Results of a recent French study show that multiple myeloma patients with the chromosomal abnormality t(4;14) have a high response rate after stem cell transplantation, but continue to have poor overall survival and short remission times.

Compared to conventional chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation helped the patients with t(4;14) achieve higher-quality responses. However, most patients continued to experience quick and aggressive relapses after stem cell transplantation.

The study authors indicated the need for investigation into consolidation and maintenance strategies that would slow down the rapidity and severity of relapses after remission.

Approximately 15 …

Carfilzomib con­tinues to show promising results in multiple myeloma according to four studies presented in a poster session yesterday at the 2010 American Society of Hematology annual meeting in Orlando.

Carfilzomib (Kyprolis), developed by Onyx Pharmaceuticals, is a new drug that is cur­rently being in­ves­ti­gated as a potential treat­ment for multiple myeloma. It belongs to the same class of drugs as Velcade (bor­tez­o­mib). However it works slightly differently by binding to different proteins than Velcade.

Recent research has indicated that car­filz­o­mib is effective for patients with re­lapsed or refractory (resistant) myeloma who …

According to a recent study, myeloma patients with the chromosomal abnormalities del(1p21) or del(17p) had shorter time to disease progression and lower overall survival rates while taking Revlimid-dexamethasone therapy than patients without those abnormalities.

Chromosomal abnormalities result from structural changes of the chromosome.  These changes may occur through deletions, insertions, duplications, or movement of chromosomal regions. Chromosomal abnormalities are considered high-risk factors in multiple myeloma and have been an area of intensive research because they may render patients less responsive to certain treatments.

A series of prior studies have investigated the outcome …

The results of a recent study suggest that although the chromosomal abnormalities t(4;14) and del(17p) are associated with poor prognoses in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients, Velcade-dexamethasone therapy improved survival among patients with t(4;14) compared to treatment with vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone.

However, patients with the t(4;14) abnormality did not respond as well to Velcade and dexamethasone as patients without the abnormality.  Patients with del(17p) did not show the same improvements when treated with Velcade-dexamethasone.

The presence of chromosomal abnormalities in the plasma cells of multiple myeloma patients is associated with poor …

A recent study showed that relapsed and therapy-resistant multiple myeloma patients with an abnormality on chromosome 1, called 1q21 gain, did not respond as well to single-agent Velcade treatment in comparison to patients who lack this chromosomal abnormality.

The study found that the median duration of response, progression-free survival, and overall survival were significantly lower among patients with the 1q21 gain abnormality.

Chromosomal abnormalities are the result of unbalanced changes to the structure of a chromosome, which may occur through deletions, insertions, duplications, or movement of chromosomal regions. They are considered high-risk …

The results of a study comparing the outcomes of multiple myeloma patients receiving Velcade as part of their initial therapy suggest that certain chromosomal abnormalities influence patient responses to Velcade.  The results also indicate that Velcade may be particularly effective in delaying progression of myeloma in patients with chromosomal abnormalities.

The findings were presented at the European Hematology Association (EHA) meeting in Barcelona, Spain.

The study aimed to shed light on the controversial issue regarding appropriate initial therapy regimens, also known as induction therapy, for multiple myeloma patients with high-risk chromosomal abnormalities. …