Hematology Times
ASCO 2010
VMPT emerges as new standard for older MM patients
Multiple myeloma cells
The Italian Multiple Myeloma Network, GIMEMA, has confirmed that a 4-drug combination followed by maintenance is superior to the current best standard therapy—bortezomib-melphalan-prednisone (VMP)—for elderly patients with multiple myeloma (MM). The addition of thalidomide to VMP “dramatically increased the response rate,” according to Antonio Palumbo, MD, of the University of Torino in Italy, from 24% with VMP to 38% with VMPT. He presented the phase 3 results at the annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology held recently in Chicago. ... [Read Article] Chemo or ASCT for younger MM patients?
Bone marrow aspirate showing
multiple myeloma Novel agents call into question the role of autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) upfront for younger multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Antonio Palumbo, MD, of the University of Torino in Italy, shed some light on the question at the annual meeting of ASCO held recently. He reported the results of a phase 3 trial in newly diagnosed myeloma patients. Researchers found that 3-drug conventional chemotherapy is comparable to ASCT without the risk, recovery time, and debilitating side effects of a transplant. ... [Read Article] Panobinostat-bortezomib combination promising in refractory MM
Multiple myeloma cells
Panobinostat (LBH589) combined with bortezomib shows promising activity in patients with relapsed or relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM). Even patients refractory to prior bortezomib-containing regimens benefitted from the combination. Kenneth Anderson, MD, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, reported the phase 1 results at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology held recently in Chicago. ... [Read Article] Lenalidomide maintenance reduces recurrence in MM
Multiple myeloma cells
Lenalidomide maintenance therapy halved the recurrence rate in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) following first-line autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) in a 24-month interim analsyis of a phase 3 study presented at an oral session of the 2010 Annual Meeting of ASCO, held here. “This 24-month interim analysis suggests that lenalidomide may be the first effective maintenance therapy for MM,” said lead investigator Michel Attal, MD, of Purpan Hospital in Toulouse, France, speaking for the Intergroupe Francophone du Myélome. ... [Read Article] Bosutinib in imatinib-resistant/intolerant chronic CML
CML cells
The investigational tyrosine kinase inhibitor bosutinib was effective in patients with chronic-phase chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) who failed on previous therapy with imatinib—current first-line therapy for this hematologic cancer. Half of the patients who were either imatinib-resistant or imatinib-intolerant achieved a complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) with bosutinib, according to a study presented at the 2010 annual meeting of ASCO. A second study showed that bosutinib was also effective as third-line therapy in chronic phase CML, after failure on imatinib and second-line dasatinib. ... [Read Article] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
