It is interesting to note that just 10 years ago in 2009 there was just 9 CAR T abstracts in a total of 5176 total abstracts presented at ASH 2009.  It has also taken 10 years to get just two FDA approved CAR T treatments approved.  However for ASH 2018 there are 423 CAR T[...]

Doctors constantly talk about “prognostic factors” in determining whether a myeloma patient is high or low risk.   Commonly, myeloma genetics tests like cytogenetics tests (FISH), gene expression profiling (GEP) and International Myeloma Staging Systems have all been used because higher risk genetic features have been identified. This can include features on the myeloma cells such[...]

Carfilzomib is a newer proteasome inhibitor that is now being used in the myeloma clinic. One meeting session compared three different uses of carfilzomib for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients: Kyprolis/Revlimid/Dex (KRD) with transplant VS. Kyprolis/Cytoxan/Dex (KCD) with transplant VS. 12 cycles of KRD with no transplant Which one would offer the longer remissions?  [...]

Dr. Sharpless, Director of the National Cancer Institute, spoke at today’s ASH session. He was quick to point out what a great time it is to be a cancer Scientist/Doctor in the United States. “We are making progress that is faster and greater than ever,” he stated. There has been a decrease in overall cancer[...]

Dr. Landgren spoke at ASH about ways we can maximize the treatment response of patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma by what is chosen as induction therapy, stem cell transplant for appropriate patients and using minimal residual disease (MRD) testing to guide treatment.  What is minimal residual disease testing? MRD testing tries to evaluate how[...]

When I first started my web site myelomasurvival.com I asked myeloma specialists for the life expectancy of their newly diagnosed myeloma patients.  Of all those who provided information, Dr. Parameswaran Hari had some of the best survival rates in the USA.  Dr. Parameswaran Hari is Professor of Medicine, Section Head – Hematological Malignancies and BMT,[...]

The Friday symposium sessions are some of the best at ASH, even though they are not an official part of the American Society of Hematology session. Dr. Keith Stuart of the Mayo Clinic spoke at a morning session on the topic of high risk myeloma, with some key points. He said that while treatment is[...]

The ASH conference has started with the early, “unofficial” sessions. Dr. Maria Victoria Mateos spoke at a Friday morning session about the role of maintenance therapy.  It has become obvious that in general, maintenance therapy is suggested for all patients and extends remission times. Dr. Mateos broadly described the use of maintenance therapy with immunomodulators[...]

Originally seen on the Washington University website. The blood cancer multiple myeloma takes the lives of about 11,000 Americans each year. While treatment options and life expectancy have improved in recent years, there’s still no cure. That reality has inspired St. Louis native Rodger Riney and his wife, Paula, to give $20 million to research[...]

If you wanted to find out what is the best treatment strategy for myeloma,  ask an expert myeloma specialist.  We used this same principle to identify the best of the best ASH 2018 myeloma abstracts.  We’re releasing our Best of ASH series from myeloma experts early – just days in advance of the largest hematology[...]