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 …

Looking back at all that has hap­pened in the world of mul­ti­ple myeloma since Jan­u­ary of 2012, it is hard not to be impressed by the many im­por­tant devel­op­ments that took place.

There is the obvious fact that, during that time, not one, but two new drugs to treat myeloma were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Adminis­tra­tion (FDA).  Prior to 2012, the FDA had not approved a novel anti-myeloma ther­apy in over six years.

Yet 2012 was meaningful to the myeloma com­munity for reasons beyond the ac­­tiv­ity at the FDA’s …

Perhaps the title of this column more appropriately should be "Life After CRD," since I've now completed 24 cycles of Kyprolis (carfilzomib), Revlimid (lena­lido­mide), and dexa­metha­sone (Decadron), commonly referred to as CRD, as part of a clinical trial for newly diagnosed patients.

However, since dexa­metha­sone seemed to be the predominate source of my side effects, and be­cause I liked the play on words, I went with the title as shown.

So, I've completed the clinical trial, I've reached stringent complete response, and I've won the first …

While I am not so much a creature of habit, my Wednesday afternoon activities over the last three years have been pretty much chiseled in stone.

At around noon on a typical Wednesday, I drop everything that I’m doing, jump into my car, drive across the Kimberling City Bridge that sits perched 30 feet above beautiful Table Rock Lake, and then wind my way through the rolling Ozark hills and picturesque hollows toward the nationally known tourist and entertainment small city of Branson, Missouri.

Upon arrival at my destination, I am normally …

Results of a recent Spanish study suggest that elderly multiple myeloma patients who receive Velcade plus thalidomide or Velcade plus pred­nisone as maintenance therapy achieve deeper responses following initial therapy with Velcade-based treatment regimens.

In addition, elderly myeloma patients who receive Velcade plus thalido­mide as maintenance therapy may achieve better treatment outcomes and longer survival rates than patients who receive Velcade plus pred­nisone as maintenance therapy.

“In our trial, VT [Velcade plus thalidomide] was slightly superior to VP [Velcade plus prednisone] in response rate and outcome, but the dif­ferences didn't reach statistical …

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has updated its guide­lines for the treat­ment of multiple myeloma, and the new guidelines will be interpreted by many as a vote of confidence for Revlimid main­te­nance ther­apy.

The NCCN guidelines are followed closely by physicians and by many U.S. health insurance com­pa­nies, which frequently use them when making reim­burse­ment decisions about different cancer treat­ments.

The guidelines are comprised of recommendations based on the results of recent clinical trials and ongoing scientific research.  A panel of specialists within the myeloma field is responsible for updating the …

Results of a recent, small German study show that donor stem cell trans­plan­tation followed by Revlimid maintenance therapy may be feasible in heavily pretreated relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma patients.

“For younger and fit patients, [donor] stem cell transplantation followed by maintenance therapy with [Revlimid] is a reasonable treatment option for patients who have already relapsed [after an autologous stem cell transplant],” said Dr. Nicolaus Kröger of the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf in Germany and lead investigator of the study.

Dr. Philip McCarthy of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York, …