Articles tagged with: Peripheral Neuropathy

Opinion»

[ by | Apr 24, 2019 9:11 am | 17 Comments ]
Living For Lamingtons: Nasty Neuropathy

Neuropathy has been a feature of my myeloma “experiences” for many years. Even long before I was diag­nosed, I had neu­rop­athy. It mostly affected my hands and feet, but it could affect other areas of my body as well.

It drove me crazy, and from time to time I tried to find out what was causing it. I had no success at all in my quest. I even once went as far as insisting that I see a neurologist. He did some tests to rule out certain con­di­tions, but he didn’t give …

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[ by | Apr 10, 2016 2:51 pm | One Comment ]
Myeloma Morning: Genetics And Velcade-Related Peripheral Neuropathy

Good morning, myeloma world.

It's a Sunday, so it probably won't be too much of a surprise that today's list of new multiple myeloma-related research is rather short.

In fact, a quick check of our usual list of new multiple myeloma research – which we include at the end of every edition of Myeloma Morning – reveals that there are just three new studies.

We'll spend most of our time in today's report looking at a European study published on Friday. It investigates the genetics of peripheral neuropathy in …

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Opinion»

[ by | Mar 21, 2014 2:30 pm | 26 Comments ]
Mohr’s Myeloma Musings: Reality Check

As I wrestle with the early treatment phase of this disease, it is my hope that by shar­ing my experiences I can provide some valuable insights to readers who are newly diagnosed and beginning treatment.

But before sharing in this column what I have been through as I finish the fifth cycle of treatment, I have two confessions to make.

First, treatment is tough, really tough -- far tougher than I ever imagined it would be. My approach to treatment was naively ignorant despite warn­ings from my doctor and all that I …

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NewsFlash »

[ by | Oct 14, 2013 4:02 pm | Comments Off ]

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.

News»

[ by | Updated: Jun 21, 2013 2:30 pm | One Comment ]
A Look At The Myeloma-Related Poster Presentations At The EHA Congress (EHA 2013)

This year’s Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA) is cur­rent­ly being held in Stockholm. It started earlier this week and will run through Sunday, June 16.

A substantial amount of myeloma-related research will be presented during the EHA meeting during both oral presentations and poster pre­sen­ta­tions.

This article summarizes some of the important myeloma-related findings that are expected to be presented during poster sessions today and to­mor­row. A previous article covered the key findings that will be pre­sented during oral pre­sen­ta­tions.

The studies covered in this article are primarily ones …

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[ by | Apr 15, 2013 2:54 pm | Comments Off ]

Velcade-Thalidomide-Dexamethasone Combination May Be Effective After A Stem Cell Transplant In Multiple Myeloma Patients – Results from a French study show that the combination of Velcade (bortezomib), thalidomide (Thalo­mid), and dexamethasone (Decadron), commonly referred to as VTD, may improve response rates in multiple myeloma patients after stem cell trans­planta­tion. The complete response rate for patients who received VTD as a consolidation therapy (52 percent) was significantly higher than the rate for patients who re­ceived a placebo (30 percent). The time to progression was also longer in patients who received VTD (62 percent), compared to those who re­ceived a placebo (29 percent). All patients had also received VTD as induction therapy prior to stem cell transplantation. For more information, please refer to the letter in the journal Leukemia (abstract).

Revlimid May Not Worsen Pre-Existing Peripheral Neuropathy In Relapsed Or Refractory Myeloma Patients – Results from an Italian study indicate that Revlimid (lenalidomide) does not worsen pre-existing peripheral neuropathy (pain, tingling, and loss of sensation in the extremities due to nerve damage) in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients. The investigators administered Revlimid and dexa­metha­sone to 30 patients who had previously received Velcade or thalidomide. After 12 months of Revlimid therapy, peripheral neuropathy did not worsen in patients with pre-existing peripheral neuropathy and did not develop in any of the patients without pre-existing neuropathy. Based on these results, the investi­gators recommend longer follow-up studies to confirm Revlimid’s safety in patients with pre-existing peripheral neuropathy. For more information, please see the study in the Journal of the Peripheral Nervous System (abstract).

Heavy/Light Chain Assay May More Effectively Measure M-Protein Levels In Myeloma Patients – Findings from a European study indicate that the heavy/light chain (HLC) assay can be used as an effective prog­nostic test in patients with multiple myeloma. The investigators found that the HLC assay was better at identifying monoclonal (M) protein levels than other conventional tests, such as serum protein electro­phoresis and immuno­fixa­tion electro­phoresis. In addition, the investigators found that the HLC assay was not only more accurate, but could also detect subtle changes in patients with very low M-protein levels. The investigators note that results from the HLC assay and the free light chain (FLC) assay were generally in agreement, but both tests are needed to exclude the presence of residual disease. For more information, please refer to the study in Leukemia (subscription required).

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[ by | Apr 8, 2013 1:46 pm | Comments Off ]

FDA Puts Dara­tu­mu­mab On Fast Track For Treatment Of Multiple Myeloma – The U.S. Food and Drug Admin­istra­tion (FDA) last week granted fast track desig­na­tion to the inves­ti­ga­tional drug daratumumab. The fast track desig­na­tion ac­cel­er­ates the devel­op­ment and review process for drugs in­tended to treat serious or life-threatening illnesses. Dara­tu­mu­mab is being devel­oped by the Danish bio­technology com­pany Genmab together with Janssen Biotech, a Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) sub­sid­i­ary. It is a mono­clonal anti­body, like elotuzumab and siltuximab, that signals the im­mune sys­tem to kill myeloma cells. Results from a phase 1/2 clin­i­cal trial in­di­cated that dara­tu­mu­mab is effec­tive in heavily pre­treated myeloma patients (see re­lated Beacon news). For more in­for­ma­tion, please see the Genmab press re­lease.

Mayo Clinic Re­searchers Update Guidelines For Treatment Of Newly Diagnosed Myeloma – Re­searchers from the Mayo Clinic have up­dated their guidelines for the treat­ment of newly diag­nosed mul­ti­ple myeloma patients. The guidelines, called The Mayo Stratification of Myeloma and Risk-Adapted Therapy (mSMART), were first devel­oped in 2007 and last up­dated in 2009. Based on re­search findings re­leased since 2009, the re­searchers have added six major up­dates to the pre­vi­ous version of mSMART. One sig­nif­i­cant up­date was the addi­tion of an intermediate-risk classification to the existing high-risk and standard-risk classifications. The re­searchers also note that there may be more ben­e­fit to delaying stem cell trans­plants in myeloma patients, due to im­proved induction ther­a­pies and stem cell collection pro­ce­dures. The up­dated guidelines also rec­om­mend that main­te­nance ther­apy be con­sidered, but not mandated, as a treat­ment op­tion for patients who have undergone a stem cell trans­plant. For more in­for­ma­tion, please see the 2013 mSMART Guidelines.

Sensory Deficits Prior To Treatment May Predict Risk Of Peripheral Neuropathy In Myeloma Patients – Results from a recent study in­di­cate that preexisting sensory deficits in mul­ti­ple myeloma patients in­crease a patient’s risk of devel­op­ing periph­eral neu­rop­athy (pain, tingling, and loss of sensation in the extremities due to nerve damage) fol­low­ing treat­ment for myeloma. Specifically, the re­searchers found that patients with sensory deficits before the start of treat­ment were at a higher risk of devel­op­ing treat­ment-induced periph­eral neu­rop­athy. Treatment-induced periph­eral neu­rop­athy is a common com­pli­ca­tion for myeloma patients who undergo treat­ment with Velcade (bor­tez­o­mib) or thalidomide (Thalomid). The re­searchers be­lieve that testing of nerve function prior to treat­ment may be able to identify patients at high risk of devel­op­ing treat­ment-induced periph­eral neu­rop­athy. For more in­for­ma­tion, please refer to the study in Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology (abstract).

Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial Of Elotuzumab Plus Revlimid, Velcade, And Dexa­meth­a­sone In Newly Diagnosed High-Risk Myeloma Patients Has Launched – The Southwest Oncology Group, in col­lab­o­ration with the National Cancer In­sti­tute and pharma­ceu­tical com­pany Bristol-Myers Squibb, has started a Phase 1/2 clin­i­cal trial of elotuzumab in com­bi­na­tion with Velcade, Revlimid (lena­lido­mide), and dexamethasone (Decadron). The study is open to newly diag­nosed high-risk myeloma patients. Elotuzumab, which is being devel­oped by Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY), is a mono­clonal anti­body that stim­u­lates the im­mune sys­tem to destroy myeloma cells. Previous stud­ies have shown that it is ef­fec­tive in re­lapsed and re­frac­tory myeloma patients, par­tic­u­larly when used in com­bi­na­tion with Revlimid and dexa­meth­a­sone (see re­lated Beacon news). About half the patients in the new trial will be treated with Velcade, Revlimid, and dexa­metha­sone alone.  The other half will re­ceive the same three drugs plus elotuzumab.  For more in­for­ma­tion about the study, in­clud­ing how to en­roll, please see the clinical trial description.