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MMRF Spearheads Myeloma Scientific Agenda wenty-five thought leaders gathered on January 19th in Chicago to develop a plan detailing the most efficient ways to understand myeloma and drive new therapies to patients. Participants were drawn from a broad cross-section of the scientific and medical community, including researchers currently working on multiple myeloma , clinicians, technology experts and representatives from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the pharmaceutical industry. Kathy Giusti, founder and president of the MMRF and Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC), opened the meeting by stressing the need for additional research in multiple myeloma . Although research funding from the NCI and others is flat or declining, the MMRF is doubling its research funding over the next three years. Giusti stated that it is critical to develop a targeted ...

The MMRF is delighted to report the results of cutting-edge research findings presented at the 45th Annual American Society of Hematology (ASH) Meeting in San Diego, CA. Almost 19,000 clinicians and researchers attended this important hematology meeting, which was held Dec. 5-9, 2003. Key data presented at the meeting included: MMRF Honors Chicago Cubs Manager at 2004 Chicago Awards Dinner he Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) is pleased to announce that it will honor Chicago Cubs Manager, Mr. Dusty Baker, at the MMRF 2004 Chicago Spring Awards Dinner. This event is scheduled for Wednesday, April 14 at Chicago’s Four Seasons Hotel. The MMRF will present Mr. Baker with the MMRF Sprit of Hope Award for his efforts in raising awareness of the devastating effects of cancer, the need for a positive approach ...

his year's "Friends for Life" Fall Gala raised $850,000 to aid in the search for a cure. The Gala took place November 13 th , at the Grand Hyatt in Greenwich, CT. Over 800 guests turned out to show support for the MMRF and to help raise funds to support myeloma research. Emmy Award winner, Deborah Norville, of Inside Edition, returned this year to emcee this exciting event. General H. Norman Schwarzkopf was honored with the MMRF Leadership Award for his outstanding efforts toward raising awareness about cancer. Among his many accomplishments, General Schwarzkopf served as honorary chairman for the " The March: Coming Together to Conquer Cancer " event in Washington, DC, last fall to demonstrate the need for increased funding for cancer research and treatment. The MMRF was also very pleased to have in attendance Congressman Christopher Shays (R-CT) and Olympic ...

his year the MMRF will distribute an astounding $2 million to accelerate the search for a cure for multiple myeloma . The MMRF, under the guidance of its Board of Directors, remains steadfast to raise funds and to apply as much of these funds as possible to only the most promising myeloma research. The MMRF distributes funds to researchers through $40,000 Fellows Awards, and $100,000 Senior Research Awards distributed in conjunction with the McCarty Cancer Foundation. Senior Research Awards of the highest quality will now be funded for two years. To ensure the best use of research funds, the MMRF's Scientific Advisory Board, comprised of 30 of the world's top myeloma experts, employs research standards set forth by the NIH in their review of all the grant applications made to the MMRF. The MMRF remains singular in its focus - to find a cure as soon as possible. 2 M ...

VELCADE is indicated for the treatment of multiple myeloma patients who have received at least two prior therapies and have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy. The effectiveness of VELCADE is based on response rates. There are no controlled trials demonstrating a clinical benefit, such as improvement in survival. VELCADE is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to bortezomib, boron, or mannitol. Risks that may be associated with VELCADE include a predominantly sensory peripheral neuropathy, orthostatic hypotension, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, and thrombocytopenia. Patients with renal or hepatic impairment should be closely monitored. Women of childbearing potential should avoid becoming pregnant while being treated with VELCADE. Toxicities observed with chronic administration in animals included severe anemia and thrombocytopenia; gastrointestinal, ...

ob Costas, award-winning broadcaster for NBC and HBO, will receive the MMRF Public Awareness Award at the 2003 MMRF Chicago Awards Dinner to be held on March 4 th at the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Chicago. The event will also include the presentation of the MMRF Ann Landers Research Fund $100,000 Award to a Chicago-based myeloma institution in memory of the leg- endary advice columnist. The award is being sponsored by Chicago Tribune Company, publisher of Ms. Landers' long-time home newspaper. Mr. Lester B. Knight, founding partner of RoundTable Healthcare Partners, will serve as the Event Corporate Chairman. Joining Mr. Knight on the event leadership team is Ms. Susan Crown, Vice President, Henry Crown and Company; Mr. Harry Kraemer, CEO, Baxter International; Mr. Ron Labrum, Executive Vice President, Cardinal Healthcare; Mr. Andy McKenna, CEO, Schwarz; Mr. Bill Osborn, CEO, the Northern ...

Special Edition Volume I Issue IV Fall 1999 Accelerating the Search for a Cure MMRF Distributes $600,000 in Research Grants P AGES 1 AND 9 Immune Therapy Roundtable Pages 3-4 VII th International Workshop Pages 5 - 9 Personal Medical Dictionary Page10 SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES M U L T I P L E MY E L O M A RESEARCH FOUNDATION MYELOMA FOCUS Newsletter of The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation Special Edition Guest Editors H. Mellstedt MD, PhD, Cancer Centre Karolinska K. Anderson MD, Dana Farber Cancer Institute P. R. Greipp MD, Mayo Clinic he Multiple Myeloma Research ...

ob Kraft, owner of the 2002 Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots, will serve as Honorary Chair for the Boston Spring Awards Dinner -- a collaborative fundraising and awareness-building event between the MMRF and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. This event will be held at the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston on April 3, 2002. Mr. Kraft has been a long-time supporter of blood cancer related research. The MMRF will present Millennium Pharmaceuticals with its Corporate Leadership Award. The award will be accepted by Mark Levin, Chairman and CEO for the company’s development of protease inhibitor PS-341, a compound showing promise in combating multiple myeloma . Phase III clinical trials for PS-341 are to begin this spring. Researchers are cautiously optimistic that this compound may soon be available as a new treatment option for myeloma patients everywhere. The event promises to be inspirational as two myeloma ...

ll-star honoree line-up of sports and corporate champions helped raise more than $500,000 at the MMRF’s New York City Awards Dinner. AT NYC A WARDS D INNER MMRF H ITS H OME R UN A capacity crowd of over 550 attendees, including current and former New York Yankees, dignitaries and special guests, helped raise awareness of myeloma and much needed research funding for a cure. Master of Ceremonies and 12-time Emmy Award winning sportscaster, Bob Costas, hosted the dinner and imparted his passion and perfectionism as the world's leading sports broadcaster. New York Yankee‘s 4-time World Champion Manager, Joe Torre, presented the MMRF's prestigious Public Awareness Award to his good friend, Yankee pitching coach and myeloma patient, Mel Stottlemyre. On hand to celebrate the honor with Mel were several ...

he Sixth Annual MMRF Friends for Life Fall Gala was held on November 2 nd at the Greenwich Hyatt in Greenwich, CT. The Gala was a huge success, rais- ing over $1 million for myelo- ma research. Olympic champion, Scott Hamilton, was joined by Corporate Chair, Linda McMahon, CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (WWE) as the Gala‘s Honorees. Master of Ceremonies, Deborah Norville of Inside Edition, Event Chairs, Geraldine Ferraro, and Ann Curry played host to another sell-out Gala crowd with over 700 people having attended. Weekend Today‘s David Bloom, with wife Melanie also came out to show their support. A long-time champion of philanthropic causes and community involvement, Corporate Chair, Linda McMahon talked about the importance of the critical and urgent work being done by the MMRF. ...

n Monday, June 9th, New York Yankee pitch- ing coach, Mel Stottlemyre, and his wife Jean host- ed the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation's third annual New York City Awards Dinner at the St. Regis Hotel, raising over $400,000 for myeloma research. Mr. Stottlemyre, Honorary MMRF Board Member and myeloma patient, along with his wife Jean have become advocates for those affected by blood cancers and have devoted their lives to "strik- ing out cancer" through the Mel Stottlemyre Foundation. Fellow MMRF Honorary Board Members, Geraldine Ferraro and Ann Curry, who served as the event’s master of ceremonies, were on hand to welcome the corporate and medical leaders who filled the ball- room to honor Ortho Biotech, L.P. (one of the world's leading bio-technical companies) and Dr. Sundar Jagannath (Chief of the Multiple Myeloma Center at St. Vincent's Comprehensive Cancer Center). Ortho Biotech, a subsidiary ...

IX th International Myeloma Workshop Salamanca, May 23-27 Over 1,000 clinicians and researchers attended this biennial workshop in the historic city of Salamanca. The primary aim of these workshops is to support continuing education and to serve as a forum for discussion on the scientific progress made in the experimental, clinical and therapeutic areas of Multiple Myeloma . Special thanks to co-chairs Dr. Jesús San-Miguel (University of Salamanca Hospital) and Dr. Joan Bladé (Hospital Clinic, Barcelona), as well as the members of the workshop committees, for organ- izing this important meeting. The MMRF looks forward to the Xth International Workshop, which will be held in Sydney, Australia, in April 2005, and will be chaired by Dr. Douglas Joshua. American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 39 th Annual Meeting ...

his year's "Friends for Life" Fall Gala was an incredible success, raising over one million dollars to aid in the search for a cure! The Gala took place October 21 st , at the Grand Hyatt in Greenwich, CT. Once again, the event was well attended in showing support for the MMRF and to raise funds to support myeloma research. The inimitable Joan Rivers served as Master of Ceremonies, and Hamilton Jordan, former White House Chief of Staff and best-selling author, was the honored guest for the evening. Mr. Jordan is a three-time cancer survivor. Having faced and survived lymphoma, prostate, and skin cancers, Mr. Jordan has shown remarkable courage in the face of what may seem to be insurmountable hardships. The MMRF is extremely grateful for Mr. Jordan's and Ms. Rivers’ participation in this year's ...

Fall Gala Raises $1.3 Million For Research he Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation’s eighth annual Friends for Life Fall Gala took place on Saturday, October 9th, at the Greenwich Hyatt in Greenwich, Connecticut. This year’s event was the biggest ever. The event raised more than $1.3 million for the Foundation’s mission to accelerate a cure for multiple myeloma . The evening featured a very special guest, Katie Couric, TODAY Show co-host and recipient of the MMRF Leadership Award. "After her husband, Jay Monahan died of cancer, Katie Couric took a difficult situation and found a way to give back," says Kathy Giusti, President and co-founder of the MMRF. "We were pleased to honor Katie with the MMRF Leadership Award because everyday she is a great example to all that we can go on and can make a difference." During Ms. Couric’s remarks about the MMRF and Kathy Giusti, she said, ...

SCIENTIFIC AGENDA AND FACULTY 09:00–09:20 Welcome and Overview of Current and Emerging Therapies Kenneth Anderson, MD – Chairperson Chief, Division of Hematologic Neoplasia Director, Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center Kraft Family Professor of Medicine Harvard Medical School Boston, Massachusetts 09:20–09:35 Use of Glutathione Modulators (Such as Ascorbic Acid) for TRISENOX ® (Arsenic Trioxide) Sensitization in Multiple Myeloma : Preclinical and Clinical Studies Kelvin Lee, MD Associate Professor University of Miami Miami, Florida 09:35–10:15 Single and Combination Therapy Using TRISENOX ® in Patients with Relapsed/ Refractory Multiple Myeloma Mohamad Hussein, MD Director, Myeloma Research Program Cleveland Clinic Foundation Cleveland, Ohio James Berenson, MD ...

Establishing a Framework for Conducting Intergroup Clinical Trials in Myeloma : A Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation Roundtable Accelerating the Search for a Cure For mor e information visit www .multiplemyeloma.or g The MMRF wishes to thank the following for their support: September 27-28, 2004 The Stanhope Park Hyatt New York 995 Fifth Avenue New York City, NY 10028 Page 2 E STABLISHING A F RAMEWORK FOR C ONDUCTING I NTERGROUP C LINICAL T RIALS IN M YELOMA MM 04–07 i Welcome 1 Objectives 2 Agenda 3 Faculty 5 Notes 7 Page 3 1 MM 04–07 ...

Myeloma What is myeloma ? Myeloma is a cancer of white blood cells called plasma cells. The cancerous plasma cells build up in the bone marrow and also make a lot of one particular antibody. As a result, various symptoms develop. Myeloma is sometimes called multiple myeloma or myelomatosis. What are the bone marrow, plasma cells and antibodies? The bone marrow is where blood cells are made by stem cells. The bone marrow is the soft 'spongy' material in the centre of bones. Stem cells constantly divide and produce new cells. Some new cells remain as stem cells, and others go through a series of maturing stages ('precursor' or 'blast' cells) before forming into mature blood cells. The blood cells made by stem cells are red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. You make millions of blood cells every day. There is normally a fine balance between the number of blood cells ...

1-5 MMRF Presents: MMRF Case Studies in Multiple Myeloma - An Online CME Program for Hematology/Oncology Professionals Stem Cell Transplant for First Relapse David H. Vesole, MD, PhD, FACP October 14, 2004 Case Presentation 53 year old male with IgG lambda multiple myeloma who presented to the Emergency Room with sudden onset severe back pain. Plain films of his spine revealed a compression fracture at T10. He was also found to have renal insufficiency (creatinine 2.8 mg), anemia (hemoglobin 10.1 g) and an elevated total protein (12.3 g). His primary care physician referred him to a hematologist/oncologist for further work up including the following: IgG 7880 mg, IgA < 7 mg, IgM 14 mg; SPEP with serum M component 7.1g, immunofixation electrophoresis showing an IgG lambda monoclonal protein, 24 hour total urine protein 3.6 g with urine protein electrophoresis with immunofixation ...

July/August 2004 ¦ COMMUNITY ONCOLOGY 77 Volume 1/Number 2 Bortezomibinmultiplemyeloma This novel proteasome inhibitor appears to improve response rates and survival in patients with progressive multiple myeloma Community Translations Summary by Matt Stenger, MS; reviewed by Vincent Rajkumar, MD, Division of Hematol- ogy, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. B ortezomib (Velcade) is an inhibitor of the protea- some, a ubiquitous multi- enzyme complex that degrades proteins that regulate cell- cycle progression and induces prote- olysis of I?B, the inhibitor of nuclear factor-?B. Increased activation of nu- clear factor-?B promotes cell survival, stimulates growth, and inhibits apop- tosis, as well as induces drug resis- tance in myeloma cells. Recent stud- ies have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of bortezomib ...

Joining Forces to Combat Multiple Myeloma By ANAHAD O'CONNOR August 17, 2004 New York Times After years of working toward the same goal as rivals, four leading cancer centers are linking efforts to fight a deadly bone disease. Their strategy – to coordinate clinical trials, share resources and pool their findings on multiple myeloma – could hasten drug discoveries and reshape the way institutions conduct research on other diseases. The plan, a rare break from tradition for competing academic centers, is designed to focus attention and funding on multiple myeloma , a blood cancer that erodes the bones and kills quickly. About 46,000 Americans have the disease, though they make up only a small portion of the total cancer population. As a result, experts say, research is limited and drug companies are slow to develop treatments. But four centers – including the Mayo Clinic and the ...

1-4 MMRF Presents: MMRF Case Studies in Multiple Myeloma - An Online CME Program for Hematology/Oncology Professionals Management of Toxicities Associated with Bortezomib Sagar Lonial, MD Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, Atlanta, GA September 9, 2004 Case Presentation A 63-year-old male presents with anemia and fatigue. Workup demonstrates stage III IgG kappa multiple myeloma with normal cytogenetics, a ß 2M of 2.5, albumin of 3.5, normal lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), and a paraprotein level of 3.6 gm/dL. Skeletal survey demonstrates several lytic bone lesions and osteopenia diffusely; hemoglobin at presentation is 9.0; and serum calcium is 8.5. Bone marrow aspirate demonstrates the presence of sheets of plasma cells compromising 80% of the marrow space. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status is 0. The patient has no siblings. He is treated ...

12650 Riverside Drive, Suite 207, Valley Village, CA 91607 Phone 818-623-1000 Fax 818-623-1881 www.vendely.com LOS ANGELES CHICAGO NEW YORK LONDON MEDIA CONTACT Vendely Communications, Inc. 818.623.1000 Maggie Nye ( Maggie@vendely.com ) Elizabeth Vendely ( Elizabeth@vendely.com ) FOREMOST MYELOMA ORGANIZATION TO HONOR DR. BART BARLOGIE Cancer Research Pioneer is Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient (For Immediate Release – Los Angeles, CA February 18, 2004) The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) will honor world-renowned physician and researcher Bart Barlogie, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Myeloma Institute for Research Therapy (MIRT) at the Arkansas Cancer Research Center, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). Dr. Barlogie, a professor of Medicine and Pathology in the UAMS College of Medicine, will receive the 2004 Robert A. Kyle ...

1-4 MMRF Presents: MMRF Case Studies in Multiple Myeloma - An Online CME Program for Hematology/Oncology Professionals Immunomodulatory Drug Therapy for Relapsed Myeloma Patients Christine I. Chen, MD, FRCPC Princess Margaret Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada August 12, 2004 Case Presentation A 64-year-old retired truck driver is diagnosed with IgG kappa multiple myeloma . He presents with severe back pain progressing over several weeks and is found to have multiple compression fractures of the thoracic spine with lytic lesions throughout his axial skeleton and skull. MRI of the spine shows no nerve root or spinal cord compression. He has a serum paraprotein of IgG kappa measuring 54g/L with a small amount of kappa light chains in his 24-hour urine protein electrophoresis. His hemoglobin is decreased at 90g/L, albumin 30g/L, creatinine mildly elevated ...

1-4 MMRF Presents: MMRF Case Studies in Multiple Myeloma - An Online CME Program for Hematology/Oncology Professionals Novel Agents in First-Line Therapy for Myeloma Sundar Jagannath, MD St. Vincent's Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York, NY July 22, 2004 Case Presentation: A 58-year-old woman presents with elevated total protein of 8.4 g/dL with an albumin of 4 g/dL on a routine physical examination. Patient is asymptomatic. Further work-up reveals a monoclonal spike of 2.2 g/dL in SPE (Serum Protein Electrophoresis) and IFE (immunofixation electrophoresis) confirms IgA ? monoclonal paraprotein. IgA is elevated at 2210 mg/dL, while there is reciprocal suppression of IgG at 483 mg/dL and IgM 20 mg/dL. There is no anemia, hypercalcemia, or renal impairment. Hemoglobin is 13 g/dL, hematocrit 38%, creatinine 0.7 mg, and calcium 9.4 mg. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) ...

IBMS Sussex Branch: Multiple Myeloma Dr Graham Meade recently spoke to the Sussex Branch on the topic of multiple myeloma . He explained that the disease was a tumour of plasma cells. The proliferating cells were monoclonal and tended to form multiple foci in the bone marrow. As the cells were monoclonal they all secreted an antibody that was identical in both type and specificity. In 83% of cases an intact antibody was produced. Free light chains only were secreted in 15% of patients. In the remaining 2% there was no evidence of secretion of immunoglobulin or its components. A progressive spectrum of disease was observed. The mildest form was called monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance (MGUS). This stage could persist for a number of years and was best left untreated with the patient being monitored for signs of disease progression. An intermediate presentation was smouldering or indolent myeloma . ...

1-4 MMRF Presents: MMRF Case Studies in Multiple Myeloma - An Online CME Program for Hematology/Oncology Professionals Treatment Options and Considerations for the Newly Diagnosed Myeloma Patient Vincent S. Rajkumar, MD Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN June 10, 2004 Case Presentation A 55-year-old male was seen for evaluation of multiple myeloma , after being diagnosed by his internist to whom he presented with a pathologic fracture of the right femur. He had been in excellent health prior to this incident. Physical examination was otherwise unremarkable. A complete evaluation was performed following surgical fixation of the fractured femur. CBC revealed a hemoglobin of 9.2 g/dL, WBC count of 8.3, platelet count of 126,000. Serum protein electrophoresis showed a 4.4 g/dL monoclonal (M) protein, IgG kappa by immunofixation. Urine protein electrophoresis and immunofixation ...

1-3 MMRF Presents: MMRF Case Studies in Multiple Myeloma - An Online CME Program for Hematology/Oncology Professionals Myeloma Bone Disease: Pathogenesis and Treatment G. David Roodman, MD, PhD University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA May 13, 2004 Case Presentation: The patient is a 55-year-old female who presented to her primary care physician with progressive fatigue and back pain over the previous three months. Her back pain was located in the mid-thoracic region and was worse when she walked around and initially improved when she was in bed. However, more recently the pain became constant and was no longer relieved with aspirin. The pain was described as a dull ache, which was exacerbated with movement. Her past medical history was unremarkable, and she denied a history of cardiac, renal or pulmonary disease. On physical exam, the patient was a pale-appearing female ...

1-4 MMRF Presents: MMRF Case Studies in Multiple Myeloma - An Online CME Program for Hematology/Oncology Professionals Treatment Options for Older Myeloma Patients Antonio Palumbo, MD University of Torino April 15, 2004 Case Presentation: A 78-year-old gentleman reported to his physician a severe left arm pain. For several weeks he had been having moderate back pain and fatigue. The patient had a history of masked hyperthyroidism presented with paroxysmal arrhythmia, hypercalcemia and osteoporosis. Physical examination showed that the patient had difficulty in moving the left arm during a normal neurovascular examination. No other symptoms were recorded. The patient was sent to the emergency room. X-ray of the arm showed a pathologic fracture of the diaphysis of the right humerus; CBC revealed anemia with hemoglobin of 9.1 g/dL, serum calcium was 9.4 mg/dL, serum creatinine ...

1-5 MMRF Presents: MMRF Case Studies in Multiple Myeloma - An Online CME Program for Hematology/Oncology Professionals Bortezomib Therapy Following First Relapse Robert Z. Orlowski, MD, PhD The Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill February 17, 2004 Case Presentation: This is Dr. Bob Orlowski from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, and it’s my pleasure to discuss an interesting case of multiple myeloma with you today. A 54-year-old African-American male carpenter who initially presented with a dry cough. His past medical history was remarkable for one episode of an uncomplicated deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in his right thigh about five years ago, and for which he had received six months of therapy with warfarin. After this anticoagulant had been discontinued, ...