Emerging treatments
New investigational drugs with single-agent activity in multiple myeloma.
Rajan AM et al. Blood Cancer J. 2016 Jul 29;6(7):e451. doi: 10.1038/bcj.2016.53.
Revamped Cancer Drugs Fund launched in England
A revised Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) together with wider changes in the way the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) assesses cancer drugs has recently been launched. Developed through a partnership between National Health Service (NHS) England and NICE, the new CDF allows drugs which meet set criteria under a managed access agreement…
IMWG publishes updated consensus criteria for response and MRD in myeloma
The International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) has recently published further consensus criteria for defining disease response in myeloma. Since the original response criteria were set in 2006, newer, more sensitive methods can now quantify myeloma cells as low as 1 in a million. Published in the Lancet Oncology, the updated criteria identify responses beyond complete response…
New genetic clues help explain inherited predisposition to myeloma
A study published recently in Nature Communications has identified eight new genetic risk loci for myeloma, providing further insights into the genetic and biological basis of its predisposition. The research, performed at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and part funded by Myeloma UK involved a meta-analysis of pooled data from several independent genome-wide association…
NICE publishes new guidance for the diagnosis, treatment and care of myeloma patients
The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has set out new guidance for the diagnosis, treatment and care of myeloma patients with the aim of providing consistently excellent patient-focused care within NHS England. The new guidance has been created to cover aspects of management where in the past there was uncertainty or variation…
Zoledronic acid treatment at biochemical relapse
This study shows benefits from zoledronic acid monotherapy in myeloma patients with asymptomatic biochemical relapse and suggests that it should be considered as a new standard of care for this group.
Safety of outpatient autologous stem cell transplantation
This study provides evidence that high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation performed in the outpatient setting can result in excellent outcomes for selected myeloma patients.
NICE issues new draft guidelines for end of life care
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued draft guidelines for consultation to improve the care of adults during the last few days of life. The guidelines are meant to replace the Liverpool Care Pathway which were phased out in 2014. Key recommendations highlight the importance of communication and shared decision-making involving…
Publication of revised International Staging System for myeloma
The International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) has revised the International Staging System (ISS) to enable better stratification of newly diagnosed myeloma patients. It now includes the detection of chromosomal abnormalities (CA) by interphase fluorescent in situ hybridisation (iFISH) and the measurement of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) which, when combined with the previous ISS, provides powerful…
Publication of review on the management of spinal myeloma disease
Myeloma UK and the UK Spinal Myeloma Working Group have jointly published a paper on the optimal management of spinal disease in myeloma patients. Published in the British Journal of Haematology, the article provides an overview of the treatment and management options for spinal myeloma disease and highlights the role of defined pathways to enable the…