Articles tagged with Multiple Myeloma
Researchers at Mayo Clinic have discovered that thalidomide can effectively delay the progression of early-stage multiple myeloma in some patients. In a phase II clinical trial, approximately 80% of patients remained progression-free after one year and 63% were still free from disease progression after two years.
Researchers found that thalidomide therapy works for approximately one year on average, with benefits not being transient. The study's findings offer significant hope for improved survival rates in multiple myeloma patients, an incurable cancer.
A study of 16 patients with active multiple myeloma found that FDG PET scans accurately identified those at high risk, revealing disease spread outside the bone marrow. The scan also showed promise in identifying new disease sites for patients with relapsing disease, suggesting its potential as a complementary diagnostic tool.
A phase II clinical trial shows the oral combination of thalidomide and dexamethasone reduces tumor size by 50% or more in 64% of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients. This treatment alternative offers a promising solution to chemotherapy's side effects, including nausea, vomiting, and hair loss.
A recent study by the Southwest Oncology Group found that long-term treatment with prednisone after initial chemotherapy response significantly prolonged patient survival and delayed disease progression in those with multiple myeloma. Patients receiving higher doses of prednisone lived up to 37 months longer than those on lower doses.
The Mayo Clinic study found that the risk of progression from MGUS to multiple myeloma or related cancers is approximately one percent per year, with larger M-protein levels increasing the risk. Patients with very small protein levels had a 14% progression rate at 20 years, while those with high levels had a 60% progression rate.
A two-step approach combining high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem-cell rescue with mini-transplantation from a sibling significantly reduces transplant-related complications and increases survival rates for patients with advanced-stage multiple myeloma. The procedure results in mild to moderate treatment-related toxicities and a...
The Mayo Clinic study found that thalidomide can stop or slow the progression of multiple myeloma in patients newly diagnosed with this cancer. Thalidomide was previously used to treat advanced myeloma, but this is the first published report documenting its effectiveness as a first-line treatment for early-stage multiple myeloma.
Phase II studies indicate that Mylovenge causes regression or stabilization in over 30% of patients with multiple myeloma and amyloidosis, with some benefits lasting up to 18 months. The vaccine stimulates the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells.