Drug combo 'promising' myeloma treatment

BOSTON, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- U.S. medical researchers said a new combination of bortezomib (Velcade) and two other drugs is showing high promise as a treatment for multiple myeloma.

Researchers led by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute said the combined regimens of Velcade, lenalidomide (Revlimid) and dexamethasone -- referred to as Rev/Vel/Dex -- has achieved an overall response rate of 98 percent in 42 patients evaluated thus far in a Phase 1-2 trial.

Dr. Paul Richardson, the study's principal investigator, said 52 percent of the patients had high quality responses, with 30 percent achieving complete response to date.

"These may be some of the best response rates we've seen to date with up-front therapies, and although these are preliminary results, they are extremely promising," Richardson said. The patients were previously untreated when they received the Rev/Vel/Dex combination.

The research was presented in Atlanta during this week's annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology.