Articles tagged with: Thalomid
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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).
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Results from three Chinese clinical trials indicate that the investigational drug circularly permuted TRAIL may be effective alone or in combination with thalidomide in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients.
However, further testing of the drug is necessary to determine its optimal dose.
Dr. Wenming Chen from the Chaoyang Hospital of Capital Medical University in Beijing presented the findings from the three studies last week at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting in Atlanta.
Circularly Permuted TRAIL (CPT) is being developed by Beijing Sunbio Biotech as a treatment for multiple …
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Yesterday was the second day of the 2012 American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting, which is being held in Atlanta.
The day's myeloma-related presentations began in the afternoon with three sessions of oral presentations. Two of the sessions focused on results from clinical trials, most of which studied drugs that are still being developed for the treatment of multiple myeloma. The third session, which focused on the biology of myeloma, ran simultaneously with one of the sessions about clinical trial results.
An update published yesterday evening summarized the results for the …