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Subcutaneous Velcade Gets Positive Opinion From European Advisory Committee – An advisory committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has granted a positive opinion recommending European approval of subcutaneous Velcade (bortezomib). The committee’s decision was based on results of a Phase 3 study demonstrating that subcutaneous Velcade is as effective as intravenous Velcade but associated with fewer and less serious side effects.  Updated, longer-term results of the Phase 3 study were recently published in the journal Hematologica (abstract).  The EMA is expected to decide whether or not to approve subcutaneous Velcade within 30 to 60 days.  For information, see the press release from Janssen-Cilag, the company that markets Velcade in Europe.

Oxycontin May Reduce Peripheral Neuropathic Pain After Velcade Treatment – Results from an Italian study suggest that treatment with the pain medication Oxycontin (controlled-release oxycodone) may help control Velcade-induced peripheral neuropathic pain that is unresponsive to other pain killers. The 62 myeloma and lymphoma patients who participated in the study reported an average reduction in pain intensity from 7.6 to 1.3 (on an 11-point rating scale) after two weeks of Oxycontin treatment. The frequency of brief pain was also reduced with Oxycontin treatment. About 75 percent of the study participants found the treatment very effective or effective; 51 percent experienced slight or mild side effects. For more information, see the related journal article in Supportive Care in Cancer (abstract).

Ibrutinib (PCI-32765) Shows Activity Against Multiple Myeloma – Results from a preclinical study suggest that the investigational drug ibrutinib (PCI-32765) is active in multiple myeloma. Ibrutinib blocks activity of an enzyme called Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (Btk). Btk is present both in antibody-producing cells and in cells called osteoclasts that remove bone tissue. Ibrutinib, which is being developed by the California-based biotech company Pharmacyclics together with Johnson & Johnson, is being investigated as a potential treatment for a number of different blood cancers. Two Phase 3 clinical trials of the drug in leukemia and lymphoma patients are about to start, and a Phase 2 trial in myeloma patients is ongoing.  For more information, see the preclinical study results in the journal Blood (abstract) and the clinical trial description for the Phase 2 myeloma trial.

Blood Calcium Levels May Be An Independent Prognostic Factor In Multiple Myeloma – Results from a small Mexican study suggest that calcium levels in the blood may be an independent  predictor of overall survival in multiple myeloma patients. Blood calcium levels typically rise during multiple myeloma, as loss of bone structure releases calcium into the blood. In this study, researchers compared the levels of hemoglobin, platelets, calcium, and a wide range of enzymes and proteins in the blood of healthy individuals and multiple myeloma patients. The level of calcium in a myeloma patient's blood was the only factor that, on its own, correlated with overall survival. For more information, please see the study in Revista de investigación clínica (abstract).

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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, …

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This article is the second in a two-part series about nutrition for multiple myeloma patients. The first article provides an introduction to nutrition for cancer patients as well as tips for getting the right nutrition. This, the second article, describes sources and amounts of nutrients that are important for myeloma patients.

Taking nutritional supplements is common among multiple myeloma patients and other cancer patients. These supplements, including vitamins, minerals, and various plant compounds, may be important to keep the body …

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Vitamin D and calcium supplements may be used together to prevent cancer, including multiple myeloma, according to an article in the September issue of the journal Anticancer Research.

Many scientists cite vitamin D deficiency as a risk factor for several types of cancer. In fact, research has indicated that people who maintain high levels of vitamin D may reduce their risk of breast cancer by up to 70 percent. Other studies have established a significant inverse relationship between UV-B exposure and death in 15 forms of cancer. Vitamin D is naturally produced …