Dr. Michel Attal from the Purpan Hospital in Toulouse, France, presented a review of current maintenance therapies for multiple myeloma during the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting last month.

The focus of Dr. Attal’s presentation was on whether there is evidence to support the use of the novel anti-myeloma agents thalidomide (Thalo­mid), Revlimid (lenalidomide), and Velcade (bortezomib) as mainte­nance therapy after initial therapy and stem cell transplantation.

Maintenance therapy refers to a prolonged, and often low-dose, form of treatment given to myeloma patients after their initial …

Currently, there are three major controversies in multiple myeloma patient management: early versus late transplant, treat or observe ‘high-risk’ smoldering myeloma, and whether to use maintenance therapy. The latter is predominantly an issue following autologous stem cell transplantation.

In May, one of the world’s premier medical journals, the New England Journal of Medicine, published three articles about clinical trials comparing Revlimid (lenalidomide) maintenance versus observation.  In two of the studies, Revlimid maintenance was given following autologous stem cell transplantation.  In the third study, Revlimid maintenance was given following conventional therapy in …

Results from a recent German study suggest that a combination of Revlimid, Treanda and prednisone is active and well tolerated in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

Findings from the Phase 1 trial were presented at the 17^th Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA) in Amsterdam last month.

A previous Phase 1 study showed that Treanda (bendamustine), in combination with Revlimid (lenalidomide) and dexamethasone (Decadron), is well tolerated and highly active in patients with relapsed or refractory myeloma (see related Beacon news).

Treanda, which already is …

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 …

Celgene, the company that markets Revlimid in the United States and inter­nationally, announced this morning that it has withdrawn its applica­tion in Europe to have the drug approved for use as initial therapy for newly diagnosed myeloma patients as well as for maintenance therapy.

The company also is postponing until next year a similar application it had intended to file in 2012 with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The European application was withdrawn due to concerns raised by regulators about the link between Revlimid (lenalidomide) and second cancers (also known as second …

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 …

Today concludes this year’s American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, which began on Friday in Chicago.  However, yesterday was the last day with any multiple myeloma-related sessions.

During yesterday’s poster session, important new research findings were summarized on posters throughout a large conference hall.

The studies were on a wide variety of myeloma-related topics ranging from new treatments being developed for myeloma, to currently used regimens, to secondary cancers, to precursor myeloma diseases, and much more.

This update covers some of the myeloma-related studies presented during the poster session, in …