Treatment with bortezomib-based regimens improves overall response and predicts for survival in patients with primary or secondary plasma cell leukemia: Analysis of the Greek myeloma study group.

Plasma cell leukemia (PCL) is a rare and aggressive plasma cell disorder, with poor outcome. Bortezomib-based regimens (BBR) are highly effective in myeloma, but there is limited information about their efficacy and safety in PCL. Thus, we retrospectively collected data from 42 consecutive PCL patients (25 with primary PCL-pPCL and 17 with secondary PCL-sPCL) to explore the role of BBR in this entity.

Natural history of osteonecrosis of the jaw in patients with multiple myeloma.

Purpose: To evaluate the natural history of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) in patients with multiple myeloma.

Patients And Methods: Ninety-seven patients with myeloma from the United States (n = 37) and Greece (n = 60) were observed prospectively for a minimum 3.2 years after ONJ.

Multiple myeloma staging based on the combination of beta-2-microglobulin and albumin: the role of albumin in the model.

Background And Objective: Since the prognostic significance of the combination of beta-2-microglobulin (beta(2)m) and albumin in multiple myeloma (MM) has been recognized, these two easily obtainable parameters were subsequently employed in the staging systems of Bataille et al. (BSS), the South West Oncology Group (SWOG SS) and most recently the International Myeloma Working Group (ISS). There is no consensus, however, regarding the cut off levels of beta(2)m and the stage, early or advanced, at which albumin should be added to the model.

Bortezomib reduces serum dickkopf-1 and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand concentrations and normalises indices of bone remodelling in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma.

The effect of bortezomib on bone remodelling was evaluated in 34 relapsed myeloma patients. At baseline, patients had increased serum concentrations of dickkopf-1 (DKK-1), soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (sRANKL), sRANKL/osteoprotegerin ratio, C-telopeptide of type-I collagen (CTX) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase isoform-5b (TRACP-5b); bone-alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin were reduced. Serum DKK-1 correlated with CTX and severe bone disease.

Incidence, risk factors and management of osteonecrosis of the jaw in patients with multiple myeloma: a single-centre experience in 303 patients.

The incidence, characteristics and risk factors for the development of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) were evaluated among 303 myeloma patients. Only patients who received bisphosphonates developed ONJ (28/254; 11%). Zoledronic acid produced 9.

Evaluation of five staging systems in 470 patients with multiple myeloma.

We evaluated the prognostic significance of five staging systems in 470 consecutive, previously untreated patients with multiple myeloma diagnosed between 1989 and 2006. The five staging systems were those proposed by Durie and Salmon, Bataille et al., the South West Oncology Group, Weber et al.

Bortezomib is an effective agent for MDS/MPD syndrome with 5q- anomaly and thrombocytosis.

Thrombocytosis is not a frequent event in myelodysplasia (MDS) and is observed mainly in 5q- syndrome and MDS/myeloproliferative (MPD) overlap syndromes. The pathogenetic mechanism of thrombocytosis in 5q- has not been fully elucidated to-date. Bortezomib is a proteasome inhibitor which seems to be effective in MDS.

Evaluation of hypochromic erythrocytes in combination with sTfR-F index for predicting response to r-HuEPO in anemic patients with multiple myeloma.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sTfR-F index and hypochromic erythrocytes (HYPO%) as potential predictors of response to recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) of anemic patients with multiple myeloma (MM) before treatment, as well as early in the course of treatment. Twenty-six newly diagnosed anemic MM patients received r-HuEPO 30,000 IU/wk sc, for six weeks. The sTfR-F index and HYPO% were determined at baseline and at weeks 2 and 6.

Inhibition of factor VIIa generation and prothrombin activation by treatment with enoxaparin in patients with unstable angina.

Factor VIIa (FVIIa) and thrombin generation occur in patients suffering an acute coronary event. We studied the effect of treatment with enoxaparin on FVIIa and prothrombin activation in patients with unstable angina. Anti-Xa activity, FVIIa, FVII coagulant activity (FVII:C) and FVII antigen (FVII:Ag), free tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), and prothrombin fragments 1 + 2 (F1+2) were measured in patients' plasma, over a 24-h treatment period with enoxaparin.

On the mechanism of action of recombinant activated factor VII administered to patients with severe thrombocytopenia and life-threatening haemorrhage: focus on prothrombin activation.

We report the ex vivo effect of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) on prothrombin activation after whole blood clotting. Two patients with severe thrombocytopenia and life-threatening haemorrhage were successfully managed using a single dose of rFVIIa (90 microg/kg). Western blotting using antiprothrombin antibody showed that rFVIIa did not induce thrombin generation in citrated platelet-poor plasma.