FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2008

 BUFFALO, NY – Dawn DePaolo, Department of Clinical Research Services at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI), will describe the first report on the prophylactic use of an antiviral agent as an effective strategy in the prevention of treatment side-effects for patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma at the 33^rd Annual Congress of the Oncology Nursing Society, May 15-18, in Philadelphia.

Bortezomib is an effective treatment for patients with multiple myeloma; however, reactivation of herpes zoster is an important side effect with significant morbidity. The high incidence of herpes zoster observed by the nurse research team among patients treated with bortezomib prompted a prospective investigation of antiviral agents in this patient population.

The study included 51 consecutive multiple myeloma patients who received oral acyclovir, an antiviral agent, during their therapy with bortezomib or bortezomib-based regimens. There were no cases of herpes zoster observed among patients receiving the acyclovir, compared with 13% incidence in the historical control.

Amy Whitworth and Barbara Anderson, Department of Clinical Research Services, and Kena C. Miller, MSN, NP, Department of Medicine, collaborated on this study.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation’s first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers. Roswell Park has affiliate sites and collaborative programs both nationally and internationally. For more information, visit RPCI’s website at www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or e-mail askrpci@roswellpark.org.

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