Articles tagged with: Thalidomide
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Hybrid Drugs Based On Thalidomide And Curcumin May Be A Future Treatment Option For Myeloma Patients – Results from a recent preclinical study indicate that hybrid molecules combining chemical structures from thalidomide (Thalomid) and curcumin may be potential treatments for multiple myeloma. Specifically, the investigators found that two particular hybrid molecules were effective in killing myeloma cells and were safer than either drug alone. Curcumin is the major active compound in turmeric, a popular Indian spice. Several early-stage studies have investigated curcumin's potential as a myeloma treatment (see related Beacon news articles). According to the researchers, hybrid drug therapy, which involves combining elements from two or more drugs into one molecule, is a promising treatment option for myeloma because it may be be safer and associated with a reduced risk of developing drug resistance. For more information, please refer to the study in the journal Organic and Bimolecular Chemistry (abstract).
Tandem Autologous Stem Cell Transplants May Not Cause Serious Heart Problems – Results from a small, retrospective Slovenian study suggest that two back-to-back, or tandem, autologous stem cell transplants (using the patient’s own cells) may not cause serious heart problems in the long-term. The study included 12 patients, each of whom received cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) for stem cell mobilization, and then high-dose chemotherapy with melphalan (Alkeran) prior to each transplant. None of the patients developed critical heart issues six years after their tandem transplant. However, the researchers did detect some signs of heart damage in the more detailed tests they carried out. Thus, the authors recommend long-term follow-up studies with tandem transplant patients, in part because of the increasing life expectancy of myeloma patients. For more information, please see the study in journal Radiology and Oncology (full-text).
Methotrexate-Cytarabine Combination May Be Useful For Stem Cell Remobilization – Results from a small study conducted in South Korea indicate that a combination of high-dose methotrexate and cytarabine (Cytosar-U) plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) may be a useful alternative for stem cell mobilization. Cytarabine is an older chemotherapy drug which has been used in the treatment of certain leukemias and lymphomas. Methotrexate also is an older drug, which has been used in high doses as a chemotherapy agent, and in low doses to treat various autoimmune disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis. The Korean study included eight patients who had previously failed to mobilize sufficient stem cells using regimens including G-CSF and conventional chemotherapy agents. Of those eight patients, all but one were able to mobilize a sufficient number of stem cells using the methotrexate-cytarabine-G-CSF combination. The researchers point out that larger studies are necessary to confirm their findings. For more information, please refer to the study in the journal Transfusion (abstract).
Donated, Virus-Specific White Blood Cells Effective For Severe Viral Infections After Donor Transplantation – Results of a recent study show that donated t-cells, a type of white blood cell, can be used to treat severe viral infections in patients who have undergone allogeneic (donor) stem cell transplantation. During the study, virus-specific t-cells were collected from individuals who were immune to certain viral infections. The donated t-cells were then used to treat a total of 50 patients who had undergone a donor stem cell transplant and then developed a severe viral infection. In 74 percent of the cases, the donated t-cell treatment led to either a partial or complete elimination of the viral infection. According to the researchers, the treatment was well tolerated; there were no infusion-related side effects, and only 4 percent of the patients developed graft-versus-host disease after the t-cell infusions. Graft-versus-host disease is a complication that arises when donor cells identify the recipient cells as foreign and attack them. For more information, please the study in the journal Blood (full text).
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The results of two recent European studies provide new insights into minimal residual disease detection and its potential value in the treatment of multiple myeloma.
The first study, carried out in Spain, used two different methods to detect minimal residual disease (MRD) in myeloma patients. The study found that the two methods led to similar results, and that MRD levels may be a better predictor of patient prognosis than traditional measures of treatment response.
The second study was conducted by researchers in Britain using data from a large clinical trial carried out …
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Velcade-Thalidomide-Dexamethasone Combination May Be Effective After A Stem Cell Transplant In Multiple Myeloma Patients – Results from a French study show that the combination of Velcade (bortezomib), thalidomide (Thalomid), and dexamethasone (Decadron), commonly referred to as VTD, may improve response rates in multiple myeloma patients after stem cell transplantation. The complete response rate for patients who received VTD as a consolidation therapy (52 percent) was significantly higher than the rate for patients who received a placebo (30 percent). The time to progression was also longer in patients who received VTD (62 percent), compared to those who received a placebo (29 percent). All patients had also received VTD as induction therapy prior to stem cell transplantation. For more information, please refer to the letter in the journal Leukemia (abstract).
Revlimid May Not Worsen Pre-Existing Peripheral Neuropathy In Relapsed Or Refractory Myeloma Patients – Results from an Italian study indicate that Revlimid (lenalidomide) does not worsen pre-existing peripheral neuropathy (pain, tingling, and loss of sensation in the extremities due to nerve damage) in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients. The investigators administered Revlimid and dexamethasone to 30 patients who had previously received Velcade or thalidomide. After 12 months of Revlimid therapy, peripheral neuropathy did not worsen in patients with pre-existing peripheral neuropathy and did not develop in any of the patients without pre-existing neuropathy. Based on these results, the investigators recommend longer follow-up studies to confirm Revlimid’s safety in patients with pre-existing peripheral neuropathy. For more information, please see the study in the Journal of the Peripheral Nervous System (abstract).
Heavy/Light Chain Assay May More Effectively Measure M-Protein Levels In Myeloma Patients – Findings from a European study indicate that the heavy/light chain (HLC) assay can be used as an effective prognostic test in patients with multiple myeloma. The investigators found that the HLC assay was better at identifying monoclonal (M) protein levels than other conventional tests, such as serum protein electrophoresis and immunofixation electrophoresis. In addition, the investigators found that the HLC assay was not only more accurate, but could also detect subtle changes in patients with very low M-protein levels. The investigators note that results from the HLC assay and the free light chain (FLC) assay were generally in agreement, but both tests are needed to exclude the presence of residual disease. For more information, please refer to the study in Leukemia (subscription required).
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During a session at the International Myeloma Workshop (IMW) held in Japan last week, Dr. Keith Stewart from the Mayo Clinic summarized the latest findings from research related to the protein cereblon and its impact on certain myeloma treatments.
Dr. Stewart reported that low levels of cereblon are associated with lower response rates and reduced survival outcomes in multiple myeloma patients treated with the immunomodulatory agents Revlimid (lenalidomide), thalidomide (Thalomid), and Pomalyst (pomalidomide).
He explained that, with further investigation, these findings may eventually help physicians customize therapy …
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A team of European researchers recently found that advanced age, kidney failure, infections, heart and gastrointestinal complications, and drug discontinuation are associated with poor survival among elderly myeloma patients.
The results are from a combined analysis of data from four major European clinical trials. All the trials involved elderly multiple myeloma patients treated with either conventional anti-myeloma agents or combinations of conventional and novel agents.
The study also found that intensive anti-myeloma treatment regimens – that is, regimens combining conventional agents with more than one novel agent – may be counterproductive in …
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This year’s meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) was held December 8 through 11 in Atlanta.
During the meeting, The Beacon published daily updates that provided overviews of the important multiple myeloma findings presented during the meeting. After the meeting concluded, The Beacon began publishing in-depth articles about the key research findings.
This article, however, shifts the focus to the bigger picture: What were the key findings of the meeting? Were there results with immediate implications for the treatment of multiple myeloma? Did the research …
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Fewer Injection Site Reactions With Subcutaneous Velcade Administered To The Abdomen Instead Of The Thigh - Japanese researchers recently found that subcutaneous (under the skin) injections of Velcade (bortezomib) in the abdomen cause fewer injection site reactions compared to injections in the thigh. According to the Japanese researchers, the higher rates seen with injections to the thigh may be because the thigh contains less fat tissue than the abdomen. Based on their findings, they recommend administering subcutaneous Velcade to the abdomen, particularly in the case of thin patients. For more information, please see the study in The European Journal of Haematology (abstract).
Cereblon Levels May Affect Effectiveness Of Thalidomide – Results of a European retrospective analysis indicate that levels of the protein cereblon in patients’ myeloma cells may impact the efficacy of thalidomide (Thalomid). The researchers found that newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients with high cereblon levels who received thalidomide maintenance had longer progression-free survival times than those with low cereblon levels. The researchers did not observe any association between cereblon levels and the effectiveness of Velcade maintenance therapy. Previous studies have shown that cereblon is necessary for the immunomodulatory drugs -- particularly Revlimid (lenalidomide) and pomalidomide -- to be effective against multiple myeloma (see related Beacon news article). For more information, please see the study in the journal Blood (abstract).
Latest Findings Show Kepivance May Not Decrease Mouth Ulcers In Myeloma Patients Undergoing High-Dose Chemotherapy – In contrast to previous findings, results from a recent Dutch study show that Kepivance (palifermin) has no effect on mouth ulcers in multiple myeloma receiving high-dose melphalan (Alkeran) prior to stem cell transplantation using their own stem cells. In the Dutch study, patients who received Kepivance had similar rates of mouth ulcers as patients who received a placebo. For more information, please see the study in the journal Bone Marrow Transplant (abstract).
Study Finds Association Between Myeloma And Certain Occupations – Results of another European analysis suggest that farmers, cleaning workers, and, to a certain extent, printers have an increased risk of developing multiple myeloma. The European researchers also found that pesticide exposure over a period of 10 years or more increased the risk of developing multiple myeloma. For more information, please see the study in the Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology (pdf, full text).