As The Beacon continues its ‘ASH Preview’ series about myeloma re­search that will be presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting in early December, this article focuses on novel im­muno­therapy approaches that are being studied in clinical trials.

Abstracts for the ASH presentations are now available, although many contain pre­lim­i­nary information that will be updated at the meet­ing.

The Beacon’s ASH preview articles are intended to highlight the meet­ing’s most interesting myeloma-related studies.

The first several of the preview articles, which were published over the past …

Results from a small Italian Phase 2 clinical trial indicate that Velcade plus dexamethasone, followed by donor lymphocyte infusions, may be an important treatment option for patients who relapse after donor stem cell transplantation.

The findings show that almost two-thirds of the patients responded to the Velcade (bortezomib)-dexamethasone (Decadron) combination, and that donor lymphocyte infusions deepened the responses achieved with Velcade-dexamethasone.

The study investigators also note that side effects associated with the treatment were manageable and expected, considering the high likelihood of these patients developing transplant-related complications.

The Italian study …

Results of a recent retrospective analysis suggest that donor lymphocyte infusions appear to work better when they are used in patients who have residual multiple myeloma than in those who have relapsed after a donor stem cell transplant.

Donor lymphocyte infusions are considered a preemptive treatment when used in transplant patients with residual disease, and a salvage treatment when used in transplant patients who have relapsed.

“The relapse rate is high with allogeneic (donor) stem cell transplants. Donor lymphocyte infusions can improve outcomes if utilized for residual disease,” said Dr. Amer Beitinjaneh, …

Yesterday was the first day of the American Society of He­ma­tol­ogy (ASH) 2011 annual meeting, which is being held in San Diego.

Although the day featured no oral pre­sen­ta­tions of new myeloma-related re­search, it started with an in­ter­est­ing educational session focused on mul­ti­ple myeloma.

There also were a num­ber of poster pre­sen­ta­tions during the day summarizing im­por­tant new re­search findings.

The educational session in the morn­ing featured three pre­sen­ta­tions by lead­ing myeloma spe­cialists.

Induction Therapy And Maintenance Treatment

The first pre­sen­ta­tion was by Dr. Donna Reece of the Princess Margaret Hospital in …