April 25th 2024
Findings from the CARTITUDE-2 trial support the use of cilta-cel in patients with multiple myeloma, says Tina Glow, AAS, RN, BSN.
Patient, Provider, and Caregiver Connection: Addressing Pediatric and AYA Patient Concerns While Managing Hodgkin Lymphoma
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Patient, Provider, and Caregiver Connection™: Individualizing Care for Patients with Schizophrenia—Understanding Patient Challenges and the Role of Innovative Treatment
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Improving Outcomes in Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemias at the Intersection Between Hematology and Oncology Care
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B-Cell Tumor Board: Rendering Real World Personalized Treatment Plans in CLL/SLL and MCL Through the Lens of Emerging BTKi Evidence
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Applying New Evidence in Multiple Myeloma Care from Frontline to R/R Disease
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Community Practice Connections™: 5th Annual Precision Medicine Symposium – An Illustrated Tumor Board
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Community Oncology Connections™: Overcoming Barriers to Testing, Trial Access, and Equitable Care in Cancer
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Translating New Evidence into Treatment Algorithms from Frontline to R/R Multiple Myeloma: How the Experts Think & Treat
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Medical Crossfire: How Has Iron Supplementation Altered Treatment Planning for Patients with Cancer-Related Anemia?
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Medical Crossfire®: The Experts Bridge Recent Data in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia With Real-World Sequencing Questions
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Community Practice Connections™: Pre-Conference Workshop on Immune Cell-Based Therapy
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New myeloma trial results; two new studies initiated
October 1st 2007Interim results of the large international phase III VISTA trial in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma showed a significant improvement in all efficacy measures for bortezomib (Velcade), melphalan, and prednisone vs melphalan/prednisone.
Multiple Myeloma Trial Stopped Early Due to Significant Efficacy Advantage of Bortezomib
October 1st 2007Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc, announced that the interim analysis results of the large, international phase III VISTA trial in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma showed that VMP therapy (bortezomib [Velcade], melphalan [Alkeran], and prednisone) demonstrated a highly statistically significant improvement in all efficacy measures, including time-to-disease progression, complete remission rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival, compared to MP (melphalan and prednisone) alone.
Phase II trial to evaluate four-drug therapy in myeloma
September 1st 2007Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has initiated a randomized, multicenter phase II trial to evaluate the efficacy of combining bortezomib (Velcade), lenalidomide (Revlimid) and dexamethasone with or without cyclophosphamide as front-line therapy of multiple myeloma. The trial, named EVOLUTION, is led by Vincent Rajkumar, MD, professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic.
New proteasome inhibitor tested in relapsed/refractory myeloma
September 1st 2007The Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC) and Proteolix, Inc. (South San Francisco, California) have begun enrolling patients in a multicenter phase II clinical trial of Proteolix's proteasome inhibitor carfilzomib (PR-171) in patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma.
New phase III trial of Velcade in newly diagnosed myeloma
August 1st 2007Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has initiated a randomized, multicenter, company-sponsored phase III trial to determine the most effective Velcade (bortezomib)-based combination therapy with approved agents for the treatment of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients who are ineligible for stem cell transplantation
Velcade/Doxil Approved for Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma Pts
June 1st 2007The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of Doxil (doxorubicin liposome injection, Ortho Biotech) in combination with Velcade for Injection (bortezomib, Millennium) to treat patients with multiple myeloma who have not previously received Velcade and have received at least one prior therapy.
Enrollment Begins for Phase I Trial of NPI-0052 in Myeloma
June 1st 2007NORWALK, Connecticut—The Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC) and Nereus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., San Diego, have initiated enrollment in a multicenter phase I clinical trial to study Nereus' novel, second-generation proteasome inhibitor NPI-0052 in patients with relapsed or relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Participants in the open-label study will receive escalating, once-weekly intravenous doses of NPI-0052. The compound was discovered during the fermentation of a new marine actinomycete (Salinispora tropica).
ASCO Guideline: Bisphosphonates in Myeloma
June 1st 2007The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has developed updated guideline recommendations on the use of bisphosphonates in patients with multiple myeloma. The key recommendations address three areas: therapy duration, dosage, and monitoring; osteonecrosis of the jaw; and several previous recommendations.
Novel Therapeutic Avenues in Myeloma: Changing the Treatment Paradigm
Our better understanding of the complex interaction of multiple myeloma (MM) cells with their bone marrow microenvironment and the signaling pathways that are dysregulated in this process has resulted in a dramatic increase in the therapeutic agents available for this disease. A number of these new agents have demonstrated significant activity in patients with MM. Over the past 5 years, three drugs have received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for therapy in MM—bortezomib, thalidomide, and lenalidomide. To date, the choice of therapy for MM is not individualized according to the biologic characteristics of the disease, but future studies should enable us to identify patients who may benefit most from certain therapeutic interventions, and thus develop individualized therapy for MM. In this review, we will present some of the treatment algorithms currently developed for patients with MM and focus on established advances in therapy, specifically with thalidomide, bortezomib, and lenalidomide. We will also discuss some of the emerging novel therapeutic agents showing promise in phase I/II clinical trials in MM.
NCCN Presents Hematologic Ca Congress
October 1st 2006World-renowned thought leaders discussed important clinical advances and new guidelines in the diagnosis and treatment of hematologic malignancies, at the first annual National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Hematologic Malignancies Congress.
New Questions About Transplantation in Multiple Myeloma
September 1st 2006Multiple myeloma is now the most common indication for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in North America, with over 5,000 transplants performed yearly (Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research [CIBMTR] data). While the role of ASCT as initial therapy in multiple myeloma has been established by randomized studies, newer therapies are challenging the traditional paradigm. The availability of novel induction agents and newer risk stratification tools, and the increasing recognition of durability of remissions are changing the treatment paradigm. However, even with arduous therapy designed to produce more complete remissions—for example, tandem autologous transplants—we have seen no plateau in survival curves. A tandem autologous procedure followed by maintenance therapy may be performed in an attempt to sustain remission. Sequential autologous transplants followed by nonmyeloablative allotransplants are pursued with the hope of "curing" multiple myeloma. We examine how the key challenges of increasing the response rates and maintaining responses are being addressed using more effective induction and/or consolidation treatments and the need for maintenance therapies after ASCT. We argue that given the biologic heterogeneity of multiple myeloma, risk-adapted transplant approaches are warranted. While the role of curative-intent, dose-intense toxic therapy is still controversial, conventional myeloablative allogeneic transplants need to be reexamined as an option in high-risk aggressive myeloma, given improvements in supportive care and transplant-related mortality.
Prior Thalidomide Therapy Affects Benefit of Len/Dex in Myeloma
August 1st 2006Patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma have a higher response rate and longer time to progression when lenalidomide (Revlimid) is added to dexamethasone (Len/Dex), regardless of prior thalidomide (Thalomid).
Thalidomide Ups Survival in Elderly Myeloma Patients
August 1st 2006Elderly patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma are likely to survive nearly 2 years longer if thalidomide (Thalomid) is added to the standard melphalan/prednisone (MP) regimen, and they may gain about 10 months longer progression-free survival (PFS),
Thalidomide Has 'Changed the Paradigm' in Myeloma Rx
June 1st 2006Thalidomide (Thalomid) has "changed the paradigm" for treating multiple myeloma, and advances in understanding the relationship between myeloma cells and the bone marrow microenvironment promise to change it even more, Kenneth C. Anderson, MD, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, said at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) 11th Annual Conference.
Growing Evidence Supports Stem Cell Hypothesis of Cancer
May 1st 2006During the past 18 months, researchers have developed substantial evidence supporting the notion that stem cells play a critical role in the development of at least some cancers, their progression, and the prognosis of patients, including breast, brain, lung, and prostate cancer, multiple myeloma, and melanoma.
Lower-Dose Thalidomide Effective in Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma, With Less Toxicity
May 1st 2006For patients with refractory or relapsed multiple myeloma, a lower dose of thalidomide (100 mg/d) offers similar efficacy to the higher dose (400 mg/d), but with fewer side effects. Ibrahim Yakoub-Agha, MD, of CHRU Lille, France, reported the results of IFM-01-02 at the 47th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (abstract 364), for the Intergroupe Francophone du Myelome.