IMF
International
Myeloma Foundation
Dedicated to improving the quality of life of myeloma
patients while working toward prevention and a cure...
For questions about the International Staging System
or other concerns of myeloma patients, their families,
friends, and caregivers, please contact the IMF Hotline at
1-800-452-2873 (toll-free in the US and Canada) which is
available Monday-Friday 9am-4pm (Pacific time)
Additional support can be found on the IMF Website:
www.myeloma.org
The International Myeloma Foundation provides education,
support, advocacy, and ground-breaking research. Patients,
Doctors, and Nurses look to the IMF for information about
treatment, disease management, side-effects management,
and research support.
Until there is a cure....There is the IMF.
International Myeloma Foundation
12650 Riverside Drive, Suite 206
North Hollywood, CA 91607 USA
Telephone:
800-452-CURE (2873)
(USA & Canada)
818-487-7455
Fax: 818-487-7454
TheIMF@myeloma.org
www.myeloma.org
Doxil®
Indication
Doxil® (doxorubicin HCl liposome injection) is approved
in combination with VelCADe® (bortezomib) for Injection
to treat patients with multiple myeloma who have not
previously received VelCADe® and have received at least
one prior therapy.
Doxil is a different form of the chemotherapy agent
doxorubicin in that it has a pegylated liposome coating
that has led to improved tolerability.
Dosage/I.V.
Bortezomib is administered at a dose of 1.3 mg/m2 as
intravenous bolus on days 1, 4 , 8 and 11, every three
weeks one week off therapy. DOXIl 30 mg/m2 should
be administered as a 1-hr intravenous infusion on
day 4 following bortezomib.
Duration
Patients may be treated for up to 8 cycles or until disease
of Therapy
progression or the occurrence of unacceptable toxicity
Some Potential Side Effects:
Heart-related Your doctor will monitor your heart function and watch the
Toxicities dosage of Doxil. Notify your doctor of any history of heart
disease, prioir chemotherapy or radiation to the chest.
Notify your doctor/nurse if you experience shortness of
breath, ankle swelling, fatigue or irregular heart beat.
Infusion Infusion reactions have been seen in some patients treated
Reaction with Doxil so you will be closely observed for reactions
during infusions. In some patients this can be managed by
slowing or stopping the infusion. In some patients these
reactions can be serious and life threatening. If a reaction
occurs it is generally during the first infusion.
Hand-Foot Notify your doctor/nurse of any redness, rash, pain/tender-
Syndrome ness, swelling, tingling, flaking or small blisters on palms
of hand or soles of feet. In most case this is mild and
improves in 12 weeks without delay of therapy and can
be managed with simple supportive measures and dosage
adjustments
Stomatitis Mouth sores, dry, swollen tongue, difficulty swallowing,
pain or burning in the mouth. This is generally manageable
with proper mouth care and avoiding certain foods and
beverages and dosage adjustments.
Decreased You may experience significant reduction in the number
Blood Cell of blood cells in your body and you may be given medica-
Counts tion that may help increase blood cell counts or your
doctor may delaying and/or reducing your Doxil and
VelCADe® doses
Neutropenia decreased white blood cell counts can
lead to fever and infections. Notify your doctor or nurse
immediately if you develop a fever of 100.5°F or higher.
Anemia decreased red blood cell counts can make you
feel tired and fatigued.
Thrombocytopenia decreased platelet counts can lead
to impaired blood clotting and prolonged bleeding.
Efficacy
The large Phase III study showed that when used
together to treat patients with relapsed/refractory
multiple myeloma, Doxil plus VelCADe® significantly
extended the median time to disease progression (TTP)
from 6.5 months to 9.3 months. The 15-month survival rate
for Doxil + VelCADe® was 76% compared with 65%
for VelCADe® alone.