During a session at the International Myeloma Workshop (IMW) held in Japan earlier this month, Dr. María-Victoria Mateos of the University Hospital in Sala­manca, Spain, discussed whether smoldering multiple myeloma patients should be actively treated.

The current standard of care is to monitor smoldering myeloma patients and to begin treatment only when their disease progresses to sympto­matic multiple myeloma.

However, in Dr. Mateos's opinion, smoldering myeloma patients who are at high risk of progressing to symptomatic myeloma should be offered early treatment.

During the IMW, Dr. Mateos presented updated …

Further findings from two clinical studies of Revlimid maintenance thera­py were presented at the 14^th International Myeloma Workshop (IMW) in Kyoto, Japan, earlier this month.

Both studies involved newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients who received maintenance therapy with Revlimid (lenalidomide).

Results from both studies, which were published in the New England Journal of Medicine last May, indicate that Revlimid maintenance therapy significantly increases progression-free survival compared to a placebo (see related Beacon news). One of the studies also found that Revlimid maintenance therapy improved overall survival of patients.

Both studies …

A subgroup analysis of recent Phase 1/2 clinical trial results shows that Kyprolis in com­bi­na­tion with Revlimid and low-dose dexa­meth­a­sone is effective and well tolerated in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients over the age of 65.

All of the evaluated patients responded to treat­ment, with 83 per­cent of patients reaching at least a near complete response.

According to Dr. Andrzei Jakubowiak of the University of Chicago Medical Center, who presented the findings earlier this month at the Inter­na­tional Myeloma Workshop (IMW) in Kyoto, Japan, the response rates compare favorably to the best …

During a session at the International Myeloma Workshop (IMW) held in Japan last week, Dr. Keith Stewart from the Mayo Clinic summarized the latest findings from research related to the protein cereblon and its im­pact on certain myeloma treatments.

Dr. Stewart reported that low levels of cereblon are associated with lower re­sponse rates and reduced survival outcomes in multiple myeloma patients treated with the immunomodulatory agents Revlimid (lena­lido­mide), thalidomide (Thalomid), and Pomalyst (pomalidomide).

He explained that, with further investigation, these findings may eventually help physicians customize ther­apy …

A sub-analysis of recent Phase 2 clinical trial results indicates that Pomalyst in combination with low-dose dexamethasone is effective and safe in multiple myeloma patients with high-risk chromosomal ab­nor­malities who did not re­spond to prior therapy.

The findings were presented by Dr. Paul Richardson of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston at the International Myeloma Workshop (IMW) in Kyoto, Japan, this past Sunday.

In the new analysis, high-risk patients were defined as those with a deletion in chromosome 17 (del17p) or the translocation t(4;14).

Although the response rates were lower and survival times shorter …

Initial results of an ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial show that Kyprolis in combina­tion with Revlimid and low-dose dexa­meth­a­sone may be effective and safe in high-risk smol­der­ing multiple myeloma patients.

Specifically, the results show that all patients responded to the com­bi­na­tion ther­apy, with 75 per­cent of patients achieving at least a near complete response.

Progression-free or over­all survival results are not yet available, though, to indicate whether the com­bi­na­tion ther­apy delays pro­gres­sion to myeloma or extends over­all survival.

Dr. Ola Landgren from the U.S. National Cancer Institute and National Institutes of Health …

Multiple myeloma specialists have begun to gather at the 14th Inter­national Myeloma Workshop to review the latest findings in the field of multiple myeloma. The meeting started in Kyoto, Japan, earlier today and will run through Sunday, April 7.

The International Myeloma Workshop (IMW) is a scientific meeting that focuses solely on myeloma-related research findings. It takes place every two years at locations around the world.

The research presented at the meeting will cover all areas of multiple myeloma, including the biology, diag­nosis, treatment, and progression of the disease.

The Myeloma Beacon …