New Multiple Myeloma Drug Can Prove More Beneficial If Administered Earlier

An immunotherapy drug recently-approved for a blood cancer called multiple myeloma can help produce even better results if it is administered during the early stages of the disease. These are the findings of a new study conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Torino in Italy.

The researchers based their conclusion on the clinical trial conducted on a group of patients suffering from multiple myeloma. The team found that an immunotherapy drug called Darzalex (daratumumab) reduced the progression of the disease by 70 percent, when administered as a part of standard two-drug regimen for patients with recurring melanoma.

According to the lead researcher and the chief of the myeloma unit in the department of oncology at the university, Dr. Antonio Palumbo, the new drug performed twice as efficient as the standard course of treatment involving bortezomib and dexamethasone. While the former is a form of immunotherapy drug, the latter is a steroid.

During the clinical trial, the team found that 19 percent of the patients taking daratumumab went into full remission, as compared to only 9 percent of those who received the standard two-drug therapy. In addition, "very good" response rate increased from 29 percent to 59 percent in patients who received Darzalex.

The researchers recommend daratumumab to be included as a part of standard treatment for patients with multiple myeloma. The drug works by targeting a protein called CD-38, which is present on the surface of the cancer cells. A number of studies conducted in the past have shown that the drug appears to target the cancer cells in multiple ways.

In addition, it also stimulates the immune system to trigger an attack against the tumor cells. On the other hand, it also kills the tumor cells directly by itself by resulting in rapid tumor shrinkage.

The complete details of the study were recently presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago.