Articles tagged with: Dexamethasone
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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 …
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Eighth Canadian Province Approves Revlimid Funding – Revlimid (lenalidomide) in combination with dexamethasone (Decadron) is now funded and accessible in Manitoba, Canada for multiple myeloma patients who have been previously treated. Only two provinces, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, deny access to myeloma patients who do not have private insurance. Myeloma Canada, an organization dedicated to supporting myeloma patients, will continue campaigning for universal coverage of Revlimid. For more information, please see the Myeloma Canada press release.
Astex And MMRC Begin Phase 2 Study Of AT7519 For Myeloma – Astex Therapeutics has launched a Phase 2 clinical trial, funded by the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC), of AT7519 for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma patients. AT7519 is a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor that prevents the growth and spread of myeloma cells by interfering with cell division. Previous trials have shown it has significant anti-tumor effect. AT7519 will be tested alone and in combination with Velcade (bortezomib). For more information, see the MMRC press release.
IMF Will Hold Myeloma Patient And Family Seminar – The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) will hold an educational program for multiple myeloma patients and their families on August 27 and August 28 in Universal City, CA. Doctors in the myeloma field will answer questions and cover topics such as managing side effects, current standard treatments, and on-going clinical trials. The cost for the seminar is $60 per person. For more information or to register, please see the IMF website.
For a more detailed listing of myeloma-related events, please check the Myeloma Beacon Events Calendar.
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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 …
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A Phase 2 clinical trial showed that plitidepsin alone had limited efficacy in heavily pretreated relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients. However, plitidepsin in combination with dexamethasone was effective enough to warrant further study. Plitidepsin alone or in combination with dexamethasone was well tolerated.
“Plitidepsin has not shown very significant efficacy when used in monotherapy,” explained Dr. María Mateos, the lead investigator of this study. “Nevertheless, in the present study we have seen some hints of activity in very heavily pretreated patients.”
Among the patients who received plitidepsin alone, 13 percent achieved …
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A recent study showed that initial treatment of multiple myeloma with a combination of cyclophosphamide and thalidomide negatively impacts a patient’s ability to collect stem cells for transplant.
Physicians were able to collect almost 50 percent fewer stem cells from patients treated with cyclophosphamide and thalidomide (Thalomid) compared to patients treated with other commonly used myeloma treatments. This combination therapy may prevent stem cells from moving from the bone marrow into the circulating blood, where they are harvested for stem cell transplantation.
Treatment of multiple myeloma typically begins with a …
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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 …
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The results of a recent study suggest that consecutive low-dose melphalan and high-dose melphalan treatment combined with autologous stem cell transplants is an effective treatment for multiple myeloma patients with manageable side effects.
“The low-dose melphalan step led to complete response and very good partial response rates similar to those of combinations containing Velcade and steroids at a fraction of the cost,” wrote Dr. Nicolas Novitzky, the study’s lead author, in an email to The Myeloma Beacon.
Melphalan (Alkeran) is a chemotherapeutic drug that is frequently used in combination with stem cell …