A Phase 2 trial of Hycamtin, cyclophosphamide, and melphalan showed that the drug combination is a safe and effective treatment regimen for patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma or patients in first remission. The combination, followed by stem cell transplantation, resulted in an overall response rate of 85 percent and a four-year overall survival rate of 66 percent, making this drug combination comparable in efficacy to treatment with melphalan alone.

High-dose melphalan (Alkeran) is the standard conditioning treatment for multiple myeloma patients who will receive an autologous stem cell transplant. …

A Phase 1 study found the four-drug combination of Revlimid-Velcade-dexamethasone-cyclophosphamide (RVCD) to be safe and effective in newly diagnosed, previously untreated multiple myeloma patients.

These results suggest that adding cyclophosphamide as the fourth drug in the treatment therapy may be just as or more effective than traditional two- and three-drug combinations. The study also determined that 500 mg/m² cyclophosphamide, the highest dose tested, could safely be used in the RVCD drug combination.

Previous studies have shown that three-drug combinations can be very effective, including the Revlimid (lenalidomide)-Velcade (bortezomib)-dexamethasone …

Onyx Pharmaceuticals announced yesterday the results of an ongoing Phase 2b trial of single-agent carfilzomib (Kyprolis) for heavily pre-treated re­lapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients. The over­all response rate after 12 cycles of single-agent car­filz­o­mib treat­ment in this trial was 24 per­cent, and the median duration of response was 7.4 months.

According to Dr. Michael Kauffman, Chief Medical Officer of Onyx Pharmaceuticals, the com­pany’s newly released results dem­onstrate the potential for car­filz­o­mib to significantly improve the outlook for re­lapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients.

He cited a recent study conducted by …

This article describes a myeloma patient’s experience participating in a clinical trial. It is part of a series of articles intended to help clarify the clinical trial process.

In August 2008, Phil Brabbs was diagnosed with smoldering myeloma, which most physicians do not treat until symptoms begin and the disease progresses to multiple myeloma. After more than a year of physicians carefully reviewing his blood work, Phil’s smoldering myeloma progressed to multiple myeloma, and his physicians wanted to begin treatment.

Phil’s doctor suggested that he participate in a clinical trial that would …

This article describes a myeloma patient’s experience participating in a clinical trial. It is part of a series of articles intended to help clarify the clinical trial process.

Don was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2004. At the age of 69 and despite living with a cancer that attacks his bones, Don inspires fellow myeloma patients by running in marathons. He has completed three marathons so far this year, is running in one tomorrow, and plans on participating in three to four more marathons just this year. Additionally, Don maintains a blog …

The 46th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) kicks off on June 4 in Chicago.

More than 30,000 clinical specialists from all over the world are expected to attend the five day meeting to discuss the most current research in cancer treatment and care. This year’s meeting, which will feature more than 4,000 presentations and posters, will primarily focus on the theme of “Advancing Quality through Innovation.”

The ASCO meeting will include many presentations and seminars focused on multiple myeloma. The ASCO website currently lists over 70

This guide, which will be published as a series of articles over the next couple of weeks, is intended to help clarify the clinical trial process and to answer common questions so that you can decide whether a clinical trial is the right option for you. The guide will explain the different types of clinical trials, address common concerns, provide answers from physicians to common questions, describe patients’ clinical trial experiences, and provide resources for finding a clinical trial.

If you have decided to participate in a clinical trial, then you will …