Preliminary results from a Phase 3 clinical trial show that multiple myeloma patients who received Revlimid (lenalidomide) following a stem cell transplant had a significantly longer period of disease-free survival compared with a placebo group.

The trial (known as CALGB 100104) began with 568 multiple myeloma patients ages 18 to 70 years. No patients had a prior transplant or were treated for myeloma for longer than a year.

All participants received an autologous stem cell transplant, in which their own stem cells were collected prior to high-dose chemotherapy with melphalan …

In the July issue of Current Opinion in Hematology, Dr. Donna E. Reece of the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, Canada reviewed the current approaches to treating newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients.

In the review, Dr. Reece discussed autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplants for younger patients and treatment options for older patients.  This Beacon article focuses on Dr. Reece’s findings about allogeneic stem cell transplants. Findings about autologous stem cell transplants were discussed in a previous Beacon article. Treatment options for older patients will be covered in part three of …

As many multiple myeloma and other blood cancer patients know, it is illegal to pay bone marrow donors. But last week, the Institute for Justice (IJ) filed a lawsuit to overturn this ban. If the IJ is successful, physicians, donors, and especially patients may be significantly affected.

The IJ reports that more than 1,000 Americans die each year waiting for a donor match. “Myeloma patients are among those who need a transplant,” said Jeff Rowes, the IJ’s lead attorney on the case. “The overturn [would make] a big impact on the number …

Many important advances in the treatment of multiple myeloma have been made in recent years. In the July issue of Current Opinion in Hematology, Dr. Donna E. Reece of the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, Canada reviewed the current approaches to treating newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients.

In the review, Dr. Reece discussed autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplants for younger patients and treatment options for older patients. This Beacon article focuses on Dr. Reece’s findings about autologous stem cell transplants, and upcoming Beacon articles will focus on allogeneic stem cell transplants …

The International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) recommends that multiple myeloma patients should have their stem cells collected within four cycles of therapy with Revlimid (lenalidomide), thalidomide (Thalomid), or Velcade (bortezomib). Otherwise, these drugs may interfere with stem cell collection. The recommendations were published in the journal Blood in August.

During an autologous stem cell transplant, physicians collect a patient’s stem cells in the early stages of the patient's anti-myeloma drug regimen, and return these same cells to the individual after the regimen is complete. Transplantation is a common treatment usually given to …

A new drug designed to assist in stem cell transplants will be studied in a Phase 2 clinical trial. TG-0054, created by TaiGen Biotechnology, was effective at moving stem cells from the bone marrow into the blood during the Phase 1 trial.

This drug may help patients collect enough stem cells for stem cell transplantion. Patients suffering from disorders of the blood, bone marrow, or certain cancers receive stem cells, which repopulate the depleted bone marrow with new, healthy blood cells and immune cells.

Stem cells, which are continuously renewed through cell …

A recent study, published in the journal Leukemia & Lymphoma, assessed the toxicity and effectiveness of a second autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplant (APBSCT) in myeloma patients who relapsed or progressed after an initial APBSCT.

It has become increasingly more common for patients to receive a second APBSCT, either within six months of the first one without any myeloma relapse or progression between transplants – or as a salvage therapy following relapse or progression after the first transplant. This study excluded patients who received tandem transplants.

Even though a second APBSCT …