Researchers from the University of Athens and Penn State University have announced that in a study of newly diagnosed patients, elevated TIMP-1, a blood biomarker, correlated with more advanced multiple myeloma, poorer overall survival, and the presence of bone lesions.

TIMP-1 belongs to the family of “tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases,” a group of proteins that help regulate bone turnover – the removal of old bone tissue (resorption) and the addition of new bone tissue (ossification). Through multiple molecular pathways, excess TIMP-1 may contribute to tumor development because it directly encourages cell growth …

A recent study published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases evaluates the infection risk presented by different multiple myeloma therapies. The authors conclude that while current therapies, particularly high-dose regimens and novel agents, improve the outcomes of patients with myeloma, they also introduce a much greater risk of infection.

Myeloma impairs the quality and quantity of immune system proteins that an individual produces. As a result, more than 75 percent of myeloma patients will experience marked immune system depression, becoming vulnerable to potentially life-threatening infections. In fact, infections are the leading cause of death …

On September 2, Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company reported that the company’s supplemental new drug application (sNDA) has been accepted for review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The acceptance is based on the long-term overall survival data from the VISTA Phase 3 clinical trial that examined the use of Velcade (bortezomib) for treatment of previously-untreated multiple myeloma.

The VISTA trial compared a drug regimen of Velcade, melphalan (Alkeran), and prednisone with a drug regimen of melphalan and prednisone without Velcade in patients with previously untreated myeloma. …

In a series of basic science experiments, researchers discovered a protein, GRP-78, that is responsible for resistance to Velcade (bortezomib) treatment in some solid tumor cancers. The study was published in the journal Blood last Thursday.

Perhaps one reason why Velcade is especially effective in treating multiple myeloma is because myeloma cells do not secrete GRP-78. Nevertheless, some people with multiple myeloma are resistant to Velcade treatment. This research, besides finding important knowledge about a variety of cancers that do form solid tumors, may help scientists eliminate one possible cause of …

A Phase 1 clinical trial recently reported in the journal Clinical Cancer Research indicated that the novel drug combination of Velcade (bortezomib) and Zolinza (vorinostat) may be effective in patients with relapsed or refractory myeloma.

Previous preclinical results suggested that Zolinza enhances Velcade’s therapeutic effect. However, this is the first clinical trial to describe the combination of a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor (Zolinza) and a proteasome inhibitor (Velcade) in heavily pre-treated relapsed or refractory myeloma patients.

The Phase 1 clinical trial monitored 23 patients with relapsed and/or refractory …

Anti-tumor activity in multiple myeloma after Velcade (bortezomib) treatment has been thought to result from the drug inhibiting a protein complex that regulates the immune response. Now, scientists think that Velcade works through other mechanisms.

The complex is known as NF-kappaB. When it is activated, it causes the body’s cells to respond to foreign particles and cause an immune response. Initially, Velcade has been thought to work by blocking the function of enzymes, including the complex NF-kappaB, that break down proteins in the cell. Because inhibition of these enzymes causes cellular …