Multiple Myeloma

BOSTON-The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) is seeking to enroll 360 multiple myeloma patients with relapsing or refractory disease for a study of PSC 833, a cyclosporin D analog that may be able to reverse chemotherapy resistance. The trial will randomize patients to receive PSC 833 plus standard VAD (vincristine, Adriamycin, and dexamethasone) or standard VAD alone.

The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG), The National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) clinical trials cooperative group,

BETHESDA, Md-Less than two years ago, the FDA approved Aredia (pamidronate disodium for injection) as the first agent for the treatment of osteo-lytic bone lesions in multiple myeloma patients, to be used in conjunction with standard antimyeloma chemotherapy.

Multiple myeloma is a malignant disease characterized by excess proliferation of monoclonal plasma cells. Its progression leads to bone marrow failure, increased risk of infection, and painful osteolytic bony lesions. Although patients are most often

SEATTLE--French researchers have recently concluded a study of multiple myeloma in which high-dose chemotherapy combined with autologous bone marrow transplantation (HDC/ABMT) resulted in a significant improvement in response rate and overall survival, compared with conventional chemotherapy.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark--Little prog-ress has been made during the last 30 years toward improving the prognosis of patients with myeloma. Because of the patients' often brittle condition and advanced age, dose intensity concepts had not been evaluated until the late Tim McElwain from the Royal Marsden Hospital reported responses to high-dose melphalan [Alkeran] at 140 mg/m² in patients with refractory disease or high-risk newly diagnosed patients.

LUXEMBOURG-The bisphos-phonate pamidronate (Aredia) not only reduced skeletal morbidity but also relieved pain, reduced analgesic use, and improved quality of life in a multicenter study reported at the 7th International Symposium of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer.

ROCKVILLE, Md--In a move with very little precedent, the FDA Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) recommended approval of a new indication for the bisphosphonate Aredia (pam-idronate disodium for injection) on the basis of a single clinical trial.