Today was the third day of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, and the morning was filled with oral presentations about important myeloma-related studies.  Most of the talks were about potential new anti-myeloma drugs.

This update summarizes the presentations about panobinostat (Farydak), obatoclax, Treanda (bendamustine), and MLN9708 (ixazomib), which are all being developed as potential multiple myeloma treat­ments.  In addi­tion, the update includes a recap of a presenta­tion about the safety of long-term bis­phos­pho­nate use.

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Results of a small Turkish study indicate that laser surgery may be a viable treatment option for cancer patients who experience bisphosphonate-related bone death in their jaws.

Specifically, the study authors found that patients who received laser surgery achieved higher rates of complete healing than patients who received conventional surgery. While the results are suggestive, the study was small and the difference in the rates was not considered significant.

According to Dr. Belir Atalay of Istanbul University in Turkey and lead author of the study, laser surgery may be a better treatment …

Multiple myeloma is the most frequent cancer to involve the skeleton, with up to 80 percent of patients having bone disease. Although fewer patients appear to have bone involvement more recently, it is still a major source of both complications and death among patients with myeloma.

Bone disease is so severe in myeloma because the normal bone remodeling process is disrupted. In normal individuals, damaged bone is removed by bone-destroying cells, the osteoclasts, and then bone is replaced by bone-forming cells, the osteoblasts. In myeloma, the number and activity of the bone-destroying …

The 47th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) will take place Friday, June 3, through Tuesday, June 7, in Chicago.

More than 30,000 clin­i­cal spe­cialists from all over the world are ex­pected to attend the five-day meeting to discuss the cur­rent re­search in cancer treat­ment and care. This year’s meeting will primarily focus on the theme of “Patients, Pathways, Progress.”

The meeting will in­clude many pre­sen­ta­tions and seminars focused spe­cif­i­cally on mul­ti­ple myeloma. The ASCO website cur­rently lists over 40 myeloma-based abstracts.

The Myeloma Beacon will be …

A group of leading myeloma specialists, known as the International Myeloma Working Group, recently collaborated to develop guidelines for the proper management of bone disease in multiple myeloma. The group recommended that patients with bone disease should be treated with standard dosages of intravenous bisphosphonates. A minimally invasive procedure called kyphoplasty may also be considered to reduce bone pain and improve functional ability.

Dr. David Roodman of the University of Pittsburgh presented these findings at the International Myeloma Workshop (IMW) on May 6 in Paris.

Most multiple myeloma patients develop bone disease, …

Results of a recent study indicate that a history of smoking, the use of the bisphosphonate Aredia, and five genetic variations may put multiple myeloma patients at an increased risk of developing osteonecrosis of the jaw, a rare but serious side effect of bisphosphonate treatment.  Several of the genes the study authors identified are involved in bone formation, osteoporosis, and wound healing.

The study authors noted that if their findings can be confirmed in larger studies, they could be used to tailor bisphosphonate treatment for patients carrying these genetic variations, thus decreasing …

According to a recent study, the bisphosphonate Aredia reduces skeletal-related events, such as bone lesions and bone fractures, in patients with smoldering multiple myeloma; however, it does not prevent disease progression to symptomatic myeloma.

According to the study authors, these findings are consistent with the findings of previous studies that had shorter follow-up times.

Bone disease is frequently associated with multiple myeloma and can cause bone pain and fractures (see related Beacon news). While the symptoms of bone disease can be treated with radiation therapy and surgical procedures, bisphosphonates are currently …