Lenalidomide maintenance treatment demonstrates significant overall survival benefit following HDT-ASCT

Meta-analysis of results from three randomised control trials has demonstrated that maintenance treatment with lenalidomide (Revlimid®) following high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (HDT-ASCT) in newly diagnosed myeloma patients has a significant overall survival (OS) benefit. Published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the results of this meta-analysis, which used data pooled from the…

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Publication of consensus statement on the use of plerixafor in myeloma or lymphoma patients

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…

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NICE recommends carfilzomib for restricted use in England and Wales

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…

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IMWG publishes consensus on second primary malignancies in myeloma

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…

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Study highlights challenges associated with early diagnosis of myeloma and other cancers

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…

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Study shows no link between response rates and survival in myeloma

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…

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New UK guidelines for managing the “late effects” of myeloma and its treatment

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…

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