Findings from a recent study indicate that a newer method of determining kidney disease in multiple myeloma patients may be more accurate than traditional methods.

Researchers from Greece found that when they used the newer method, which tests for a protein known as cystatin-C, they were able to detect kidney damage in a higher percentage of newly diagnosed multiple mye­loma patients.

The investigators recommend that newer methods that include cystatin-C should be used instead of older methods, which rely only on measures of a compound called creatinine.

However, they note that larger …

This year’s American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, which is being held in Chicago, began on Friday and goes through Tuesday.

Sunday started with a poster session in which im­por­tant new re­search findings were summarized on posters dis­played throughout a large conference hall.

The stud­ies pre­sented during the session were on a wide variety of myeloma-related topics, in­clud­ing new treat­ments being devel­oped for myeloma, cur­rently used regi­mens, smol­der­ing mul­ti­ple myeloma, and findings on initial ther­apy.

Some of the posters in­cluded pre­lim­i­nary results from on­go­ing clin­i­cal trials.  Others described the design …

A team of European researchers recently found that advanced age, kidney failure, infections, heart and gastrointestinal complications, and drug discontinuation are associated with poor survival among elderly myeloma patients.

The results are from a combined analysis of data from four major Euro­pean clinical trials.  All the trials involved elderly multiple myeloma patients treated with either conventional anti-myeloma agents or combi­na­tions of conventional and novel agents.

The study also found that intensive anti-myeloma treatment regimens – that is, regimens combining conventional agents with more than one novel agent – may be counterproductive in …

A new study provides the first detailed look at Kyprolis when it is used in multiple myeloma patients with kidney damage.

The focus of the study is on determining how Kyprolis (car­filz­o­mib) is processed in the bodies of myeloma patients and, in particular, if the drug is processed differently depending on how much kidney damage a patient has.

In addi­tion, the study in­ves­ti­gates whether kidney damage affects how often patients experience side effects when treated with Kyprolis.

Based on the results of their study, the authors conclude that Kyprolis's dosing can be …

Results from a small, retrospective study indicate that combination therapy with Velcade, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone may be effective in newly diagnosed myeloma patients with kidney damage.

The findings, discussed in a letter to the editor of the European Journal of Haematology, show that kidney impairment did not worsen in any patients who received the three-drug treatment.

The study investigators also note that side effects were manageable, but recommend further research of the three-drug therapy to determine its safety as a long-term treatment option.

Kidney impairment is a common myeloma-related complication. It is …

The results of a recent Greek study indicate that kidney impairment is highly reversible in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients treated with regimens containing Velcade, thalidomide, and Revlimid.

Additionally, the Greek researchers found that Velcade (bortezomib)-based treatments were associated with a shorter time to response  and higher rates of restoration of kidney function than thalidomide (Thalomid)- and Revlimid (lenalidomide)-based regimens.

Based on their findings, the researchers recommend that Velcade be used as initial therapy for myeloma patients with kidney impairment.

Dr. Baldeep Wirk of the University of Florida, who …

Results of a small German study indicate that the combination regimen of Velcade, Treanda, and prednisone is effective and well tolerated in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients with kidney impairment.

The majority of patients showed improved kidney function after treatment. The study investigators point out that patients responded rapidly, which may have prevented the development of irreversible kidney failure.

Based on their findings, the investigators recommend that the combination therapy be investigated further in larger clinical trials.

Impaired kidney function is a severe complication of multiple myeloma and affects 20 percent to …