Articles tagged with: Stem Cell Collection
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Stem Cell Remobilization With Mozobil Is Possible – Results of a small retrospective study conducted at City of Hope National Medical Center show that remobilization of stem cells with Mozobil (plerixafor) is possible in multiple myeloma patients. Specifically, the researchers found that most multiple myeloma patients (83 percent) who previously failed to collect enough stem cells with Mozobil to proceed to transplantation collected enough stem cells after a second round of mobilization with Mozobil. For more information, please refer to the study in the journal Transfusion (abstract).
Another Study Finds Link Between Cereblon Levels And Revlimid Efficacy – Results of a retrospective analysis conducted in Austria and Italy show that levels of the protein cereblon in patients’ myeloma cells may impact the efficacy of Revlimid (lenalidomide). The researchers found that newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients with high cereblon levels responded better to treatment with Revlimid and dexamethasone (Decadron) than those with low cereblon levels. The results of the current study support results of previous studies that showed that cereblon is necessary for the immunomodulatory drugs – particularly Revlimid and Pomalyst (pomalidomide) – to be effective against multiple myeloma (see related Beacon news). For more information, please see the study in the British Journal Of Haematology (abstract).
Stem Cell Transplantation May Be More Effective In Amyloidosis Than Multiple Myeloma – Results of a recent retrospective analysis conducted at the Mayo Clinic indicate that patients with immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis may benefit more from stem cell transplantation than patients with multiple myeloma. Specifically, the researchers found that more light chain amyloidosis patients achieved a complete response, compared to multiple myeloma patients (40 percent versus 29 percent, respectively). Overall survival was also superior in patients with amyloidosis (9.4 years versus 5 years, respectively). The researchers found that even among those who achieved a complete response, survival was longer for those with amyloidosis. They therefore hypothesize that the biology of the two diseases is very different, despite the similarity in the two types of plasma cell disorders. For more information, please see the study in the journal Bone Marrow Transplantation (abstract).
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Stem Cell Mobilization With Cyclophosphamide And G-CSF Is More Effective And Less Expensive Than Mozobil And G-CSF – Findings from a recent study show that cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is more effective than Mozobil (plerixafor) plus G-CSF as a stem cell mobilization therapy for multiple myeloma patients. Both Mozobil and cyclophosphamide increase the number of stem cells that can be harvested during collection. Patients in the recent study who received the cyclophosphamide-G-CSF combination collected significantly more stem cells than patients who received Mozobil plus G-CSF (16.6 × 106 cells/kg versus 11.6 × 106 cells/kg). In addition, the investigators found that the total cost of stem cell mobilization was less with cyclophosphamide plus G-CSF than with Mozobil plus G-CSF. However, cyclophosphamide plus G-CSF was associated with significantly higher rates of side effects, antibiotic use, and hospitalization. For more information, please see the study in Bone Marrow Transplantation (abstract).
Psychosocial Support May Be Appropriate For Newly Diagnosed Myeloma Patients - Results from a German study indicate that about half of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients desire psychosocial support soon after their diagnosis. Psychosocial support includes services intended to help a myeloma patient with the psychological, emotional, social, and practical effects of their diagnosis and treatment. Of the 114 myeloma patients included in the study, 51 percent desired psychosocial support, with depressed and younger patients having the greatest interest. Specifically, patients were most interested in relaxation techniques (21 percent), psychological counseling (20 percent), and peer support groups (18 percent). At the time of diagnosis, 24 percent of patients reported signs of depression and 8 percent reported signs of anxiety. Based on their findings, the researchers recommend that a variety of different types of psychosocial support be offered to myeloma patients at the time of diagnosis. For more information, please refer to the study in the journal Psycho-Oncology (abstract).
Preclinical Study Indicates Melphalan-Flufenamide May Be Effective In Multiple Myeloma – Results from a preclinical study indicate that a new melphalan-based treatment may be effective for multiple myeloma. The treatment, known as melphalan-flufenamide or J1, is being developed by the Swedish pharmaceutical company Oncopeptides and consists of melphalan (Alkeran) bound to flufenamide. The drug only becomes active once it enters a cell and melphalan is released from flufenamide. Cancer cells more efficiently activate the drug, increasing the concentration of melphalan in cancer cells compared to healthy cells. Specifically, the results showed that melphalan-flufenamide effectively killed myeloma cells that were resistant to Velcade (bortezomib) and melphalan alone. The researchers found that even low doses of melphalan-flufenamide were effective and should be safer than the doses of melphalan current used to treat myeloma. For more information, please refer to the study in Clinical Cancer Research (abstract).
Clinical Trial To Study WT1 Vaccine In Multiple Myeloma Patients – The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center has launched a pilot trial to study the Wilms Tumor 1 (WT1) vaccine in multiple myeloma patients who just received a stem cell transplant. WT1 is a protein that is often present in myeloma cells. The goal of the study is to determine whether the vaccine activates the patient’s immune system against myeloma cells with WT1. Eligible patients must be at least 18 years old, have WT1-positive myeloma, and be eligible to undergo an autologous stem cell transplant. For more information on the trial, please see the clinical trial description.
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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).
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Results of a small Phase 2 study may lead to improved outcomes for newly diagnosed patients who are unable to achieve a deep response with a Revlimid- or thalidomide-based initial therapy.
The study indicates that follow-on treatment with a Velcade-based regimen can noticeably deepen responses in these patients.
“We were certainly pleased to see that we were able to confirm our hypothesis that offering Velcade-containing, non-cross-resistant combinations to patients whose response had stalled after [Revlimid- or thalidomide-] based therapy can improve the depth of response,” said the study’s lead investigator, Dr. Ruben …
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The results of a recent retrospective study show that the use of novel agents for the treatment of multiple myeloma may not have a negative impact on subsequent stem cell collection and transplantation.
The study's results stand in contrast to previous research that has suggested that Revlimid, one of the most commonly used novel agents, may have a negative effect on stem cell collection.
Factors in the current study that were found to be associated with stem cell collection failure included older age, lower platelet counts prior to stem cell collection, and …
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ALT-801 Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial Is Enrolling Relapsed Or Refractory Myeloma Patients - The Florida-based biopharmaceutical company Altor Bioscience has started a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of its investigational drug ALT-801. The trial is being conducted at the University of Iowa and is recruiting myeloma patients who have had at least two previous treatment regimens. ALT-801 is a protein that triggers immune cells to attack cancer cells. The drug also is being explored as a potential treatment for melanoma and bladder cancer. For more information, see the clinical trial description and information about ALT-801 at the Altor website.
Study Supports Use Of Once-Weekly Velcade – Results from a recent retrospective Chinese study support previous findings that once-weekly Velcade (bortezomib) is similar to twice-weekly Velcade in terms of efficacy and safety. Similar results were first found in 2010 during a study of Velcade in combination with melphalan (Alkeran), prednisone, and thalidomide (Thalomid). The results from that study showed that once-weekly Velcade was as effective as twice-weekly Velcade and that patients who received Velcade once a week experienced fewer side effects, especially peripheral neuropathy (pain, tingling, or loss of sensation in the extremities), a common side effect of Velcade (see related Beacon news). The current study found that overall response rates were similar for patients treated with once-weekly (77 percent) or twice-weekly Velcade (75 percent) in combination with dexamethasone (Decadron). In addition, the median progression-free survival was similar in both groups (8 months versus 10 months, respectively). Side effects were more common among patients treated twice a week; however, the differences were not statistically significant. In particular, 31 percent of patients treated with once-weekly Velcade developed neuropathy as compared to 50 percent of patients treated with twice-weekly Velcade. For more information, please see the study in the Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (abstract).
Age And Platelet Count May Predict Ability To Collect Enough Stem Cells For Transplant – Findings from a recent study show that age and platelet count can be used to predict whether a multiple myeloma patient is likely to successfully harvest enough stem cells for a transplant. Patients older than 58 years or who had a baseline platelet count less than 161,000 cells/mm3 failed to collect enough stem cells using granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) to mobilize the stem cells into the blood for collection. The study investigators conclude that patients with these characteristics should not receive mobilization with G-CSF alone and that alternative methods of mobilization should be tested. For more information, please see the study in Transfusion and Apheresis Science (abstract).
Treatment-Free Intervals Improve Quality Of Life For Multiple Myeloma Patients – A recent survey of multiple myeloma patients in the United Kingdom shows that patients in their first treatment-free interval and those experiencing a longer treatment-free interval enjoy better quality of life as compared to patients in other phases of treatment. The investigators believe these results may help doctors and patients make treatment decisions, especially when considering extended treatment plans. For more information, please refer to the study in Supportive Care in Cancer (abstract).
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A recent study suggests that Mozobil helps multiple myeloma patients with prior exposure to Revlimid collect enough stem cells for transplantation.
The study investigators conclude that stem cell mobilization with the aid of a growth factor plus Mozobil (plerixafor) is an effective upfront approach for multiple myeloma patients who plan to undergo a transplant, regardless of previous Revlimid (lenalidomide) exposure.
“With growth factor and preemptive Mozobil, virtually all patients with multiple myeloma can have successful stem cell collection,” said Dr. Luciano Jose Costa of the Medical University of South Carolina, and …
