A very recent article in the journal Nature Medicine presents results from research done at the Weizman Institute of Science in Israel. The ‘easier’ summary of this article can be found here. As multiple myeloma patients, we are constantly reminded that our disease is heterogeneous. In other words, we present ourselves differently, with different symptoms[...]

At the recent American Society of Hematology meeting (ASH), Dr. Damian Green joined the Myeloma Crowd to share two CAR T studies he is working on.  He shared data on the Juno/Celgene study that showed rapid and good responses for patients with an average 11 lines of prior therapy for a BCMA targeted CAR T[...]

A new test called mass spectometry (MASS-FIX) is a quick, inexpensive and accurate way to diagnose and monitor the blood and urine of patients with multiple myeloma. Today, doctors use immunofixation, M-protein and light chain tests to test if patients have myeloma and how much of it they have. But these tests can vary and[...]

Graham Jackson, MD, PhD of the Northern Institute for Cancer Research in the United Kingdom (and colleagues) shared study results at the recent ASH 2018 comparing a four drug combination vs. a sequence of three drug combinations as induction therapy before stem cell transplant. The UK has an incredible amount of data about myeloma patients[...]

Ajai Chari, MD, PhD of Mount Sinai spoke at the Friday session of the recent American Society of Hematology Meeting about strategies for myeloma relapse. He said that factors one should consider include age, fitness status, pre-existing medical conditions, how fast the myeloma numbers are rising and then the depth and duration of previous responses.[...]

Multiple myeloma patient Stacy Erholtz’s stunning response to the Mayo Clinic’s measles vaccine in 2015 for her multi-relapsed multiple myeloma was a surprise to everyone, including Stacy. But when the vaccine was used in other myeloma patients, they did not see similar responses. Why? A new study by myeloma French researchers showed that myeloma patients with[...]

I believe this might be the best kept secret at ASH 2018. Abstract 801 – Carfilzomib, Pomalidomide and Dexamethasone (KPd) in Patients with Multiple Myeloma Refractory to Bortezomib and Lenalidomide. the EMN011 Trial   Pieter Sonneveld, Professor of Hematology and head of the Department of Hematology at the Erasmus MC Cancer Institute and Professor of Hematology at the[...]

Dr. Fonseca of Mayo Clinic, Phoenix is a world leader in myeloma research and treatment.  Dr. Fonseca has chosen his 5 Best of the Best myeloma abstracts of the 828 myeloma abstracts presented.   Dr. Fonseca is the Getz Family Professor of Cancer and Professor of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. He is the[...]

Luciano J Costa, Associate Professor of Medicine Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cell Therapy Program, University of Alabama Birmingham presented the results of a phase 2 clinical trial for Venetoclax in combination with Carfilzomib and Dexamethasone.   In 2016 the FDA approved Venclexta (venetoclax) for the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who have a chromosomal[...]

Patients who combine daratumumab (Dara) with a bortezomib-lenalidomide-low dose dexamethasone (VRd) regimen have deeper, more durable responses to their treatment, experience few significant adverse events and the four drug combination does not affect eligibility for stem cell transplants. Peter Voorhees from the Levine Cancer Institute reported the findings of a phase 2 study in an[...]