A recent study conducted in Scandinavia shows that the combination treatment of melphalan (Alkeran), prednisone and thalidomide (Thalomid), referred to as MPT, has significant anti-myeloma effects when compared to melphalan and prednisone treatment, referred to as MP, in elderly patients.  However, MPT treatment did not increase progression-free and overall survival or improve quality of life compared to MP treatment.

Studies examining the effect of adding thalidomide to MP treatment have previously been conducted in several European countries.  All studies found that the addition of thalidomide increased anti-myeloma effects. However, …

Leading myeloma specialists from across Europe recently published an article in the journal The Oncologist that summarized the current treatment options and availability of therapeutic agents for multiple myeloma patients in Europe. This article, Part 4 in the series, summarizes the European authors’ recommendations for the management of side effects.

The European authors provided recommendations for managing side effects related to novel agent use in myeloma patients. The recommendations are similar to how the side effects are managed in the United States.

Blood Clots

Blood clots are one of the …

A recent study found the combination therapy of thalidomide (Thalomid) and dexamethasone (Decadron), commonly referred to as TD, to be safe and effective as induction therapy in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients with impaired kidney function. The study authors also found that 55 percent of participants achieved normal kidney function after TD treatment. The study results were published in the journal Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

Impaired kidney function is a serious complication that occurs in approximately 20 to 30 percent of myeloma patients at diagnosis and in more …

Leading myeloma specialists from across Europe recently published an article in the journal The Oncologist that summarized the current treatment options and availability of therapeutic agents for multiple myeloma patients in Europe. This article, Part 3 in a series, summarizes the European physicians’ treatment recommendations for patients with relapsed myeloma. Part 1 compares availability of myeloma treatments in Europe and the U.S., and part 2 summarizes physician’s treatment recommendations for newly diagnosed patients. Part 4 will cover the management of side effects.

Although recent clinical trials have demonstrated that novel …

Leading myeloma specialists from across Europe recently published an article in the journal The Oncologist that summarized the current treatment options and availability of therapeutic agents for multiple myeloma patients in Europe. This article, Part 2 in a series, summarizes the European physician’s treatment recommendations for newly diagnosed patients. Part 1 compares availability of myeloma treatments in Europe and the U.S., and subsequent articles will summarize treatment recommendations for relapsed patients and management of side effects.

First-Line Treatment Practices

Due to more restrictive approved uses in Europe, there are also significant …

Leading myeloma specialists from across Europe recently published an article in the journal The Oncologist that summarized the current treatment options and availability of therapeutic agents for multiple myeloma patients in Europe. This article, Part 1 in a series, compares availability of the treatments in Europe and the United States. Subsequent articles will summarize the European physicians’ treatment recommendations for newly diagnosed patients, relapsed patients, and management of side effects.

Prior to the introduction of novel therapeutic agents within the last two decades, the treatment options for multiple myeloma patients were rather …