The FDA has now lifted the partial hold on the Phase III CANOVA multiple myeloma trial using venetoclax with pomalidomide and dexamethasone. Venetoclax is a BCL-2 inhibitor that is being jointly developed between AbbVie and Roche. The hold was lifted after additional risk mitigation procedures and the implementation of new guidelines. Certain myeloma venetoclax studies [...]
Read MoreDonate to Richard's Ride The world for multiple myeloma patients is one of ups and downs. How can we ride successfully through all its hills and valleys? Myeloma patient Richard Hite shares how he is riding well with myeloma as he rides the first Bike the Coast 600 mile ride from San Francisco [...]
Read MoreDonate to Richard's Ride Richard Hite has ridden 400 miles of his 600 mile ride down the California coast. What if he left his bike pump or spare tire at home? Or left without a map for his route? Without Support and Gear (SAG), his ride would be destined for failure from the [...]
Read MoreCarfilzomib is a next generation proteasome inhibitor that is being regularly used in the myeloma clinic. It is now being used frequently as part of induction therapy and is favored for patients with high risk myeloma. One side effect in approximately 4% of myeloma patients can include heart issues. A recent Japanese study published in [...]
Read MoreToday is Day 2 of Bike the Coast - an epic 600 mile ride from San Francisco to San Diego by myeloma patient Richard Hite and his team. Please support Richard's Ride! Donate to Richard's Ride Avid cyclist Richard Hite wouldn't think about renting a bike and riding it 600 miles. If a [...]
Read MoreVenetoclax is the first drug that was determined to work for a specific type of genetic feature found in multiple myeloma patients called the 11;14 translocation. This means that part of chromosome 11 has swapped places with parts of chromosome 14 on the myeloma cells. This is the most common translocation found in myeloma patients [...]
Read MoreSelinexor is a drug that is being evaluated for early approval in multiple myeloma for highly relapsed or refractory patients. Dr. Paul Richardson joined the Myeloma Crowd at ASCO to share recent updates on their progress. Patients in the study had myeloma that was resistant to immunomodulatory agents, proteasome inhibitors, and anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies (also [...]
Read MoreMyeloma patients are living longer than ever and ask their myeloma docs regularly about how they can improve their general health, risk situation and overall outcomes. Many patients use "wearables" like Fitibits or Apple watches that can track your steps, sleep, weight and heart rate. Myeloma patients may have bone disease, which makes it potentially [...]
Read MoreSaad Usmani, MD of the Levine Cancer Institute shared results from the recent ASCO 2019 conference about the use of subcutaneous daratumumab, or dara given as a shot under the skin (usually in the stomach). Today, the first infusion of IV daratumumab is given over a multi-hour period and sometimes has to be administered over [...]
Read MoreRafael Fonseca, MD Mayo Clinic Scottsdale Interview Date: May 22, 2019 Thanks to our episode sponsor Summary The cost of healthcare is on the minds of every stakeholder including patients, provider and payers, especially when it comes to cancer treatment. Dr. Rafael Fonseca joins Myeloma Crowd Radio to share his insights about the [...]
Read MoreIsatuximab is a new monoclonal antibody targeting CD38 that has been progressing through clinical trials in order to receive FDA approval. Dr. Paul Richardson joined the Myeloma Crowd at the recent ASCO 2019 conference to share the presented results from the Phase III ICARIA-MM trial. According to Dr. Richardson, although this new drug targets [...]
Read MoreAMG0-420 is a new bi-specific antibody that is being tested in Phase I clinical trials. It is a small molecule that binds CD3 on T cells with a common target found on all myeloma cells called BCMA. By binding the two together, the T cell is forced to kill the myeloma cell. While CAR T [...]
Read MoreFor many years, researchers didn't know how the immunomodulator (IMiD) drugs like lenalidomide and pomalidomide worked to impact myeloma. In the last 10 years, it has become more clear that the intracellular molecule called celebron is part of the reason the IMiD drugs are effective. At the recent ASCO 2019 meeting, Sagar Lonial, MD of [...]
Read MoreThe treatment of smoldering myeloma is advancing based on what myeloma researchers are learning in recent studies. One of the most important points discussed at the recent ASCO conference were how to better risk stratify smoldering myeloma patients. Dr. Natalie Callander from the University of Wisconsin shared a study from smoldering myeloma patients that began [...]
Read MorePatients with blood cancers are at a higher risk of developing head and neck cancers, according to results of a retrospective study published in JAMA Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery. Having a prior blood cancer was also associated with worse 2 and 5-year overall survival for these head and neck cancers. The study [...]
Read MoreUniversity of Kentucky (UK) researchers have discovered a new compound that targets the active site of proteasomes. Proteasomes are the garbage processor of cells, breaking down old proteins into smaller peptides so they can be re-used in the creation of new proteins. In multiple myeloma, several proteasome inhibitors have been developed to treat multiple myeloma [...]
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Friday, May 24, 2019 @ 8:30 am Pacific, 9:30 am Mountain, 10:30 am Central, 11:30 am Eastern Call In by Phone to Listen Live: (347) 637-2631 or Listen Live Via Computer. Immunotherapy is a major class of therapy that continues to expand in the myeloma clinic. Dr. Alexander Lesokhin of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center [...]
Read MoreDifferent targets are being used in myeloma for CAR T therapy and researchers have not yet identified the optimal target for each myeloma patient. The first target to begin CAR T development was BCMA, and now additional targets are being explored. Myeloma patients have CD38 markers and it may be a potential target for CAR [...]
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Monday, May 20, 2019 @ 1:30 pm Pacific, 2:30 pm Mountain, 3:30 pm Central, 4:30 pm Eastern Call In by Phone to Listen Live: (347) 637-2631 or Listen Live Via Computer. STEP therapy is an approach in managed medical care to minimize costs of prescription drugs. The program allows patients to begin therapy with the [...]
Read MoreDavid Siegel, MD, PhD John Theurer Cancer Center / Hackensack University Interview Date: May 3, 2019 Thanks to our episode sponsor Summary CAR T cell therapy is making its way into the myeloma clinic. Most of of the early CAR T therapies have been personalized for each patient using a target of BCMA. [...]
Read MoreBob Regello has had multiple myeloma since 2007 and for the past 6 years has been a support group leader in Sacramento, California with his wife Jeanne for the past 6 years. We had the pleasure of sharing HealthTree in their support group meeting last fall and enjoyed their positive, caring spirits and saw their [...]
Read MoreThere is hope and promise around CAR T cell therapy for multiple myeloma patients. At the same time that the first early CAR T trials are beginning to publish data results, new methods of manufacturing are being developed to make CAR T therapy more effective, easier to produce and less expensive. Some CAR T companies [...]
Read MoreLast week the New England Journal of Medicine published results from the Phase I Celgene bb2121 CAR T clinical trial. In the Phase I study, 33 patients with relapsed or refractory myeloma were giving bb2121 as a single infusion of the CAR T product at different doses in the dose escalation phase (50×106, 150×106, 450×106, [...]
Read MoreUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham researchers have discovered a way to prevent kidney failure in multiple myeloma patients. Paul Sanders, MD, a nephrologist at UAB found that kidney damage can be prevented by blocking a pathway activated in the kidney by light chain proteins produced by the myeloma cells. The study was published in the [...]
Read MoreMultiple myeloma patients may want to adopt a new mantra: just breathe. University of Iowa researchers have found a link to sleep apnea and multiple myeloma. In Iowa, myeloma is in the top 10 deadliest cancers for women. The story was featured on local TV channel KCRG. Patients who have sleep apnea stop breathing at [...]
Read MoreIn HealthTree, our partnership with SparkCures allows you to see a customized list of clinical trials. Now that list is even better and more personal. We made recent HealthTree updates that allow your current lab values and your genetic features to be passed to SparkCures to further narrow your list of treatment options. Why is this [...]
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Friday, May 3, 2018 @ 12:30 pm Pacific, 1:30 pm Mountain, 2:30 pm Central, 3:30 pm Eastern Call In by Phone to Listen Live: (347) 637-2631 or Listen Live Via Computer. CAR T therapy is becoming a hot area of early clinical trials for multiple myeloma patients, but most are personally customized for each patient. [...]
Read MoreYogesh Jethava, MD University of Iowa, Holden Cancer Center Interview Date: April 18, 2019 Thanks to our episode sponsor Summary Most myeloma patients are familiar with how the chemotherapy melphalan is used during stem cell transplant. It is typically used in high doses and remains the single most effective drug to kill myeloma, [...]
Read MoreRegister for Bike the Coast 2019 Richard Hite is a business owner, father of three kids, outdoor enthusiast, and survivor or Multiple Myeloma as of April 2015. As founder of the Myeloma Crowd Cycling group, Richard is leading the team in the inaugural Bike the Coast event this June. Richard’s Story: Richard has [...]
Read MoreMedicare covers many cancer treatments, but is the coverage enough in the age of new immunotherapies like CAR T? This topic was addressed in a recent New York Times article where Medicare is trying to balance newer treatments with cost. According to the article: Cancer patients, doctors and drug companies are urging the Trump administration [...]
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Thursday, April 18, 2019 @ Noon Pacific, 1 pm Mountain, 2 pm Central, 3 pm Eastern Call In by Phone to Listen Live: (347) 637-2631 or Listen Live Via Computer. A new clinical trial is open combining low dose melphalan, a drug commonly used at high doses for stem cell transplant, and high dose intravenous [...]
Read MoreEvery myeloma patient has immunoglobulin tests run to watch their kappa, lambda and kappa/lambda ratio numbers. It's one of the most important labs to watch if you are a myeloma patient. Immunoglobulins are antibodies that fight infection. In myeloma, one of these antibodies grows out of control. The Y shaped antibodies have both a heavy [...]
Read MoreWhile many CAR T treatments are being developed for a target called B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA), relapse still occurs in many patients. As the BCMA trials move up to earlier stages of disease, outcomes may be improve but newer targets are being explored. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center researchers are working to develop a CAR [...]
Read MoreRecent findings of male participants in the Agricultural Health Study showed that certain blood levels can change after someone has been exposed to the pesticide permethrin and that those changes can persist for at least 3 weeks. The study was shared at the AACR conference (American Association for Cancer Research) happening in Atlanta this week. [...]
Read MoreThere are several patient assistance programs available by pharmaceutical companies but many patients don’t know that they exist. Takeda Oncology has a program called Takeda 1Point that can help you obtain financial assistance. Here’s more about what the program covers and how you access the help. If You’re Waiting on Insurance Approval If you are [...]
Read MoreMarch 20, 2019 The Today Show featured Jenny and Paul Ahlstrom as they described a new patient platform they created called HealthTree. The mission of HealthTree is to help doctors, researchers and patients better collaborate around each patient's treatment options, with the hope that connecting the patient data will accelerate a cure for myeloma. A [...]
Read MoreAbbVie announced that the FDA has placed a partial clinical hold on all clinical trials using venetoclax in multiple myeloma. The hold was placed based on data from the Phase 3 BELLINI trial (a study for relapsed/refractory myeloma) in which a higher proportion of deaths were observed in the venetoclax arm compared to the control [...]
Read MoreHealthtree- Connecting Cancer Patients for Better Health, FM100.3 November 10, 2018 https://fm100.com/category/podcast_player/?a=33486&sid=2052&n=Utah+Weekly+Forum+with+Rebecca+Cressman When people are diagnosed with cancer, their search for information, research and treatment options can be overwhelming. Yet, access to the most recent and relevant data can be lifesaving and life preserving. In this episode of Utah Weekly Forum, Myeloma patient, Jenny Ahlstrom, joins FM100.3's Rebecca Cressman to explain [...]
Read MoreA new HDAC inhibitor called CS3003 is now in a Phase I study in China for multiple myeloma patients. It is considered to be a HDAC6 inhibitor which is different from the pan-HDAC inhibitors approved in the US for myeloma like panobinostat. Dr. Jon Wang, Chief Scientific Officer of CStone said: "The selective inhibition of [...]
Read MoreIn November of 2018, the FDA approved a new combination for the use of elotuzumab - this time in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone. The approval was granted based on the results from the ELOQUENT-3 study showing that elo, pom and dex had better outcomes than pom and dex alone. Elotuzumab is typically never used [...]
Read MorePatients who are minimal residual disease negative (or have no detectable myeloma) before or after their stem cell transplant have better progression free survival than patients with detectable disease, according to a recent study. Theresa Hahn, PhD, from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York presented the results at the recent Transplantation and Cellular Therapy [...]
Read MoreThis month is Multiple Myeloma awareness month! Myeloma is a disease that most of us had never heard of before, yet it's pretty amazing to see how many people know someone who has myeloma or smoldering myeloma once you start sharing that you have the disease. This month, the Myeloma Crowd is taking a practical [...]
Read MoreAs CAR T therapy becomes more prevalent in the clinic, doctors are beginning to see how T cells can become too tired to fight the cancer in some patients. Scientists at the La Jolla Institute of Immunology (LJI) have found a way of counteracting this exhaustion to make the CAR T therapies work better. In [...]
Read MoreJoin us this summer to Bike the Coast to raise funds for multiple myeloma research! This epic event will include a ride from San Francisco to San Diego - 100 miles a day for 6 days. Ride as much or as little as you'd like. We have each day mapped out and participants can ride [...]
Read MoreKaryopharm received a vote yesterday denying early approval for the combination of Selinexor/dexamethasone at the FDA briefing meeting to the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC), or the committee that provides recommendations to the FDA. The FDA typically votes with ODAC recommendations, but a formal vote will be coming on April 8, 2019. Karyopharm hoped that the [...]
Read MoreRavi Vij, MD Washington University Interview Date: February 6, 2019 Thanks to our episode sponsor Summary A new CD38 targeted monoclonal antibody is coming soon to the myeloma clinic. A new drug called isatuximab is making its way through the FDA approval process. Learn how it will be used in combinations, how it [...]
Read MoreGilead released fourth quarter results that removed an anti-BCMA cell therapy for multiple myeloma from it's pipeline, part of its $12 billion acquisition of Kite Pharma. The decision to drop the KITE-585-CAR T programs indicates the ever growing competition in the BCMA-targeted therapy for myeloma and represents a loss of $820M in investment. Other anti-BCMA [...]
Read MoreRobert Z. Orlowski, MD, PhD MD Anderson Cancer Center Interview Date: January 8, 2019 Thanks to our episode sponsor Summary There is a tremendous amount of progress being made in multiple myeloma. It was stunning to see the significant work being done in the field of myeloma at the recent American Society of [...]
Read MoreA new monoclonal antibody targeting CD38 has been working its way through clinical trials. In the Phase 3 trial, Isatuximab was found to prolong progression free survival when combined with pomalidomide and dexamethasone compared to pomalidomide and dexamethasone alone. The study, known as ICARIA-MM, enrolled 307 patients with relapsed/refractory myeloma. All participants had received [...]
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Wednesday, February 6, 2019 @ Noon Pacific, 1 pm Mountain, 2 pm Central, 3 pm Eastern Call In by Phone to Listen Live: (347) 637-2631 or Listen Live Via Computer. A new monoclonal antibody called Isatuximab is advancing through clinical trials and is getting closer to FDA approval. This antibody targets CD38. Learn more from [...]
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