Imaging of patients with multiple myeloma and associated plasma cell disorders: consensus practice statement by the Medical Scientific Advisory Group to Myeloma Australia.

Imaging modalities for multiple myeloma (MM) have evolved to enable earlier detection of disease. Furthermore, the diagnosis of MM requiring therapy has recently changed to include disease prior to bone destruction, specifically the detection of focal bone lesions. Focal lesions are early, abnormal areas in the bone marrow, which may signal the development of subsequent lytic lesions that typically occur within the next 18-24 months.

Consensus statement on the treatment of transplant-eligible patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma in New Zealand.

Multiple myeloma is the second most common blood cancer in New Zealand with higher incidence in Māori and Pacific Island populations. It remains an incurable disease but the rapidly changing treatment landscape has led to improved outcome. In response to recent changes in funding of anti-myeloma therapy in New Zealand, the New Zealand Myeloma Interest Group has reviewed the latest literature and updated the treatment pathway of transplant-eligible patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

Updated Outcomes and Impact of Age With Lenalidomide and Low-Dose Dexamethasone or Melphalan, Prednisone, and Thalidomide in the Randomized, Phase III FIRST Trial.

Purpose This analysis of the FIRST trial in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) ineligible for stem-cell transplantation examined updated outcomes and impact of patient age. Patients and Methods Patients with untreated symptomatic MM were randomly assigned at a one-to-one-to-one ratio to lenalidomide plus low-dose dexamethasone until disease progression (Rd continuous), Rd for 72 weeks (18 cycles; Rd18), or melphalan, prednisone, and thalidomide (MPT; 72 weeks), stratified by age (≤ 75 v > 75 years), disease stage (International Staging System stage I/II v III), and country. The primary end point was progression-free survival.

The addition of dexamethasone to bortezomib for patients with relapsed multiple myeloma improves outcome but ongoing maintenance therapy has minimal benefit.

Despite the common practice of combining dexamethasone (Dex) with bortezomib (Bz) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM), until now there has been few prospective trials undertaken. We undertook a trial that recapitulated the original APEX study except that dexamethasone was incorporated from cycle 1. We also incorporated an exploratory maintenance component to the study.

Identification of JAK2V617F in patients with polycythemia is highly correlated with conventional criteria for diagnosis of polycythemia vera.

One hundred and forty four patients with a clinical indication of suspected polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia, or idiopathic myelofibrosis were screened for JAK2(V617F) and the mutation frequency was 47, 51, and 50%, respectively. Previous investigations enabled 42 of 66 patients with suspected PV to be definitively diagnosed either as PV according to WHO criteria or to have this diagnosis excluded. Ninety-six percent of those with PV were JAK2(V617F), whereas all patients without PV did not have the mutation.