Articles tagged with: Bisphosphonates
Opinion»
After reviewing how long I have had multiple myeloma, my myeloma specialist this July asked me if I had ever had a bone scan done. When I said no, he suggested I get one to establish a baseline. After so much treatment, what were my bones doing?
As we discussed the impact of my myeloma treatments, especially steroids, on the bones, he said to talk to my dentist if it turns out that I have bone density issues. I would need a clean dental bill of health before starting any bone strengthening …
Opinion»
The decisions that we must make as cancer patients are all about risk versus reward. If we are told that, without a recommended treatment, we will surely die, then the choice is pretty easy, almost regardless of the risk.
But the decisions that we face are rarely so easy.
Among patients and caregivers, the most hotly debated myeloma treatment decision is whether or not to undergo a stem cell transplant. There are numerous articles on the topic, and the question is the subject of many discussion threads in the Beacon's forum. …
Opinion»
“You definitely have ONJ.”
Those were the shocking words that came out of the mouth of my oral surgeon about two months ago. The news that I had osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) was totally unexpected.
Granted, I didn’t just happen to aimlessly wander into an oral surgeon’s office, open my mouth, and ask him what he saw. But I was there to have him rule out ONJ.
Instead, he ruled it in.
But his demeanor and what he said thereafter was equally unexpected. He said that he was not …
Opinion»
Back in December and January, while my oncologist was restaging my myeloma and we were discussing courses of treatment, he suddenly said, “And I want you to go see your dentist and ask him whether he sees you having any major dental work done in the next year.”
The calcium levels in my blood were rising. My oncologist intended to start me on a bisphosphonate, such as Aredia (pamidronate) or Zometa (zoledronic acid), as soon as possible to supplement the calcium that was leaching out of my bone. …
NewsFlash »
Patients With Periodontitis May Be At Increased Risk For Developing Osteonecrosis Of The Jaw – Results from a small Australian trial suggest that multiple myeloma patients who receive bisphosphonates and experience periodontitis (inflammation or bleeding in their gums) may be at an increased risk for developing osteonecrosis of the jaw. Osteonecrosis of the jaw is a condition that is associated with a loss of blood supply to the jaw, causing the jawbone tissue to die. It can occur in multiple myeloma patients during treatment with bisphosphonates, such as Aredia (pamidronate) and Zometa (zoledronic acid). Specifically, the researchers found that patients with at least one spot in their gums with periodontitis with a depth greater than 4 mm were at a particularly high risk of developing jawbone disease. For more information, please refer to the study in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (abstract).
Blood Test May Predict Velcade-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy – Findings from a prospective Japanese trial involving more than 60 patients indicate that a blood test may be able to predict whether a multiple myeloma patient will develop peripheral neuropathy (pain, tingling, and loss of sensation in the extremities) when treated with Velcade (bortezomib). The Japanese researchers took samples of each trial participant's blood before the patients started treatment with Velcade. The cells in the blood samples were then stimulated to see how much they started to produce certain immune system proteins. The investigators found that, when stimulated, the blood from patients who did not develop peripheral neuropathy during Velcade treatment was significantly more likely to start producing the protein interleukin 2 (IL-2) than the blood from patients who developed peripheral neuropathy. IL-2 stimulates the production of certain types of white blood cells, known as lymphocytes, which defend the body against infections and other threats. Based on their results, the researchers recommend that the blood test they used be validated in additional studies with larger numbers of patients. For more information, please refer to the article in the Blood Cancer Journal (full text, open access).
Phase 2 Trial To Study LCL161 In Relapsed and Refractory Multiple Myeloma Patients – The Mayo Clinic will soon be opening for enrollment a Phase 2 trial of the investigational compound LCL161, alone or in combination with cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients. LCL161, which is being developed by the pharmaceutical company Novartis, works by binding to, and thereby neutralizing, inhibitor apoptosis proteins (IAPs), which shield cancer cells from cell death. The compound is also being investigated as a treatment for a number of different solid-tumor cancers. For more information on the trial, please see the clinical trial description.
News»
The International Myeloma Working Group, a group of leading myeloma specialists, recently published its recommendations for the treatment of bone disease in multiple myeloma patients.
The researchers recommend that all myeloma patients receiving their first anti-myeloma therapy should also receive treatment with bisphosphonates, regardless of whether the patient shows evidence of bone disease on x-rays. They also note that a minimally invasive procedure known as kyphoplasty, as well as low-dose radiation therapy, may be used to reduce severe pain or bone fractures.
In addition, they explain that most bisphosphonates are well tolerated, …
NewsFlash »
Daratumumab Receives Breakthrough Therapy Designation For Multiple Myeloma – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week granted breakthrough therapy designation to the investigational drug daratumumab. The breakthrough therapy designation is a new designation, signed into law in 2012. It is designed to accelerate the development and review process for drugs intended to treat serious or life-threatening illnesses. Daratumumab is being developed by the Danish biotechnology company Genmab together with Janssen Biotech, a Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) subsidiary. It is a monoclonal antibody, like elotuzumab and siltuximab, that signals the immune system to kill myeloma cells. Results from a Phase 1/2 clinical trial indicated that daratumumab is effective in heavily pretreated myeloma patients (see related Beacon news). For more information, please see the Genmab press release.
Statins May Aid Stem Cell Collection In Multiple Myeloma – Results from a recent retrospective study indicate that statins may have a positive impact on stem cell collection in multiple myeloma patients. Specifically, the researchers found that the success rate for sufficient stem cell collection was higher in patients who received statins during stem cell collection (85 percent), compared to patients who did not receive statins (64 percent). All patients received granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) as a stem cell mobilizing agent. The researchers point out that larger studies are necessary to confirm their findings. Statins are drugs that lower cholesterol levels by inhibiting cholesterol production in the liver. Atorvastatin (Lipitor) is the most common statin administered to patients with heart disease. A previous study showed that statins reduce a myeloma patient’s chance of developing the complication graft-versus-host disease after undergoing a donor stem cell transplant (see related Beacon news). For more information, please refer to the study in the journal Clinical Translational Oncology (abstract).
Study Finds Bisphosphonates May Not Decrease Kidney Function In Myeloma Patients Undergoing Stem Cell Transplantation – Findings from a retrospective study show that the bisphosphonates Boniva (ibandronate), Aredia (pamidronate), and Zometa (zoledronic acid) may not significantly decrease kidney function in multiple myeloma patients undergoing stem cell transplantation. The researchers also found that the impact of each of the three bisphosphonates on kidney function were similar. Specifically, 33 percent of patients who received Boniva, 44 percent who received Aredia, and 21 percent who received Zometa experienced a decrease in creatinine clearance of at least 25 percent over the course of bisphosphonate therapy. The researchers conclude that bisphosphonate therapy for up to three years appears to be safe on kidneys. Bisphosphonates are prescribed in multiple myeloma to slow down and prevent bone destruction. Previous studies have found that bisphosphonates may cause kidney damage. For more information, please see the study in the International Journal of Hematology (abstract).