Information for Medical Professionals

For other announcements of interest to the medical community, choose a subcategory from the menu on the left.

Including Clinical Trials in Your Practice
A Web-based course for healthcare providers who are interested in becoming clinical trials investigators and including cancer clinical trials in their practice.
Highlights of the 12th International Myeloma Workshop: CME-Certified Conference Coverage
Expert faculty members present the most clinically relevant data from the 12th International Myeloma Workshop in CME-certified video modules. Jointly sponsored by Postgraduate Institute for Medicine, the International Myeloma Foundation, and Clinical Care Options, LLC.
CITINGS - Novel Therapies
This quarterly publication features up-to-date information on research advances and new therapies.
Dr. Brian Durie Receives the Prestigious Waldenstrom?s Award at IMW 2009
This year at the International Myeloma Workshop, our own Dr. Durie won the Waldenströms Award for 40 years of excellence in myeloma. As part of the award, he was invited to deliver a lecture. Introduced by Dr. Kyle, this is the webcast of that lecture.
IMF Chair, Dr. Brian Durie, featured in Scientific American article DNA on the Loose: Next-Gen Blood Tests Tap Free-Floating Genetic Material
Free-floating messages in the bloodstream could soon provide a unique window into the body. Researchers worldwide are racing to decipher circulating genetic material for better ways to diagnose disease, monitor pregnancy, and even improve food safety.

International Myeloma Working Group Guidelines for Serum Free Light Chain Analysis in Multiple Myeloma and Related Disorders
The International Myeloma Working Group is made up of 90 leading myeloma researchers from around the world who collaborate on a broad range of myeloma research projects with a goal to improve myeloma treatment options and diagnostic systems. The serum-free light chain analysis guidelines are the result of this collaboration.

ASH 2008 Multiple Myeloma Highlights for Physicians
International Myeloma Foundation Highlights from the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Hematology (ASH) held in San Francisco, California, December 5?9, 2008.

The International Myeloma Foundation Announces New Three-Way Research Agreement with Nobel Prize Winner Luc Montagnier and Howard Urnovitz of Chronix Biomedical
Will Study Circulating DNA as a Marker for and Potential Cause of Disease Recurrence

Treatment of Myeloma: Cure vs Control
In the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, IMF Scientific Advisor, Dr. Vincent Rajkumar writes that "cure vs control" is the dominant philosophical difference behind many of the strategies, trials, and debates related to the management of myeloma.

ASCO Highlights for Physicians and Patients
News from the 2008 ASCO Meeting Compiled by Lynne Lederman, PhD

JOURNAL EDITORIAL DOCUMENTS DRAMATIC INCREASE IN SURVIVAL SINCE THE 1980?S
Writing in the October 10th edition of the Journal of Clinical Oncology, IMF chairman Brian G.M. Durie, M.D., notes that 25 years ago only 48 percent to 66 percent of myeloma patients survived two years, depending on which treatment was used. By contrast today, two-year survival rates are around 90 percent.

Webcast of the Boston 2008 Patient & Family Seminar
Whether you are newly-diagnosed or well-versed in myeloma treatments, an IMF Patient & Family Seminar has something for you. If you are deciding whether to attend an IMF seminar, why not sit in on the Boston seminar held in July. The IMF cameras were there to capture it.

AN EDITORIAL BY DR. BRIAN DURIE FEATURED IN THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
Dr. Durie says that the statistics from the VISTA trial leave no doubt that combination therapy with bortezomib is superior to MP alone. However, he raises the issue, "how does this clear-cut evidence inform treatment decisions?"

Updated Concise Review 2008/2009
Overview of the history of myeloma, pathophysiology, clinical features, and tx options. The focus is practical, founded upon the most recent research developments in the field.

New! Patient Education Sheets on the Side Effects of Novel Therapies
Developed by the IMF's Nurse Leadership Board, these PDFs are part of the IMF Patient Education Tools Series and include preventing blood clots, managing steroid-associated side effects, managing myelosuppression, preventing peripheral neuropathy, and managing gastrointestinal side effects.

CONVERSATIONS AT EHA 2008
The IMF Interviews

Heinz Ludwig, MD
Wilhelminen Hospital, Vienna, Austria

Roman H?jek, MD
Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic

CONVERSATIONS AT ASCO 2008
The IMF Interviews

Antonio Palumbo, MD
University of Torino and the Italian Multiple Myeloma Study Group

S. Vincent Rajkumar, M.D.
Associate Professor of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

New!! Managing the Side Effects of Novel Agents for Multiple Myeloma: Guidelines and Patient Education Sheets From the International Myeloma Foundation Nurse Leadership Board
Published in the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, Volume 12, Supplement, June 2008, these guidelines are must-reads for all nurses—for all healthcare professionals—who are involved in the care of myeloma patients.

BANK ON A CURE?
A DNA bank that will provide genetic data research in new drug development. Read the latest update on this groundbreaking program.

The Role of Vertebral Augmentation: Expert Opinions
An IMF Webcast that addresses frequently asked questions about kyphoplasty: Who is a good candidate? What clinical outcomes are you looking for? Can a patient receive kyphoplasty while undergoing chemo? How quickly have patients reported pain relief after the procedure.

International Staging System (ISS)
The International Myeloma Foundation is proud to sponsor the International Staging System (ISS). The ISS is a collaborative research initiative with nearly twenty myeloma institutions from around the world.

International Myeloma Working Group
The Working Group, made up of 90 leading myeloma researchers, develops myeloma management guidelines aimed at providing patients with more durable remissions and a better quality of life. The Working Group's recent research has culminated in the publication of widely-used consensus statements.

New! A Comprehensive Guide to Kos 2007 Review of the XIth International Myeloma Workshop 
Summaries from the workshop sessions in Kos, Greece on 5?30 June, 2007

Planning for Treatment With or Without Transplant Balancing Efficacy, Toxicity, and Quality of Life for the Patient with Multiple Myeloma
Webcast of the Friday Satellite Symposium Preceding the 49th ASH Annual Meeting.

ASH 2007 WEBCASTS
We are pleased to present these webcasts of the 49th Annual American Society of Hematology Meeting (ASH) that was held in Atlanta, Georgia from December 8-11, 2007.

The Myeloma Forum
Established by the International Myeloma Foundation, the U.S. Myeloma Forum is a committee of the nation?s leading multiple myeloma experts. The Forum?s goal is two-fold: to form a coalition that will work collaboratively on myeloma-related projects, and to avoid duplication of efforts and dilution of valuable resources by various cooperative groups working on myeloma trials in the United States.

THE INTERNATIONAL MYELOMA FOUNDATION IDENTIFIES POTENTIAL LINK BETWEEN GENETIC PATHWAYS AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS FOR MYELOMA
BANK ON A CURE® DNA Data Base also finds Genetic Link to Bone Disease and Indications for Treatment

THE INTERNATIONAL MYELOMA FOUNDATION SAYS NEW FINDINGS REPORTED AT GLOBAL CANCER CONFERENCE REQUIRE NEW WAYS TO EVALUATE TREATMENTS
Survival and Longer Term Disease Control Take Precedence over Short Term Response to Treatment

New Clinical Practice Guideline Details Measures for Anticoagulant Use
A new ASCO Clinical Practice Guideline, "Recommendations for Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis and Treatment in Patients with Cancer," is now available, along with clinical tools and resources to help practicing oncologists and their colleagues implement the evidence-based recommendation in clinical settings.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) post "national coverage determination (NCD)" for coverage of erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs).
Emerging safety concerns (thrombosis, cardiovascular events, tumor progression, and reduced survival) derived from clinical trials in several cancer and non-cancer populations prompted CMS to review its coverage of erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs).

The IMF at ASCO 2007
Webcasts from the 43rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago, Illinois.

STUDY SHOWS VELCADE® PLUS DOXIL® IMPROVES SURVIVAL IN PREVIOUSLY TREATED PATIENTS WITH MYELOMA
Data Presented at the ASCO Cancer Conference

New England Journal of Medicine Sites Myeloma as Concern for Firefighters at 9-11 Scene
In an article entitled "The Legacy of the World Trade Center Dust," physicians say more than 5 years after the World Trade Center disaster, "uncertainty and controversy remain about the health risks posed by inhaling dust, the subsequent fires and the cleanup effort."

Use of Bisphosphonates in Multiple Myeloma: International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) Response to Mayo Clinic Consensus Statement
The IMWG, which is comprised of 85 investigators specializing in the area of multiple myeloma, has reviewed and considered the recent Mayo Clinic consensus statement for the use of bisphosphonates (BPs) in multiple myeloma. Although the IMWG is in general agreement with the Mayo consensus statement, several important issues have been raised.

CAUTION ABOUT USE OF ERYTHROPOIETIN PRODUCTS
Several recent public health advisories and safety messages have raised cautions about the use of Darbopoetin alfa (Aranesp®) and Epoetin alfa (Procrit® and Epogen®). These drugs are used to stimulate red blood cell production to reverse anemia.

Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Myeloma Based on Mayo Clinic's mSMART
mSmart (Mayo Stratification of Myeloma and Risk-Adapted Therapy).
This consensus statement from the Mayo Clinic is excellent overview of the issues and a good basis for discussion as the scientific and clinical communities work to advance the standard of care.

'International uniform response criteria for myeloma' published in journal Leukemia
This article is the result of the efforts of the International Myeloma Working Group.

Mayo Clinic Consensus Statement for the Use of Bisphosphonates in Multiple Myeloma
A multidisciplinary panel consisting of hematologists, dental specialists, and nurses specializing in the treatment of myeloma reviewed available data concerning the use of bisphosphonates. Guidelines for the use of bisphosphonates in MM were developed. This link is to the full article.

Myeloma Management Guidelines: A Consensus Report from the Scientific Advisors of the IMF
These guidelines encompass both the published literature and expert opinions. Recommendations based upon expert opinions are identified as such. The intent is for the guidelines to be international in scope, plus provide recommendations for both clinical practice and research approaches. This article appeared in The Hematology Journal (2003) 4, 379-398.