Results of two Phase 1b clinical trials suggest that panobinostat (Farydak) in combination with Velcade (bortezomib) or Revlimid (lenalidomide) and dexamethasone (Decadron) is effective and well-tolerated in patients who are resistant (refractory) to previous multiple myeloma treatment. The findings were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago in early June.

“There are novel therapies that have improved the outcome, literally doubled the survival, of patients with myeloma. Despite these incredible advances, inevitably most patients relapse, and so …

Preliminary re­­sults from two on­go­ing clin­i­cal trials sug­gest that elotuzumab in com­bi­na­tion with either Velcade (bor­tez­o­mib) or Revlimid (lena­lido­mide) plus low-dose dexamethasone (Decadron) is ef­fec­tive and well-tolerated in patients who have re­lapsed or are resistant (refractory) to pre­vi­ous myeloma treat­ment. The findings were pre­sented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago.

Elotuzumab is a new drug being devel­oped by Facet Biotech and Bristol-Myers Squibb as a po­ten­tial treat­ment for mul­ti­ple myeloma. It sel­ectively targets pro­teins that are on the surface of …

This article describes a myeloma patient’s experience participating in a clinical trial. It is part of a series of articles intended to help clarify the clinical trial process.

Don was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2004. At the age of 69 and despite living with a cancer that attacks his bones, Don inspires fellow myeloma patients by running in marathons. He has completed three marathons so far this year, is running in one tomorrow, and plans on participating in three to four more marathons just this year. Additionally, Don maintains a blog …

Significant advances have been made in the treatment of multiple myeloma since the introduction of thalidomide (Thalomid), Revlimid (lenalidomide), and Velcade (bortezomib). Combinations of these “novel agents” have significantly improved response rates and survival rates with better safety profiles than stem cell transplants, leading researchers and patients to ask whether the use of transplants is necessary given the efficacy of the novel agents.

Two studies that are investigating whether novel agents are as effective, or possibly more effective, than an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) were presented June …

Advances in the development of multiple myeloma drugs have had a profound impact on the way the disease is treated. Given the efficacy and relative safety of these novel agents, studies are being conducted to determine whether they may be as effective, or possibly even more effective, than an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). Two such studies were presented June 6 at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago.

Results from the two studies suggest that ASCT (in which a patient’s own stem cells are transplanted after …

Revlimid (lenalidomide) is an effective maintenance therapy after stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma patients, according to two Phase 3 studies presented on Sunday at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

Based on the results of these two studies as well as a previous study, Revlimid maintenance therapy is likely to become a common addition to the treatment of myeloma.

Dr. Sergio Giralt of the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston led a discussion about these two studies during which he said, “[These are] …

The third day of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2010 annual meeting in Chicago was tailor-made for morn­ing people interested in mul­ti­ple myeloma.  The key myeloma-related activity on Sunday, June 6 was a morn­ing abstract session start­ing at 9:30 a.m.  Nine abstracts were pre­sented and discussed over the course of three hours.

The first two pre­sen­ta­tions dealt with Velcade (bor­tez­o­mib)-related re­search.

Dr. Antonio Palumbo of the Uni­ver­sity of Turin pre­sented the re­­sults of the first study.  It com­pared two regi­mens for the treat­ment of newly diag­nosed elderly myeloma patients.  The first regi­men in­volved …