Articles tagged with: Velcade
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Monday was the third full day of “ASH 2010,” this year’s annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology. This day was the busiest of the entire meeting in terms of multiple myeloma-related material. Presentations summarizing the latest myeloma research stretched from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.
The morning presentations from Monday will be covered in this update, and presentations from the afternoon and evening will be covered in another update later today.
The day featured a large number of presentations and posters about Velcade (bortezomib), examining its use in …
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Pomalidomide has demonstrated efficacy in heavily pre-treated multiple myeloma patients who have been treated with – or are even refractory to – Revlimid and Velcade.
Three studies of the use of pomalidomide (Pomalyst) in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients were presented yesterday at the American Society of Hematology annual meeting in Orlando.
Pomalidomide, which is being developed by the pharmaceutical company Celgene, is an immunomodulatory agent that induces the immune system to destroy myeloma cells. It belongs to the same class of drugs as Revlimid (lenalidomide) and thalidomide (Thalomid). …
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Yesterday was the second full day of the 2010 American Society of Hematology annual meeting in Orlando. It was a particularly busy day in terms of material related to multiple myeloma, with numerous oral presentations during the day and an extensive poster session in the early evening.
One of the first presentations of the day was actually a press conference held to review the results of a Phase 3 study comparing the efficacy and safety of two different stem cell transplant regimens for multiple myeloma (abstract).
In one arm of this …
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Opinion: Individualizing The Dosing Of Multiple Myeloma Treatment – In the latest article published in the opinion section of The Beacon, Dr. Gary Blau, a multiple myeloma patient and visiting professor at Purdue University, wrote about the need to individualize doses of multiple myeloma treatments based on how each patient’s body absorbs and disposes of the drug. To receive a copy of all opinion articles when they are published, send an email to .
Certain Velcade Batches Are Recalled Due To Particles – On Thursday, Johnson & Johnson and Takeda, the manufacturers of Velcade (bortezomib), recalled certain batches of Velcade in the United States, Europe, Japan, and Malaysia. The recalled vials may contain particles that become visible after the powder form of the drug is dissolved into a solution for injection. The particles could cause injection site reactions, inflammation, or blood clots. There have not yet been any reports of negative side effects caused by the particles. The recall is a voluntary measure and affects vials distributed between January and July. The particles were a result of the manufacturing process, which the manufacturers report has since been improved. For more information and a list of lots recalled from the U.S., see the Millennium website. A list of the lots recalled from Europe can be found on the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency website.
Geron Corporation To Begin Phase 2 Study Of Imetelstat For Myeloma – A Phase 2 study of Imetelstat (GRN163L) will soon be recruiting participants. The purpose of the study is to determine the efficacy of Imetelstat in previously treated multiple myeloma patients. Imetelstat inhibits an enzyme called telomerase, which is crucial to the survival of many cancer cells, thereby causing cancer cells to die. Imetelstat is being developed by Geron Corporation. For more information, see the Geron website and the clinical trial description.
Cetrotide Shows Promise In Multiple Myeloma – Preclinical results showed that Cetrotide (cetrorelix acetate) inhibits growth and kills multiple myeloma cells, including those resistant to Velcade (bortezomib), Revlimid (lenalidomide), or Trisenox (arsenic trioxide). Cetrotide also inhibited growth of myeloma cells in mice, and no side effects were observed. Cetrotide suppresses the production of several reproductive hormones. It is marketed by Merck Serono and is approved to control ovulation in women. It is also being studied extensively in breast cancer and prostate cancer. For more information, see the study in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics.
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NCI Initiates Study Of Novel Imaging Techniques To Identify Precursor Stages Of Myeloma – The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is recruiting patients for a study investigating the use of sensitive imaging technologies to identify progression of myeloma precursor diseases. There are currently no diagnostic tests available to determine whether an individual with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) or smoldering multiple myeloma will develop multiple myeloma. New and improved imaging techniques may help physicians better detect the progression of these precursor diseases. This trial is recruiting participants with MGUS, smoldering myeloma, or myeloma. For more information, see the clinical trial description. To participate in the trial, please contact the research nurse, Mary Ann Yancey, at (301) 435-9227 or .
Phase 2 Trials Of IPH 2101 Are Recruiting Myeloma And Smoldering Myeloma Patients – Several Phase 2 clinical trials are now recruiting multiple myeloma and smoldering multiple myeloma patients to receive the experimental agent IPH 2101 (anti-KIR). IPH 2101 is an antibody drug being developed by Innate Pharma. It helps activate cells of the immune system to destroy cancer cells. IPH 2101 is being studied in patients with smoldering myeloma to see if it delays and/or prevents progression to multiple myeloma (trial description). It is also being studied in multiple myeloma patients in stable partial response after a first line therapy (trial description) and in combination with Revlimid (lenalidomide) in myeloma patients experiencing their first relapse (trial description). To participate in the smoldering myeloma trial at the National Institutes of Health, please contact the research nurse, Mary Ann Yancey, at (301) 435-9227 or .
Phase 3 Double Transplant Trial Is Currently Recruiting Myeloma Patients – Myeloma patients are now being recruited by the Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey to participate in a Phase 3 trial of tandem stem cell transplants with melphalan (Alkeran) followed by melphalan and Velcade (bortezomib). The purpose of this trial is to determine if the addition of Velcade to the second transplant will increase remission times. For more information, please see the clinical trial description.
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In addition to Velcade’s anti-myeloma effects, Velcade may also enhance bone formation, according to a Korean study of two multiple myeloma patients.
Based on the findings, the study investigators suggested that Velcade (bortezomib) treatment may be beneficial in patients with destructive bone disease.
However, in correspondence with the Myeloma Beacon, Dr. Chang-Ki Min, lead author of the study noted, “I believe that the incidental findings require additional studies. For example, clinical results such as response to Velcade or skeletal-related events [in this patient population] should be investigated.”
Dr. Kristy Weber, professor …
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The International Myeloma Working Group, a group of leading myeloma specialists, recently announced its recommendations for the treatment of multiple myeloma patients with kidney impairment. The group found that novel agents might improve - and possibly reverse - the complications of kidney impairment. In particular, the group recommended that patients with kidney impairment of any severity undergo treatment with Velcade plus dexamethasone, due to its safety and efficacy profile.
Diagnosis Of Kidney Impairment
Kidney impairment affects between 15 and 40 percent of multiple myeloma patients (please see the Beacon series on …