Tasquinimod for Multiple Myeloma
This study is evaluating whether a drug which inhibits a protein may help treat multiple myeloma.
See full descriptionAbout the trial for Multiple Myeloma
Treatment Groups
This trial involves 4 different treatments. Tasquinimod is the primary treatment being studied. Participants will be divided into 4 treatment groups. There is no placebo group. The treatments being tested are in Phase 1 and are in the first stage of evaluation with people.
About The Treatment
Eligibility
This trial is for patients born any sex aged 18 and older. You must have received 1 prior treatment for Multiple Myeloma or the other condition listed above. There are 10 eligibility criteria to participate in this trial as listed below.
Approximate Timelines
Measurement Requirements
This trial is evaluating whether Tasquinimod will improve 1 primary outcome and 4 secondary outcomes in patients with Multiple Myeloma. Measurement will happen over the course of approximately 3 years.
Patient Q & A Section
Can multiple myeloma be cured?
Patients with myeloma have a very poor long-term outcome. Even though some patients can be cured, long-term survival is extremely poor. Patients with MM may be considered for clinical trials of new therapies.
What are common treatments for multiple myeloma?
The most common treatment for symptomatic MM is anti-myeloma therapy, in particular high dose cytotoxic agents which can reduce the disease burden and improve the response and survival of patients. Proton pump inhibitors are commonly utilized for its treatment or for its contraindication.
What are the signs of multiple myeloma?
As mentioned above, multiple myeloma is usually first noticed when bone pain or other symptoms happen, sometimes accompanied by changes in the way one feels. In some cases the only symptom is a change in appetite. The most common symptom in multiple myeloma is a change in the way your bones are feeling. While most people have some bones pains, multiple myeloma usually affects them all. If you have other symptoms, such as weakness or feeling tired, you may have multiple myeloma. However, it is always possible that you may have this disease without any symptoms at all. You will need to be seen by a doctor to fully diagnose your multiple myeloma and to decide on the best treatment for you.
What causes multiple myeloma?
Multiple myeloma has many different causes that can occur at any age. Many people have nothing in their diet or lifestyle that increases the risk. The age of onset is unrelated to disease incidence or mortality. Multiple myeloma may be caused by a virus, some parasites, or by exposure to pesticides. Multiple myeloma occurs when the cancer cells develop in bone marrow. They circulate, invade bone tissue, and cause bone pain. Diagnosis is often more difficult because other types of cancer may look like multiple myeloma.
How many people get multiple myeloma a year in the United States?
Between 1 in 40 and 1 in 45 American men are affected at some point in their lives by the disease of multiple myeloma. There are an estimated 33,900 new cases of multiple myeloma diagnosed every year in the United States, accounting for between 3% and 4% of all cancer cases. Multiple myeloma is the second most common type of cancer in the United States. It is the cause of death for approximately 3.5% of all cancer in the United States. In many areas multiple myeloma is associated with an extraordinarily poor prognosis; its mortality rate is much higher than that of most forms of cancer. Multiple myeloma has been estimated to affect about 25,000 elderly Americans per year.
What is multiple myeloma?
Multiple myeloma is a blood or bone marrow disease that causes abnormal cells to multiply quickly. These abnormally growing cells may lodge in internal body organs or the bone. It can be either monoclonal, that is, it is caused by a cancerous molecule that is produced by a single myeloma cell, or polyclonal, that is, it is caused by a group of abnormal myeloma cells that have similar or identical abnormalities. Multiple myeloma can cause bone and/or internal organ loss, blood and/or urinary problems, or both. It is a rare disease that can be difficult to diagnose. It typically develops over a five year period. Most patients will have the gradual onset of these problems.
Have there been other clinical trials involving tasquinimod?
The present observations suggest that the primary endpoint (total response rate) is the most informative parameter of the efficacy of tasquinimod in myeloma patients. To demonstrate its efficacy, clinical findings of an acceptable incidence of serious adverse events should be considered.
What are the common side effects of tasquinimod?
Tasquinimod causes a variety of adverse reactions in phase II and III clinical trials including an increased risk of lymphopenia and opportunistic infections which are manageable by a short-term treatment interruption.
Have there been any new discoveries for treating multiple myeloma?
There has been some initial success with newer drugs, as an example, with ixabepilone (Zellyxa, Gleevec), a newer microtubule destabilizing compound. If clinical trials seem to show this drug is effective and well tolerated, then studies will need to be conducted with this agent as a monotherapy and in combination with conventional chemotherapy. ixabepilone may also have some therapeutic effects. However, clinical trial results will need to be examined and more studies will need to happen with ixabepilone. It is clear now that it is difficult to achieve remission in multiple myeloma and that combination therapy may be necessary to optimize response. Ongoing studies should include randomized clinical trials.
What is tasquinimod?
Tasquinimod can be prescribed for patients with multiple myeloma who have an unresponsive or relapsed disease. In Phase III studies, it was shown to improve progression-free survival, overall survival and response rate after 6, 12 and 24 months of treatment.\n\nThere are very specific symptoms of patients when they are diagnosed with multiple myeloma.
What is the average age someone gets multiple myeloma?
About [six men, four women] had MM that was diagnosed when they were between 18 and 32, suggesting that most cases of MM occur at a younger age than previously thought. Although MM is uncommon in infancy or early childhood, it occurs throughout life and has a peak at age 70.
What are the chances of developing multiple myeloma?
Patients who are [multiple myeloma(MM)(<70) survivors] may be able to find out their life span expectancy before their diagnoses from their physicians. It would be helpful if they get to know their health before their diagnoses, and be aware of their life expectancy. Because patients who were diagnosed during past years do not often get proper information, you should take that into consideration to find out their life expectancy.\n