The International Myeloma Working Group, comprised of many of the world’s top myeloma experts, recently published a report that evaluated the use of key proteins to assess the severity of multiple myeloma-related bone disease. The group determined that some of these proteins are useful in monitoring bone metabolism and skeletal complications during myeloma treatments.

The majority of multiple myeloma patients suffer from bone disease. Approximately 20 percent of patients experience a fracture at the time of their myeloma diagnosis, and 60 percent of patients experience a fracture as their myeloma progresses. These …

The results of a recent Phase 2 clinical trial indicate that the new drug Istodax, administered alone, is unlikely to achieve a significant response rate in therapy-resistant multiple myeloma patients. However, the results indicate that that Istodax may help stabilize M-protein production, resolve high calcium levels, or reduce bone pain in some multiple myeloma patients.

Istodax (romidepsin) is a cyclic peptide that inhibits an enzyme in cancer cells known as histone deacetylase (HDAC). By inhibiting HDAC, Istodax disrupts the cell cycle and causes cancer cell death. Istodax is marketed by Celgene Corporation …

A recent study conducted in China demonstrated that the addition of Velcade to initial thalidomide-dexamethasone treatment confers a low risk of blood clot complications to newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients.

The researchers suggested that medication for the prevention of blood clots is not needed in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients receiving the combination treatment. However this recommendation was limited to Chinese patients only because the study was conducted in a population of Chinese patients.  

The findings cannot be conclusively applied to other ethnicities because the rate of complications resulting from blood …

A follow-up analysis of recent trial results suggests that reducing Velcade administration from twice weekly to once weekly when given in combination with melphalan, prednisone, and thalidomide reduces side effects in elderly multiple myeloma patients.  The less frequent administration did not affect the efficacy of the treatment.

The researchers had reported earlier this summer that the addition of thalidomide (Thalomid) to Velcade (bortezomib), melphalan (Alkeran), and prednisone (referred to as VMPT), followed by long-term treatment with Velcade and thalidomide (VT), improved response rates and progression-free survival in elderly …

In 2003, Kathy Wilson, a former high school French teacher, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma at the age of 55. Six months later, she was diagnosed with amyloidosis, a rare disease that can occur in some multiple myeloma patients.

“Back in 2003, very few doctors knew what amyloidosis was, had ever seen it, or treated it. I dare say that a lot of doctors had never even seen the word or read anything about it,” stated Wilson.

Amyloidosis is a disease that affects organs such as the heart, liver and kidneys. It …

During the course of their disease, multiple myeloma patients may develop a condition called amyloidosis.  Amyloidosis is a disease in which proteins accumulate in organs such as the heart or kidneys, leading to organ damage and complications associated with some multiple myeloma treatments.

The following article describes amyloidosis as it relates to multiple myeloma and includes some of the current treatment recommendations for patients with this dual diagnosis.

What Is Amyloidosis?

Amyloidosis occurs when proteins accumulate in organs such as the heart, kidney, liver, or intestines.

There are …

The 10-year follow-up results of a Phase 2 trial suggest that thalidomide increases the median time to disease progression in smoldering multiple myeloma patients who respond to treatment.

However, researchers also observed an increased rate of side effects compared to earlier results. They therefore do not recommend the use of thalidomide in smoldering myeloma patients.

Approximately 10 to 15 percent of all myeloma patients have smoldering myeloma, a slow-growing form of the disease that often appears without symptoms. Approximately 73 percent of patients with smoldering myeloma develop active myeloma within 15 years …