Articles tagged with: Prednisone
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In a study recently published in the journal Clinical Lymphoma, Myeloma & Leukemia, researchers determined that continuous treatment with cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) and prednisone at low doses is effective and manageable in multiple myeloma patients who cannot tolerate conventional chemotherapy.
When myeloma patients are unresponsive to treatment or experience relapse, doctors implement their plan B, known generally as salvage therapy. Most salvage therapies consist of the same treatment drugs at an increased dosage or a combination treatment of the same and new drugs. However, in patients who have health complications or …
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The year 2009 brought a lot of new and exciting advancements in the field of multiple myeloma. Over the course of 2009, The Myeloma Beacon covered more than 100 important myeloma-related studies.
To highlight the most important of these studies, the Myeloma Beacon surveyed leading physicians and researchers in the field. These physicians and researchers were asked to name the three peer reviewed journal articles published in 2009 and the three conference abstracts from 2009 that have the most important findings or implications relating to multiple myeloma.
The top three journal …
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A new study published in the British Journal of Haematology suggests that the drug combination regimen of Revlimid (lenalidomide), cyclophosphamide, and prednisone (RCP) is highly effective in multiple myeloma patients who are refractory (not responsive) to Revlimid-dexamethasone (Decadron) treatment.
The researchers of the study had previously shown that continuous low-dose oral cyclophosphamide in combination with prednisone was effective in relapsed multiple myeloma. To further improve the efficacy of the oral regimen, they added Revlimid to the drug combination.
The clinical trial enrolled 14 multiple myeloma patients who …
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A recent study suggests that the addition of defibrotide to the combination regimen of melphalan (Alkeran), prednisone, and thalidomide (Thalomid) may result in fewer side effects in multiple myeloma patients. The Phase 1 clinical trial results were recently published in the journal Haematologica.
With the development of multiple myeloma therapies, the traditional melphalan-prednisone (MP) treatment regimen has been combined with substances such as Velcade (bortezomib) and thalidomide for more effective results. In particular, clinical trials have shown that these new combination treatments produce greater responses in patients …
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Panobinostat In Combination With Velcade Shows Potential For Relapsed Multiple Myeloma (ASH 2009) – Researchers presented results at the American Society of Hematology Meeting (ASH) from a Phase 1 clinical trial that show that oral panobinostat (Farydak, LBH589) in combination with intravenous Velcade (bortezomib) has anti-myeloma effects. Researchers tested different doses of both panobinostat (10 mg to 30 mg) and Velcade (1.0 mg/m2 to 1.3 mg/m2). They found frequent blood-related adverse events, such as thrombocytopenia (low blood platelet count) and neutropenia (low white blood cell count). They concluded that dosing will be modified for future Phase 2/3 studies. For more information, please see abstract 3852 on the ASH meeting Web site.
Afinitor Is Safe In Relapsed And Refractory Multiple Myeloma; Drug Will Move To Phase 2 Clinical Trials (ASH 2009) – Afinitor (everolimus) is safe in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, according to preliminary results from a Phase 1/2 clinical trial presented at the 2009 Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH). Afinitor was given orally at 5 mg to 10 mg daily. Researchers observed only one case of thrombocytopenia (low platelet count). A sufficient amount of anti-myeloma activity was observed for this drug to continue to Phase 2 testing, which puts more emphasis on the efficacy of the drug. For more information, see abstract 3850 on the ASH annual meeting Web site.
ACE-011 Increases Hemoglobin And Helps Build Bone In Multiple Myeloma Patients Receiving Chemotherapy (ASH 2009) – Preliminary results from a study presented at the 2009 Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) reveal that ACE-011 (sotatercept) increases hemoglobin (an iron-rich protein in red blood cells) and bone formation, decreases bone pain, and has anti-tumor activity in multiple myeloma patients receiving chemotherapy. A low hemoglobin count indicates a low red blood cell count (anemia), which is a common complication in multiple myeloma, as are bone lesions, and bone pain. All participants were on a regimen of melphalan (Alkeran), prednisone, and thalidomide (Thalomid). For more information, see abstract 749 on the ASH meeting Web site.
Researchers Demonstrate Feasibility And Safety Of Vaccine In Multiple Myeloma (ASH 2009) – Preliminary results from a Phase 1 clinical trial of a multiple myeloma vaccine, presented at the 2009 Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), indicate that using a vaccine in multiple myeloma is possible and that it is safe and tolerable. The study included 15 patients who had undergone peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation – a treatment in which stem cells are collected from the bloodstream of a healthy donor and delivered to the myeloma patient after high-dose chemotherapy. The most frequent side effects were local skin reactions, typical of most vaccines. Further studies will evaluate the vaccine’s full potential. For more information, see abstract 1858 on the ASH meeting Web site.
For more information about myeloma-related studies covered at ASH, please see the Myeloma Beacon coverage of the ASH 2009 Meeting.
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The findings of a new study suggest that a combination regimen of Velcade (bortezomib), thalidomide (Thalomid), and prednisone, abbreviated as VTP, is as effective as the standard combination of Velcade, melphalan (Alkeran), and prednisone, abbreviated as VMP, in the treatment of elderly patients with multiple myeloma. The trial also discovered that the addition of maintenance therapy led to increased response rates. Researchers presented their Phase 3 study results at the American Society of Hematology’s (ASH) 51st annual meeting in December.
While VMP without maintenance therapy currently is one …
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Celgene Corporation, the manufacturer of Revlimid (lenalidomide), announced on Monday that the company plans to file for approval of Revlimid as a treatment for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Celgene intends to file for regulatory approval in the United States and Europe in the second half of this year.
“Our objective is to make sure that the patients who have a fatal disease, a currently incurable disease, can take medicines that turn this into a chronic treatable disease,” said Celgene’s President and CEO Sol Barer during the announcement. “That is the mission …