Findings from a recent study conducted by a group of European re­searchers show that genetically diverse abnormal plasma cells, known as clones, are pres­ent in all stages of myeloma, from its precursor stages through to its symp­tom­at­ic stage.

These sets of abnormal plasma cells compete against one another, the re­searchers argue, and pro­mote disease progression through a Darwin­ian evolu­tion­ary model -- not by ac­cumu­la­tion of additional muta­tions over time, as was previously believed to be the case.

In addition, the investigators found that abnormal plasma cells acquire more genetic mutations as myeloma …

Carfilzomib, which is a proteasome inhibitor under devel­op­ment as a treat­ment for multiple myeloma, has recently been shown to be a safe and effective treat­ment for myeloma patients with kidney failure, chromosomal ab­nor­mal­i­ties, or periph­eral neu­rop­athy. These results will be presented at the 51st American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition in New Orleans December 5 through 8.

Additionally, ASH presenters will examine the effects of car­filz­o­mib in patients who have pre­vi­ously been treated with Velcade (bor­tez­o­mib) and in patients who are receiving car­filz­o­mib in com­bi­na­tion with Revlimid …