For Immediate Release
December 10, 2007 at 5:00 pm

BUFFALO, NY – Asher A. Chanan-Khan, MD, Department of Medicine, at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, will present, for the first time, the efficacy and toxicity profile of the Bortezomib (V), Doxorubicin and Thalidomide (VDT) regimen in previously untreated multiple myeloma (MM) patients enrolled on a phase II clinical study at Roswell Park, at the 49^th Annual Meeting & Exposition of the American Society of Hematology, December 10, at 5:00 pm*, in the Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA.

Dr. Chanan-Khan and colleagues have described the clinical efficacy of this novel, non-steroidal VDT regimen in patients with relapsed or refractory MM. High clinical responses in heavily pretreated patients, even in the absence of steroids, encouraged the researchers to investigate this regimen in previously untreated MM patients.

To date, 17 of 26 patients are available for response assessment to the VDT regimen (several patients remain on treatment). Dr. Chanan-Khan will report an overall response rate of 65%, with three patients (17.6%) achieving complete response, and five patients achieving stable disease. Progressive disease was observed in only one patient.

The investigators conclude that VDT is a novel non-steroidal regimen with clinical efficacy in previously untreated MM patients. Overall toxicity is manageable. Detailed and updated results of this study will be presented at the meeting.

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 in New York, Pennsylvania, and in China. 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.

 

*Dr. Chanan-Khan’s presentation (Abstract 3614) will be part of a Poster Session titled “Myeloma: Novel Therapies,” December 10, 5:00-7:00 pm.

 

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