This is the type of thing that I usually post on MyelomaNews.com.

The Wall Street Journal’s Peter Loftus reports that:

I know, I know.  I’m falling behind!  I’m so busy collecting and analyzing newly released myeloma related research data, I have barely had time to write.

Friday I wrote an article about the worsening shortage of the myeloma drug, Doxil.

Last month I learned that my docs could not add Doxil to my RVD (Revlimid/Velcade/dexamethasone) consolidation treatment regimen.  Doxil is the drug Doxorubicin encapsulated in a closed lipid sphere.  Seems Doxil is part of the much publicized chemotherapy drug shortage.

Yesterday I shared impressive, in-depth therapy analysis of my case by Dr. Robert Orlowski, at M.D. Anderson in Houston, Texas.

Yesterday I wrote about three anti-myeloma clinical studies involving carfilzomib, elotuzumab and panobinostat.

Let’s jump right in with more ASCO news.

I have received a number of calls and e-mails recently from patients who’s multiple myeloma has become active again while using Revlimid, Velcade, or both.  Here is a short, hopeful response I found addressing this on the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) Website:
Treatment Options for Relapsed or Refractory Patients Failing Revlimid and Velcade:

Q&A with Dr. Keith Stewart, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona
What are my current options if I fail Revlimid® (lenalidomide) and Velcade® (bortezomib)?
Fortunately, there are many existing therapies available for the treatment of relapsed and/or refractory myeloma. Conventional chemotherapy drugs that may be effective include Cytoxan® (cyclophosphamide), melphalan, and anthracyclines such as doxorubicin or Doxil® (doxorubicin HCL liposome injection). Thalomid® (thalidomide) may still be an option if patients have not received it previously. These drugs may be used in various combinations that may even include trying Velcade or Revlimid again.

While attending an International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) Patient and Family Seminar last fall in Minneapolis, I met an impressive, young myeloma doc and researcher on the rise, Mayo Clinic’s Dr. Kieth Stewart.  I felt he had a very reasonable and balanced approach to myeloma therapy.  Here is a research paper the prestigious hematological publication, Blood, just published by Dr. Stewart, about the new therapy approach of combining Velcad with Revlimid in newly diagnosed patients:
Union of forces advances myeloma care

In this issue of Blood, Richardson et al report on a landmark treatment regimen for newly diagnosed myeloma patients that for the first time combines lenalidomide and bortezomib. This effort required a team approach comprising 2 competing pharmaceutical companies (joining forces to study this promising regimen) and multiple academic medical centers.1

Here are a number of multiple myeloma related news stories which have emerged over the past few days:

The 4:30 presentation titled “Therapy Excluding Transplantation: Combination Therapy For Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma,” was, in a way, more of the same. Very similar data to other presentations I saw today, with a few key differences. In elderly patients, it turns out the Italians treat their patients in a way similar to those in Spain. (See previous post) Both think once weekly Velcade is enough. Thats good, right? Both studied combinations of Velcade/melphalan/prednisone and Velcade/melphalan/prednisone/thalidomide. A major difference is in the Italian study, led by Dr. Antonio Palumbo, used a two drug maintenance therapy low dose combo of Velcade and thalidomide, where the Spanish study continued to use low doses of all four drugs in their maintenance program. The Italians noted a 40% better response rate when maintenance therapy was used. Adding thalidomide made a difference in patients early on as well. 18% more patients reached a complete response, and achieved CR more quickly than the study arm not using thalidomide.
I met Dr. Palumbo last evening. Quiet, unassuming and considered among Europe’s best myeloma docs. In both Spanish and Italian studies, around 80% of these older patients were still alive after 3 years.

Program Director Dr. Brian Durie has just introduced tonight’s panel: Dr. Mario Boccadoro from Italy, Dr. Philippe Moreau from France, Dr. Robert Orlowski with M.D. Anderson Cancer Centers and Dr. Vincent Rajkumar from Mayo Clinic.

Dexamethasone has been combined with novel chemotherapy drugs like Thalomid, Velcade and Revlimid for years. But now there are a few newer drugs which are also starting to be used in combination as well. Doxil, cyclophosphamide and vorinostat are examples of this. All three are either available now, or have recently completed successful Phase III trials.

More about the patient conference at Millennium tomorrow. I received this e-mail from Debbie Stanley yesterday and, with her permission, wanted to share it with my readers: