General information
Multiple Myeloma is part of a spectrum of diseases labeled Plasma Cell Dyscrasia. Plasma cells are the cells responsible for forming antibodies against bacteria and foreign proteins. For reasons that are unclear, these cells lose their ability to respond to controlling signals from a hierarchy of immune cells. Plasma cells then divide and form abnormal proteins, which results in damage to the bone, the bone marrow, and/or other organs of the body.
Why Research in Multiple Myeloma
The results of different therapeutic modalities for multiple Myeloma have not changed the course of the disease significantly since the late 1960's. Therefore, we believe that active research and new treatment modalities are a must to achieve our goals in controlling the disease. Over the past 6 years, the understanding of the biology of the disease, has resulted in a large flux of new promising agents that are being studied at the Cleveland Clinic independently and/or in collaboration with other myeloma institutions in the US, Europe, Australia and Asia. This will allow for better treatments, and hopefully translates in to better quality and survival for the myeloma patients.
Research and Development
The Cleveland Clinic Myeloma Research Program focuses on new drug development, as well as studying the effect of the immune system on tumor biology to modify its behavior. Over the past few years the research in the biology area has remarkably improved our understanding to develop less toxic and more rational maintenance therapy. The development of
Immunomodulatory agents (immune modulators) such as
Thalidomide
,
Lenalidomide (Revlimid), Bortezomib (Velcade),
Neovastat
,
Arsenic Trioxide
are not only critical in the management of the patient, but also in our understanding of the pathophysiology of multiple myeloma. Over the past few years we have come to the realization that multiple myeloma is not a curable disease with the current technology, more over, what we have learned from the better understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease is a complex redundant system. This process does require not one drug but a combination of these agents to control, and destroy the cancerous cell. For example
Lenalidomide (Revlimid) and
Thalidomide intervene on several pathways and act on different levels making it difficult for the multiple myeloma cell to survive or support its own survival. Moreover the activity of traditional drug therapy combinations such as DVd and other chemotherapeutic compounds are significantly enhanced with tolerable side effect profile. Over the years we have come to conclude that bony disease is a must to manage. As patients live longer (median survival at this institution is 6.5years) the skeletal structure becomes more critical than ever before. We are therefore focusing not only on the medical management (Aredia, Zometa, and pain therapy) but also on the surgical aspects, specially the minimally invasive procedures such as
Kyphoplasty.
This page will guide you through a lis of the different research activities, and updates for the current trials. The Cleveland Clinic Myeloma Research Program is part of the
South
West
Oncology
Group (SWOG)
.
Education and Support
The Cleveland Clinic Myeloma Educational/Support group is the largest hospital based group in the United States. The group is unique in focusing on serious patient education and lecturing that occurs once a month. These lectures are given by physicians, nurses, and other health professional entities.
Newsletter
The myeloma program news letter provides patients, families, and physicians with an update relative to the different new developments in the field of multiple myeloma, and plasma cell dyscrasia. Subscribing to this news letter allows the subscriber to have access to new cutting edge information relative to the biology of the disease, as well as therapy. We have initiated a new series related to the current development of the therapeutic field of multiple myeloma in addition to the stories a
of a courageous family that have lived and survived with myeloma.
Resources
This page contains other sites that provide more information related to plasma cell dyscrasia in general, as well as multiple myeloma, and amyloidosis. The Cleveland Clinic Myeloma Research Program does not endorse, and is not responsible for the content of these sites.
For information on new developments in the field or new therapies at the Cleveland Clinic Myeloma research Program, you can click on any of the links below to explore this information
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New Developments:
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New Therapeutic Modalities
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Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma
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Relapsed Refractory Multiple Myeloma
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Supportive Care
Questions, Suggestions or to Enquire about a trial
Phone: 216-445-6830
Fax: 216-445-3434
