What's News:

• With the holidays coming, make sure you Shop for the Cure and help the IMF
  Whether you need flowers, sweaters, books, CDs, gadgets, or even the trip back home to deliver them in person, many of the finest e-tailers on the internet will make a donation to the IMF if you enter their websites via our "Shop for the Cure" page and then make a purchase. If you shop on the internet, it's a great way to help the IMF. Just visit our "Shop for the Cure" page at http://shop.myeloma.org.

• IMF (UK) recently received a grant of nearly £136,000 ($212,184) from the British Department of Health to launch its innovative outreach program, MAGIC (Myeloma Advocacy, Guidelines and Information Community).
  The money will be used over a three-year period to fund a project coordinator to set up information, education and advocacy programs for oncology and hematology nurses working in the field of myeloma and its related disorders. There are currently 275 nurses throughout the UK participating in the MAGIC programme.
  
  In addition to disseminating information to patients and carers via 'MAGIC' nurses, other key aims are
  • To assist nurses working with myeloma patients to act as specialised resources to provide information and support to patients and their families whilst improving standards of care and support
  • To improve and maintain nurse education regarding all aspects of myeloma
  • To aim towards the establishment of minimum nursing standards and guidelines
  • To allow nurses to work as advocates for myeloma and IMF (UK)

• Mayo Clinic study: Alternative to Chemotherapy Effective for Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma
  Patients who are newly diagnosed may have a new and better-tolerated option to intravenous chemotherapy treatment...
  Celgene Press Release.

• NCI Survivorship Focus Groups The National Cancer Institute is currently in the process of developing new educational materials for cancer patients & their families. As part of this effort, they are conducting a series of telephone focus groups with individuals who helped care for a family member while he or she received cancer treatment. Participants will be paid for their time. You can help in this important effort and make your voice heard.

What's New in Myeloma Research:

• Whole-Body 18F-FDG PET Identifies High-Risk Myeloma
  Dr. Brian G.M. Durie, Chairman of the Board of the IMF, co-authored this study published this month in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.
  Read the press release from the JNM.

• Myeloma therapy: from the bench to the clinic
  In this phase 1 trial of CC-5013, 71% of the evaluable patients experienced at least 25% reduction in paraprotein, and 29% of the patients, at least 50% reduction.
  Trial Abstract
  Celgene Press Release

• Flow cytometric disease monitoring in multiple myeloma: the relationship between normal and neoplastic plasma cells predicts outcome after transplantation
  Conventional monitoring strategies for myeloma are not sufficiently sensitive to identify patients likely to benefit from further therapy immediately after transplantation.

• The toxicity and efficacy of donor lymphocyte infusions given after reduced-intensity conditioning allogeneic stem cell transplantation

• In the presence of bone marrow stromal cells human multiple myeloma cells become independent of the IL-6/gp130/STAT3 pathway
  Farnesyl transferase inhibitors might be useful for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of MM.
  

• Combined treatment with the checkpoint abrogator UCN-01 and MEK1/2 inhibitors potently induces apoptosis in drug-sensitive and -resistant myeloma cells through an IL-6-independent mechanism
  Findings suggest that simultaneous disruption of cell cycle and MEK/MAP kinase signaling pathways provides a potent stimulus for mitochondrial damage and apoptosis in MM cells.

• Myeloma clonotypic B cells are hampered in their ability to undergo B-cell differentiation in vitro
  In the peripheral blood (PB) of multiple myeloma (MM) patients, clonotypic B cells are present that express the identical V(D)J rearrangements as the malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow...

• CD106 and activated-CD29 are expressed on myelomatous bone marrow plasma cells and their downregulation is associated with tumour progression

• Cytotoxic chemotherapy following tandem autotransplants in multiple myeloma patients
  

• Thalidomide treatment in multiple myeloma
  A review of the available clinical data regarding efficacy and toxicity of thalidomide, and future directions of research and clinical development of the ImiDs.

• The role of stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma
  IMF Scientific Advisor Jean-Luc Harousseau is co-author of this study.

• Overexpression of the myeloma-associated oncogene fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 confers dexamethasone resistance
  Potential implications for the use of chemotherapy in t(4;14)-positive myeloma...

• Molecular sequelae of proteasome inhibition in human multiple myeloma cells
  Data provide both insight into the molecular mechanisms of antitumor activity of PS-341 and the rationale for future clinical trials of PS-341

• Myeloma aetiology and epidemiology.
  Substantial improvements in our understanding of the biology of myeloma have important implications for aetiological studies aimed at defining the causative factors for myeloma.

• Evaluating complementary medicine: methodological challenges of randomised controlled trials
  Complementary medicine has a different philosophy from conventional medicine, presenting challenges to research methodology
  

• Faith, Identity, and Leukemia: When Blood Products are Not an Option
  A patient's refusal of treatment adds particular challenges to the delivery of compassionate care.

• One Voice Against Cancer Grassroots Training
  Learn how to become an effective spokesperson to support federal funding cancer research.

Quality of Life Update:

• Caring for the Caregiver is our topic this week:
  
  
  • NCI Survivorship Focus Groups If you cared for a family member while he or she was receiving cancer treatment, the NCI wants to talk to you. They are conducting a series of telephone focus groups as they develop new educational materials for cancer patients & their families. Participants will be paid for their time.
    
    
  • How Caregivers Can Take Care of Themselves from ASCO
    
  • ASCO's Online Resources for Caregivers
  • Cancer Caregiving Facts from Strength for Caring
  • Tipsheet for Caregivers from Strength for Caring

• NCCS Announces New Cancer Survival Toolbox Website
  Developed by survivors, nurses and social workers representing a unique collaboration of NCCS, the Oncology Nursing Society and the Association of Oncology Social Work, the Cancer Survival Toolbox is a set of self-learning audio programs. Special topics include Caring for the Caregiver, Finding Ways to Pay for Care and the needs of Older Persons with cancer.

If you have a topic of particular interest that you would like us to feature, if you are starting a support group, or if you are in a support group that is doing something to make a real difference in the lives of mutiple myeloma patients and their families and friends, let us know.

• Treating Bone Complications in Multiple Myeloma
  A webcast video on the prevention and treatment of bone problems.

• Expert Opinions on Multiple Myeloma
  A multimedia, CME-accredited program for physicians with the chance to see world-renowned myeloma specialists sharing their knowledge, discussing treatment choices, and comparing their perspectives on controversial issues in multiple myeloma and related diseases.
  

• Announcing the IMF's new MM Interactive
  An exciting new way for myeloma patients to get involved at patient seminars.

• Bank On A Cure™
  The IMF is pleased to announce the launch of Bank On A Cure™, a groundbreaking international collaborative effort to establish a method to find new treatments while customizing care for current patients.

• Myeloma At The Movies
  It has been our goal to bring our Patient & Family Seminars to people around the country who might not be able to attend an actual meeting, so we have set up a video lending library....

• The OMNI Network matches oncology nurses chosen from the local community with cancer support groups. They present a 45-minute interactive educational session to the group that includes discussion, patient materials, and resources. Take advantage of this collaborative effort between the IMF and Oncology Nurses and schedule a session for your support group.

• International Myeloma Foundation and Goldman Philanthropic Partnerships Cosponsor New Research Initiative
  Based on venture capital and limited partnerships, the Inspired Venture Program in Multiple Myeloma brings together foundations, research institutions, the business community, and individual donors to advance breakthrough research.

• Myeloma Matrix
  The IMF is committed to providing a total overview of the "future" as well as the current state of myeloma treatments. The Myeloma Matrix provides updated information about drugs beginning with pre-clinical developments and tracks drugs as they proceed through Phases I – III of clinical trials, drugs that have been FDA approved, and information on trials that are being conducted by NCI- sponsored cooperative groups as well as other myeloma study groups. Call the toll-free hotline (800) 452-2873 for your copy.

• From Mozart to Musicals...and More
  Baritone Domenic Guastaferro, who lost his wife to MM, will give a a third vocal recital in New Rochelle, NY for the benefit of the IMF on Saturday, November 30.

• Los Angeles Patient & Family Seminar
  January 24-25, 2003
  Lewis Mehl-Madrona, MD, PhD author of Coyote Medicine; Lessons from Native American Healing will be a faculty speaker .

To help you find trials currently open for enrollment, the IMF has entered into partnerships with HopeLink and EmergingMed. Through these services, you can match a trial to your particular patient profile (i.e., stage of disease, previous treatment, how well you are able to carry out the activities of daily living, etc.) and by doing so, increase your chances of being eligible. You can also learn more about clinical trials by reviewing material from the National Cancer Institute.

• Clinical Trials at the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy at the Arkansas Cancer Research Center
• Millenium MLN-341 Proteosome Inhibitor Phase III Trial
• Phase I Study of Pyroxamide in Patients With Advanced Malignancies
• Phase II Study of Flavopiridol in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma
• Phase I/II Study of High-Dose Therapy and Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantion followed by Immunotherapy with Costimulated Autologous T Cells Plus Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine in Patients with Multiple Myeloma
• Phase II Study of a Nonmyeloablative Regimen Comprising Melphalan, Fludarabine, and Alemtuzumab Followed by Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Lymphohematopoietic Malignancies
• Comparison of Antibody Therapies in Treating Patients With Graft- Versus-Host Disease That Does Not Respond to Steroid Therapy
• VBMCP vs. VBMCP/HiCy/Ifn
• Dendritic Cell Vaccination for Amyloid
• Samarium for Myeloma Transplant
• DHEA/Placebo vs. Biaxin/Placebo for MGUS
• Clinical and Laboratory Parameters in Asymptomatic MM, MGUS, and Plasmacytoma
• 2ME2 for Relapsed or Plateau Myeloma

Exciting Opportunities:

• Multiple Myeloma Quilt of Courage
  Squares are being collected for the third Myeloma Quilt of Courage. The first quilt is currently being pieced together and we are anticipating that it will be available on the web site for viewing in mid-November. The second quilt will be pieced together in mid-November as well. The deadline for returning squares for the 3rd quilt is December 15th.

%unsubscribe%