Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) is widely accepted as the standard classification and severity grading scale for adverse events in cancer therapy, clinical trials and other oncology settings. Version 5.0 is the most updated document (November 27, 2017)
A consensus statement identifying the best use of plerixafor to facilitate autologous peripheral stem cell collection to support high-dose therapy and stem cell transplantation in myeloma or lymphoma patients has been published recently in the Journal of Clinical Apheresis. Written by the Plerixafor Usage Working Party Group involving representative clinicians from the UK and Republic…
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published a final appraisal determination (FAD) recommending the use of carfilzomib (Kyprolis®) in combination with dexamethasone for myeloma patients at first relapse who have not previously received bortezomib (Velcade®). Carfilzomib will immediately be available to eligible patients in England via interim funding arrangements through the…
The International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) has published a consensus statement providing practical recommendations for managing myeloma patients who develop second primary malignanices (SPMs). Published in the Annals of Oncology, the group reviewed the latest evidence of possible host-, disease- and treatment-related risk factors for the development of SPMs in myeloma patients. They recommend that…
Identification of pathway-based prognostic gene signatures in patients with multiple myeloma. Zamani-Ahmadmahmudi M et al. Transl Res. 2017 May 9. pii: S1931-5244(17)30041-5. doi: 10.1016/j.trsl.2017.05.001. [Epub ahead of print]. Comparative proteomic profiling of sera from patients with refractory multiple myeloma reveals potential biomarkers predicting response to bortezomib-based therapy. Łuczak M, Kubicki T et al. Pol Arch Intern Med. 2017 May 25. doi: 10.20452/pamw.4032. [Epub ahead of…
A study examining the number of visits people made to their GP before being diagnosed with cancer through accident and emergency (A&E) has shown that myeloma patients presenting via this route have the highest number of prior GP visits than any other cancer. Published recently in the British Journal Of General Practice, researchers from the Universities of…
The International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) has published a consensus statement providing recommendations for the best use of 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET/CT in the diagnosis and management of myeloma patients. Published in the Lancet Oncology, they consider this technique to be valuable not only in the initial work up for newly diagnosed myeloma patients but also…
Results of a meta-regression analysis have shown that, contrary to popular opinion, there is no association between conventional response outcomes, such as complete response (CR) or very good partial response (VGPR), and survival in newly diagnosed myeloma patients. Published recently in the European Journal of Haematology, the researchers explored the relationship between response to initial…
Myeloma UK together with the British Committee for Standards in Haematology (BCSH) and the United Kingdom Myeloma Forum (UKMF) have jointly published new guidelines for the screening and management of the late and long-term consequences of myeloma and its treatments. Published recently in the British Journal of Haematology, the guidelines highlight the key late effects…
