients.

“This is the first study with a sequential approach of Velcade in­duc­tion, autol­o­gous stem cell trans­plan­ta­tion, and Revlimid main­te­nance,” said the study’s lead investigator, Dr. Antonio Palumbo of the University of Torino in Italy.

The regimen was safest in patients under the age 70; patients aged 70 years and older ex­peri­enced more treatment-related side effects …

This year’s American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), which was held in Chicago, began on Friday and concluded on Tuesday.

Monday was the busiest day at the meeting with regard to myeloma re­search.  It featured a session of oral pre­sen­ta­tions in the morn­ing and a poster session in the afternoon.

This up­date summarizes the myeloma-related stud­ies pre­sented during the afternoon poster session, which was the final myeloma-related session of the meeting. An earlier article covered the findings from the oral pre­sen­ta­tions that were given in the morn­ing.

Most of the key …

This year’s annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) came to an end yesterday in Chicago.

Monday was the busiest day with regard to myeloma-related research. The day started with an oral presentation session that in­cluded eight talks about im­por­tant new myeloma-related research. A poster session in the afternoon in­cluded several posters about myeloma-related research.

This article summarizes the most im­por­tant findings from Monday's oral pre­sen­ta­tion session. A later article will cover the findings from the after­noon poster session.

The content in our daily updates is based on the …