Most of you probably know that I have been working on several new books about multiple myeloma. 

Of all the new combination drugs, the monoclonal antibody, elotuzumab, seems to excite myeloma experts most.

A few more quick notes from ASCO before the first of a long running series about ways to improve peripheral neuropathy (PN) starts later today:

If you have been following news from this week’s International Myeloma Workshop in Paris, you couldn’t help but notice how the big news centered around a Revlimid maintenance therapy. 

According to a new Czech study, posted earlier this month on Pub Med.gov, it doesn’t matter whether you pick thalidomide (Thalomid) or bortezomib (Velcade) for treatment following first relapse.  Apparently both work about one half of the time.

It is always interesting to see how the general medical community views multiple myeloma/ASH related news.  Here is an article from the well respected Internal Medical News about three Millennium Pharmaceutical studies featuring bortezomib (Velcade) at ASH:
Bortezomib-Based Regimens Help Older Patients With Multiple Myeloma
By: NEIL OSTERWEIL, Internal Medicine News Digital Network – 12/15/10

Yesterday’s article, Pre-American Society Of Hematology (ASH) News Starting To Break, featured the first part of Millennium Pharmaceutical’s Curtainraiser ASH Preview Press Release.

I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank Dr. Eric Rubin, Vice President of Merck Oncology, for taking the time to update us on vorinostat’s projected timeline.

Results of a randomized clinical trial in Spain shows that reduced intensity, bortezomib-based (Velcade) induction therapy, followed by bortezomib-based maintenance therapy, results in a favorable toxicity profile and high efficacy among older patients.  Go to OncologySTATS’ site to read the study.

Velcade is currently the only FDA approved proteasome inhibitor. Here is an encouraging research study using a new oral proteasome inhibitor ONX 0912, which was submitted to the internationally recocognized medical journal, Blood, April 2, 2010; accepted August 8, 2010. Here is a copy of the study abstract:

Here is an English press release from the company which distributes Velcade in the UK.  Looks like the British may be headed in the wrong direction here:

Here is the link to Dr. Richardson’s RVD study Dr. Stewart writes about in my previous post:

Lenalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone combination therapy in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma

RVD works great!  The question is:  For how long?  Does using RVD extend a patient’s life?  Only time will tell.

Feel good and keep smiling!  Pat

OncologyStat.com reports there is some good news for multiple myeloma patients with chromosomal abnormalities:
Bortezomib Plus Dexamethasone Induction Improves Outcome of Patients With t(4;14) Myeloma but Not Outcome of Patients With del(17p)
TAKE-HOME MESSAGE

In this large, retrospective analysis of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, bortezomib-based induction therapy before high-dose melphalan and stem cell transplantation was associated with improved survival in patients with t(4;14) but not del(17p) cytogenetics when compared with patients who received vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone induction.

Here is the body of the article about multiple myeloma related research studies I started to post yesterday,  Is It Time to Abandon Up-Front Transplantation in Multiple Myeloma?

I learned yesterday VELCADE is being highlighted in five presentations at the newly established, exclusive Trials in Progress session. This session will highlight a number of different abstracts.

Here are course notes from the class I completed yesterday, Optimal Management Strategies and Novel Agents in Multiple Myeloma, specifically the section about clinical trials and new drug combination strategies:

I completed an advanced multiple myeloma related course this morning, Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma: Options for Subsequent Therapy: Optimal Management Strategies and Novel Agents in Multiple Myeloma,
By: Amitabha Mazumder, MD.  Dr. Mazumder is Professor of Medicine at NY Medical College.

Here is a great article, by Caroline Helwick, about acute renal failure and multiple myeloma from the February issue of Renal & Urology News:

If you didn’t get a chance to read my post on Sunday, please scroll down and view the first of my two part report about this new SCT multiple myeloma survival abstract from the Czech Republic. Here are the discussion and conclusion sections of that study:

Here is an interesting and cautionary report I found about Velcade on AboutLawsuits.Com yesterday: