Articles tagged with: Osteonecrosis Of The Jaw
Opinion»
The decisions that we must make as cancer patients are all about risk versus reward. If we are told that, without a recommended treatment, we will surely die, then the choice is pretty easy, almost regardless of the risk.
But the decisions that we face are rarely so easy.
Among patients and caregivers, the most hotly debated myeloma treatment decision is whether or not to undergo a stem cell transplant. There are numerous articles on the topic, and the question is the subject of many discussion threads in the Beacon's forum. …
Opinion»
“You definitely have ONJ.”
Those were the shocking words that came out of the mouth of my oral surgeon about two months ago. The news that I had osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) was totally unexpected.
Granted, I didn’t just happen to aimlessly wander into an oral surgeon’s office, open my mouth, and ask him what he saw. But I was there to have him rule out ONJ.
Instead, he ruled it in.
But his demeanor and what he said thereafter was equally unexpected. He said that he was not …
Opinion»
Back in December and January, while my oncologist was restaging my myeloma and we were discussing courses of treatment, he suddenly said, “And I want you to go see your dentist and ask him whether he sees you having any major dental work done in the next year.”
The calcium levels in my blood were rising. My oncologist intended to start me on a bisphosphonate, such as Aredia (pamidronate) or Zometa (zoledronic acid), as soon as possible to supplement the calcium that was leaching out of my bone. …
NewsFlash »
Patients With Periodontitis May Be At Increased Risk For Developing Osteonecrosis Of The Jaw – Results from a small Australian trial suggest that multiple myeloma patients who receive bisphosphonates and experience periodontitis (inflammation or bleeding in their gums) may be at an increased risk for developing osteonecrosis of the jaw. Osteonecrosis of the jaw is a condition that is associated with a loss of blood supply to the jaw, causing the jawbone tissue to die. It can occur in multiple myeloma patients during treatment with bisphosphonates, such as Aredia (pamidronate) and Zometa (zoledronic acid). Specifically, the researchers found that patients with at least one spot in their gums with periodontitis with a depth greater than 4 mm were at a particularly high risk of developing jawbone disease. For more information, please refer to the study in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (abstract).
Blood Test May Predict Velcade-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy – Findings from a prospective Japanese trial involving more than 60 patients indicate that a blood test may be able to predict whether a multiple myeloma patient will develop peripheral neuropathy (pain, tingling, and loss of sensation in the extremities) when treated with Velcade (bortezomib). The Japanese researchers took samples of each trial participant's blood before the patients started treatment with Velcade. The cells in the blood samples were then stimulated to see how much they started to produce certain immune system proteins. The investigators found that, when stimulated, the blood from patients who did not develop peripheral neuropathy during Velcade treatment was significantly more likely to start producing the protein interleukin 2 (IL-2) than the blood from patients who developed peripheral neuropathy. IL-2 stimulates the production of certain types of white blood cells, known as lymphocytes, which defend the body against infections and other threats. Based on their results, the researchers recommend that the blood test they used be validated in additional studies with larger numbers of patients. For more information, please refer to the article in the Blood Cancer Journal (full text, open access).
Phase 2 Trial To Study LCL161 In Relapsed and Refractory Multiple Myeloma Patients – The Mayo Clinic will soon be opening for enrollment a Phase 2 trial of the investigational compound LCL161, alone or in combination with cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients. LCL161, which is being developed by the pharmaceutical company Novartis, works by binding to, and thereby neutralizing, inhibitor apoptosis proteins (IAPs), which shield cancer cells from cell death. The compound is also being investigated as a treatment for a number of different solid-tumor cancers. For more information on the trial, please see the clinical trial description.
NewsFlash »
Painkiller May Mobilize Stem Cells – Results of a recent U.S.-based study indicate that the painkiller meloxicam (Mobic) mobilizes stem cells from the bone marrow to the circulating blood so that they can be collected for stem cell transplantation. Like ibuprofen and aspirin, meloxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is being used for the treatment of pain, fever, and inflammation. However, it causes fewer gastrointestinal side effects than ibuprofen and aspirin. The researchers found that meloxicam inhibited prostaglandin E2, a hormone-like substance that participates in a wide range of body functions, which in turn caused modest levels of stem cells, as the study investigators described it, to leave the bone marrow. For more information, please see the study in the journal Nature (abstract).
Spectrum Licenses New Formulation Of Melphalan From Ligand – Spectrum Pharmaceuticals announced earlier this month that they have licensed a new intravenous formulation of melphalan (Alkeran) from Ligand Pharmaceuticals. The new formulation does not include propylene glycol, which is used in the current intravenous formulation of melphalan and has been reported to cause kidney- and heart-related side effects. If the new formulation proves to be safer, it may allow physicians to administer melphalan at higher doses. The new formulation has received orphan drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA’s orphan drug program encourages the development of treatments for rare diseases. Companies developing an orphan-designated drug receive targeted tax incentives and fee reductions. In addition, if an orphan-designated drug is eventually approved by the FDA, it is given extended protection against certain kinds of competition. Spectrum expects to file a new drug application with the FDA in the first half of 2014. For more information, please see the Spectrum Pharmaceuticals press release.
Good Oral And Dental Health May Help Prevent Osteonecrosis Of The Jaw In Myeloma Patients – Results of a small German study indicate that good oral and dental health may help prevent the development of osteonecrosis of the jaw in multiple myeloma patients. Osteonecrosis of the jaw is a condition that is associated with a loss of blood supply to the jaw, causing the jawbone tissue to die. It can occur in multiple myeloma patients during bisphosphonate treatment. The German researchers found that patients with good oral and dental health had a significantly longer time without osteonecrosis of the jaw after the start of bisphosphonate treatment (40 months) than patients with poor oral and dental health (14 months). However, the researchers also found that these factors did not play a role in the course of the ostenecrosis once the disease occurred. For more information, please see the study in the journal Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (abstract).
NewsFlash »
Researchers Observe High Rate Of Osteonecrosis Of The Jaw In Myeloma Patients After Stem Cell Transplantation – In a recent retrospective study, German researchers observed a high rate of osteonecrosis of the jaw (23 percent) in multiple myeloma patients who had a stem cell transplant prior to bisphosphonate therapy. Osteonecrosis of the jaw is a condition that is associated with a loss of blood supply to the jaw, causing the jawbone tissue to die. It can occur in multiple myeloma patients during bisphosphonate treatment. The researchers found that the risk for bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw was significantly higher for patients with rheumatism and recent dental work. In addition, the researchers found that higher rates of osteonecrosis of the jaw were associated with the duration of bisphosphonate therapy as well as the type and cumulative dose of bisphosphonate used. For more information, please see the study in the journal Onkologie (abstract).
Study Finds Late Relapses After Donor Transplantation In Myeloma – Results of a small, long-term follow-up study show that late relapses are possible in multiple myeloma patients after donor stem cell transplantation with reduced-intensity chemotherapy. At a median follow-up time of 9.8 years, the seven-year progression-free survival rate was 31 percent and the overall survival rate was 60 percent. Ten percent of patients relapsed within 6 to 12 years after the transplant, which the researchers described as surprising. The researchers found that being in remission at the time of the transplant and having chronic graft-versus-host disease, a common transplant-related complication, in which the donor cells recognize the patient cells as foreign and attack them, were associated with improved overall survival. For more information, please see the study in the British Journal of Haematology (abstract).
LLS Teleconference On Stem Cell Transplantation – On December 3, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) will sponsor a free teleconference call about stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma and lymphoma. Dr. Edward Stadtmauer from the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania and Dr. Jonathan Friedberg from the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center at the University of Rochester will lead the program, which begins at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Dr. Stadtmauer and Dr. Friedberg will speak about the role of stem cell transplantation in myeloma and lymphoma, the key research topics for stem cell transplantation, and side effect management and other quality of life issues. For more information or to register, please see the LLS website.
News»
Today is the last day of this year’s American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, which is being held in Chicago. However, the multiple myeloma-related presentations at the meeting concluded yesterday.
A poster session yesterday afternoon featured research on a wide variety of myeloma-related topics, ranging from new treatments being developed for myeloma, to currently used regimens, to second cancers, to precursor myeloma diseases, and much more.
This article summarizes research from that session related to prognostic factors, precursor myeloma diseases, peripheral neuropathy, osteonecrosis of the jaw, and second cancers.
A summary …