Studies show that multiple myeloma treatment regimen could also be effective for patients with rare blood disease

Two new studies published today in Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), show hopeful advances in the treatment of Amyloid Light-chain (AL) amyloidosis, a rare blood disease that results in an abnormal protein damaging organs including the heart, liver, kidneys and intestines. The studies looked at the effectiveness of treating AL amyloidosis with a multiple myeloma (MM, cancer of the plasma cells in bone marrow) treatment regimen, since AL amyloidosis and MM share some characteristics. Current AL amyloidosis treatments, including stem cell transplants, are invasive and risky for the severely organ-damaged patients. The regimen is a combination of clyophosphamide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (referred to as CyBorD or CVD). The results of the two studies show that the CyBorD/CVD regimen can lead to complete hematologic response that could allow patients to become eligible for stem cell transplants and live longer, higher-quality lives.

Check out a video about this research.