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Heart Medication Propranolol May Be Effective For Multiple Myeloma – Results from a recent preclinical study show that the betablocker propranolol (Inderal) may be an effective treatment for multiple myeloma. Propranolol is approved as a treatment for various heart conditions, including high blood pressure, chest pain, and heart attacks.  In the current study, Turkish researchers showed that propranolol triggers cancer cell death in human myeloma cell lines. They suggest that the drug be investigated further for the treatment of multiple myeloma. For more information, please refer to the study in the Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology (abstract).

First Results Of Delanzomib In Cancer Patients Published – European researchers recently published the first results from a Phase 1 study investigating the safety of delanzomib (CEP-18770) in patients with multiple myeloma and solid tumors. Delanzomib, which is being developed by the pharmaceutical company Teva (NASDAQ: TEVA), belongs to the same class of drugs as Velcade (bortezomib) and Kyprolis (carfilzomib) called proteasome inhibitors. Proteasome inhibitors prevent the breakdown of proteins in cancer cells, triggering their death. The study investigators conclude delanzomib has a favorable safety profile.  The most common side effects included skin rash (53 percent of patients), weakness (29 percent), mouth ulcers (21 percent), and fever (16 percent). The researchers did not observe any significant rates of peripheral neuropathy (pain, tingling, or loss of sensation in the extremities), a common side effect of Velcade. Since skin rash was dose-limiting, the researchers are working to determine the optimal dosing schedule for delanzomib. For more information, please see the study in the European Journal of Cancer (abstract).

IMF Myeloma Workshop For Patients And Families – The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) will be hosting a workshop for multiple myeloma patients and their families on November 3 in Sacramento, CA. Dr. Robert Kyle from the Mayo Clinic and nurse Page Bertolotti from the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute in Los Angeles will speak about topics including treatment options, managing side effects, and local clinical trials. For more information or to register, please visit the IMF website.

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Genmab and Janssen Sign License Agreement For Dara­tu­mu­mab For Multiple Myeloma – Danish bio­technology com­pany Genmab has signed a license agree­ment with Janssen Biotech Inc., a sub­sid­i­ary of Johnson & Johnson, allow­ing Janssen to further develop and mar­ket daratumumab for the treat­ment of multiple myeloma. Dara­tu­mu­mab belongs to the same class of drugs as elotuzumab and siltuximab, called mono­clonal anti­bodies. Monoclonal anti­bodies signal the body's immune sys­tem to kill myeloma cells. Dara­tu­mu­mab recently showed promising activity in re­lapsed and refractory myeloma patients (see related Beacon news). It is cur­rently being studied in Phase 1/2 trials, which will be com­pleted by Genmab. According to the agree­ment, which could be worth more than $1 billion, Janssen will com­plete all addi­tional devel­op­ment of dara­tu­mu­mab. For more in­for­ma­tion, please see the Johnson & Johnson press release.

Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial To Study Linsitinib In Relapsed And Refractory Myeloma Patients – The University Health Network of Toronto, in col­lab­o­ration with the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium and Japanese pharma­ceu­tical com­pany Astellas Pharma, is starting a Phase 1/2 trial of linsitinib in com­bi­na­tion with Velcade (bor­tez­o­mib) and dexamethasone (Decadron) in re­lapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients. The trial, which will take place at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, is avail­able to myeloma patients who have received at least one prior ther­apy. Linsitinib (ASP7487, OSI-906) is a protein that triggers cancer cell death by inhibiting insulin-like growth factor 1. Preclinical studies have shown linsitinib to be effective when given with Velcade. For more in­for­ma­tion, please see the clinical trial description.

Revlimid-Delanzomib-Dexamethasone Combination May Be Effective For Multiple Myeloma – Results from a pre­clin­i­cal study indicate that delanzomib (CEP-18770) in com­bi­na­tion with Revlimid (lena­lido­mide) and dexa­meth­a­sone may be an effective treat­ment for multiple myeloma. Specifically, researchers found that the three-drug com­bi­na­tion limited cancer growth more than Revlimid-dexamethasone ther­apy alone. Delanzomib, like Velcade and Kyprolis (car­filz­o­mib), is a pro­te­a­some inhibitor that prevents the breakdown of proteins in cancer cells, triggering their death. The results of the current study sup­port pre­vi­ous pre­clin­i­cal findings that showed delanzomib is a viable alter­na­tive for patients who do not respond to Velcade. Based on their findings the study investigators rec­om­mend addi­tional study of this three-drug ther­apy. For more in­for­ma­tion, please see the study in Leukemia Research.

HIV/AIDS Drug Zidovudine May Be Effective For Multiple Myeloma – Findings from a recent Brazilian study show that the HIV/AIDS drug zidovudine (Retrovir, also known generically as azidothymidine, or AZT) may be an effective treat­ment for multiple myeloma. Zidovudine was the first ther­apy in the United States approved for the treat­ment of HIV.  In the current study, researchers showed that zidovudine triggers cancer cell death in human myeloma cell lines. The study investigators also reported that zidovudine sig­nif­i­cantly reduced the number of myeloma cells in mice. According to the Brazilian researchers, this is the first time zidovudine has been studied in the context of multiple myeloma, and they suggest that the drug be in­ves­ti­gated further for the treat­ment of multiple myeloma. For more in­for­ma­tion, please refer to the study in Anticancer Agents in Medical Chemistry (abstract).

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Delanzomib Shows High Activity Against Myeloma In Preclinical Studies – Results of pre-clinical studies indicate that delanzomib (CEP-18770) is highly active against myeloma cells. Specifically, the researchers found that delanzomib is comparable in activity to Velcade (bortezomib). Delanzomib, like Velcade, is a boronic acid-based proteasome inhibitor that suppresses cancer cell growth by inhibiting the enzymes that break down important proteins in cancer cells. The researchers also found that delanzomib inhibited tumor enzyme activity significantly more than Velcade (60 percent versus 32 percent). In laboratory studies, delanzomib also killed cancer cells that developed resistance to Velcade. According to the study investigators, these results provide rationale for clinical studies investigating the effects of delanzomib. For more information, please see the study in Molecular Pharmaceutics (abstract).

Longer-Term Zometa Use Reduces Rate Of Skeletal Complications In Multiple Myeloma Patients – Results of a recent study show that longer-term use of Zometa (zoledronic acid), an intravenous bisphosphonate, reduces the rate of skeletal complications in multiple myeloma patients with bone disease. In their study, researchers retrospectively assessed the rate of skeletal complications in 1,655 myeloma patients over time. Sixty-four percent of patients received Zometa, while the remaining 36 percent did not receive any form of bisphosphonate therapy. The researchers found that patients who received Zometa for longer periods of time (more than 1.5 years) had a lower risk of developing skeletal complications, including fractures, compared to patients who received Zometa for shorter periods of time. Patients who received Zometa also experienced lower death rates than patients who did not receive bisphosphonate therapy. For more information, please see the study in the American Journal of Hematology (abstract).

TRAF6 May Be A New Therapeutic Target For Multiple Myeloma – Results of a recent pre-clinical study indicate that inhibition of TRAF6 decreases the spread of myeloma cells and increases the rate of self-induced cancer cell death. TRAF6 is a protein involved in cell signaling pathways and plays an important role in promoting the growth, survival, and drug resistance of myeloma cells. According to the study investigators, these results showed that TRAF6 may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of multiple myeloma. For more information, please see the study in Clinical Lymphoma Myeloma And Leukemia (abstract).

MMRF Chicago Awards Dinner – The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) will hold the Chicago Awards Dinner on April 10 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago. The reception begins at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. During the event, Pat Williams, Senior Vice President of the Orlando Magic, will receive the MMRF’s Spirit of Hope Award. Proceeds from the event will go toward the MMRF’s research efforts. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit the MMRF website.

For a more detailed listing of myeloma-related events, please check the Myeloma Beacon Events Calendar.

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NICE Does Not Change Assessment Of Velcade For Myeloma – The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE), the agency that decides which treatments will be funded for patients in England and Wales, announced last week that it will not change its assessment of Velcade (bortezomib) for use in multiple myeloma. In its draft guidance issued last August, NICE recommended Velcade and thalidomide (Thalomid) as first-line treatments for multiple myeloma patients ineligible for stem cell transplant or high-dose chemotherapy. However, Velcade was only recommended as a first-line treatment for patients who cannot tolerate thalidomide. Janssen-Cilag, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson that markets Velcade in Europe, appealed the draft guidance; however, NICE continues to consider thalidomide more cost effective. The final NICE decision is expected in July. For information, please see a related Bloomberg article.

MD Anderson Cancer Center Announces Start Of Phase 1 Trial With CEP-18770 In Myeloma – The MD Anderson Cancer Center announced last week that it will be starting a Phase 1 trial to test the efficacy and safety of CEP-18770 in combination with Revlimid (lenalidomide) and dexamethasone (Decadron) in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma patients. CEP-18770 is a boronic acid-based proteasome inhibitor, like Velcade, that is being developed by the biopharmaceutical company Cephalon. It suppresses tumor growth by inhibiting the enzymes that break down important proteins in cancerous cells. Animal studies showed that CEP-18770 demonstrated superior activity to Velcade, and it caused fewer side effects during treatment. For more information, please see the clinical trial description.

Immune System Therapeutics Expands Phase 2 Trial For MDX-1097 In Myeloma – The Australian bio-therapeutic company Immune System Therapeutics announced last week that it will be expanding the ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial of its investigational drug MDX-1097 to include up to 27 myeloma patients. MDX-1097 is an antibody that binds to certain proteins on the surface of myeloma cells, triggering the immune system to kill the cancer cells. Immune System Therapeutics decided to extend the trial after it received a positive review for the efficacy and safety of the first six patients enrolled in the study from an independent data monitoring committee. For information, please see the Immune System Therapeutics press release.