Monday, August 22, 2011

Multiple Myeloma Blog

Multiple Myeloma Blog


If Taking Revlimid And/Or Velcade Isn't Working For You Anymore, Don't Forget About Elotuzumab And Panobinostat

Posted: 20 Aug 2011 05:03 PM PDT

Once again, thank you for all of the emails I received with contact information for amyloidosis specialists that I could pass along to Bill and Diane.  The response was overwhelming!

I don't know if you realize my blog is averaging around 1000 readers per day.  That's quite a lot for a site as specialized as this one.  Our readership is exceptionally well informed, so I wasn't surprised when the emails came pouring in.

Speaking of emails.  I get hundreds every day.  I spend an our or two sifting through them--and I try to answer the ones from patients, caregivers and their friends and families as soon as I can.

But it's all worth it, especially when I get an email like this one about clinical trials from the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF):

Dear Pat:
Participating in a clinical trial is an important treatment option for all patients. But as a patient myself, I know how overwhelming it can be to find new clinical trials in your area. We are here to help.
There are several clinical trials available in your area for patients with relapsed or refractory myeloma.
To learn more about clinical trials or to find one in your area visit the MMRF Patient Navigator Program or call 866-603-6628 (MMCT). The MMRF has partnered with the leader in trial matching technology to create a program to help you identify clinical trials that are right for you. After you create an account and define your search parameters, you will be matched to trials best suited for you.

Once the best clinical trials for you are identified, you can speak directly to our Patient Navigator Representative for more information. The MMRF Patient Navigator program is led by an oncology nurse with years of experience working with myeloma patients in clinical trials. We can answer any questions you may have about the clinical trials process or a specific trial, help you formulate questions to ask your physician, and even help you navigate the enrollment process.

The decision to participate in a clinical trial is entirely up to you, but we are here to help.
Sincerely,
MMRF Patient Navigator

The elotuzumab and panobinostat studies interest me most.  Most of you have probably heard of carfilzomib.  But these other two are the most promising anti-myeloma assisting type drugs undergoing advanced clinical trials at this time.

By "assisting type drugs," I mean that while neither of these drugs work especially well by themselves against multiple myeloma, they do seem to work exceptionally well when combined with Revlimid or Velcade.  So well that early studies indicate the new combinations allow the Revlimid or Velcade to work again, even if a patient's myeloma has become resistant (refractory) to the main drug alone.

Pretty cool, right!  I believe drug combo's using new assisting drugs like these are the future of myeloma therapy.  So do a lot of myeloma researchers and specialists.

I will write a bit more about the importance of developing as many assisting drugs like these as possible tomorrow.

Until then, feel good and keep smiling!  Pat

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