Roswell Park recently honored March as Myeloma Awareness Month and I want to share with you some of the exciting research being done regarding multiple myeloma treatment.
My colleague, Hong Liu, MD, is the principal investigator of an exciting Phase 3 clinical trial that we hope will improve treatment for multiple myeloma patients. Patients up to the age of 70 who are in good physical condition are eligible for this clinical trial.
This trial will consist of three separate groups:
- Group one will receive induction therapy followed by a single autologous transplant.
- Group two will receive a tandem autologous transplant within 60 days.
- Group three will receive a single autologous transplant followed by consolidation with lenalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone for four cycles.
All three of these groups will then receive three years of maintenance therapy with lenalidomide.
We’re greatly anticipating the results from this clinical trial, as we’re anxious to see whether a single transplant followed by three years of maintenance therapy consists of adequate long-term treatment for multiple myeloma. There is reason to believe that a tandem transplant may actually be more effective, but the data in question is over 10 years old. Additionally, we want to compare data collected from this trial against data coming out of Europe, indicating improved outcomes on consolidation treatment after a single autologous transplant. We’d also like to expand on these European studies by using a different consolidation treatment.
Although we’re not quite on the cusp of a multiple myeloma cure, we do believe that this research may represent a significant milestone for patients dealing with this disease.
Please watch the accompanying video to learn more about this clinical trial and its eligibility requirements. You may also view all available myeloma clinical trials.
