The International Myeloma Working Group, a group of leading myeloma specialists, recently announced its recommendations for the treatment of multiple myeloma patients with kidney impairment. The group found that novel agents might improve - and possibly reverse - the complications of kidney impairment. In particular, the group recommended that patients with kidney impairment of any severity undergo treatment with Velcade plus dexamethasone, due to its safety and efficacy profile.

Diagnosis Of Kidney Impairment

Kidney impairment affects between 15 and 40 percent of multiple myeloma patients (please see the Beacon series on …

The International Myeloma Working Group, a group of leading myeloma specialists, recently published a report establishing recommendations regarding the use of donor stem cell transplantation as a treatment option for multiple myeloma. The myeloma experts came to the conclusion that due to the risks associated with donor stem cell transplantation and limited data supporting its efficacy, it should only be recommended to multiple myeloma patients during clinical trials.

Over the past decade, the life expectancy of multiple myeloma patients has improved. Currently, most multiple myeloma patients are projected to live 7 to …

The International Myeloma Working Group, a group of top myeloma doctors, recently published a report identifying risk factors for disease progression in patients with the multiple myeloma precursor diseases, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and smoldering myeloma. In addition, the myeloma experts established guidelines for the monitoring and management of these two conditions.  This article, Part 2 in a series, covers the results for smoldering myeloma. Part 1 covers the results for myeloma monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance.

The International Myeloma Working Group identified the following risk factors for patients with …

The International Myeloma Working Group, a group of top myeloma doctors, recently published a report identifying risk factors for disease progression in patients with the multiple myeloma precursor diseases, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and smoldering myeloma. In addition, the myeloma experts established guidelines for the monitoring and management of these two conditions.  This article, Part 1 in a series, covers the results for monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. Part 2 will cover the results for smoldering myeloma.

The International Myeloma Working Group identified the following risk factors for patients with …

A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology determined that patients who achieved very good partial response (VGPR) or better after high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation experienced significantly longer event-free and overall survival.

“Very good partial response” is one of the terms defined by the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) to categorize how patients respond to treatment. According to IMWG criteria (see related Beacon news), patients reach very good partial response when the level of abnormal “M” proteins in their blood decreases by 90 percent.

Previous studies evaluating …