In a recent study, an international research team reported several new genetic mutations that may be involved in multiple myeloma. Additionally, the researchers identified genetic changes associated with disease progression.

Dr. Niccolo Bolli from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom presented the findings last month at the 17th Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA).

In multiple myeloma, as with all cancers, cells develop genetic abnormalities known as “mutations.” These mutations can lead to uncontrolled growth and survival of the cancer cells.  In multiple myeloma, mutations typically result in the …

Upfront therapy for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients should be risk-adapted and individualized, according to Dr. Vincent Rajkumar from the Mayo Clinic.

Dr. Rajkumar presented his opinions about upfront therapy for myeloma during an education session at the recent annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). During his presentation, he reviewed the induction treatment options for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients and dis­cussed his opinions of the various options.

Induction therapy refers to the initial treatment given to newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients to combat their cancer.

According to …

Follow-up results from a long-term study conducted in Italy indicate that quality of response may be the most significant predictor of long-term survival in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients receiving a stem cell transplant.

The results also showed that hemoglobin levels and platelet counts at diagnosis were independent factors predicting for long-term survival.

“[This study] confirms the importance of achieving high-quality responses not only as a surrogate marker of progression-free survival and overall survival but also for long-term overall survival,” said Dr. Elena Zamagni, one of study’s investigators from Seragnoli Institute of …

Pomalidomide continues to show promise as a treatment for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma patients, according to updated results from two recent Phase 2 clinical trials.

Findings from the two trials were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago earlier this month.

“Pomalidomide has been tested in multiple clinical trials … and responses were between 30 percent to up to 65 percent when patients had one to three prior lines of therapy. Most interestingly, this agent is showing responses even in patients who are [resistant to] …

Interim results from three clinical trials suggest that MLN9708, as a single agent or in com­bi­na­tion with Revlimid and dexa­meth­a­sone, may be an effective and well tolerated treat­ment for both pre­vi­ously untreated multiple myeloma patients and patients with re­lapsed or refractory disease.

Findings from the three trials were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago earlier this month.

According to Dr. Irene Ghobrial from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, who presented a review of some of the MLN9708 results at ASCO, the response rates …

Multiple myeloma physicians and researchers are gathering at the 17^th Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA) to share the latest findings in the field. The meeting started today in Amsterdam and will run through Sunday, June 17.

The Myeloma Beacon will report on the most important myeloma-related findings from the meeting over the next couple of weeks.

The research presented at the meeting will cover all areas of hematology, which is the study of blood, blood-forming organs, and blood-related diseases, including multiple myeloma.

Today physicians and researchers have the opportunity to …

Elotuzumab in com­bi­na­tion with Revlimid and dexa­meth­a­sone con­tinues to show prom­ise in re­lapsed and re­frac­tory myeloma patients, ac­cord­ing to up­dated re­­sults from an on­go­ing Phase 2 clin­i­cal trial.

Response rates con­tinued to be high, par­tic­u­larly among study par­tic­i­pants re­ceiv­ing the lower elotuzumab dose.  In addi­tion, the rate of severe side effects remained low.

Dr. Philippe Moreau from the Uni­ver­sity Hospital in Nantes, France, pre­sented the re­­sults last Monday at the 48th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago.

“This com­bi­na­tion seems to be highly active in re­lapsed …