NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Myeloma UK announced today that it has launched MUK nine, a clinical trial assessing a novel treatment combination in genetically defined high-risk myeloma patients.
The study, which is being hosted by the University of Leeds, is divided into two parts. In the first part, bone marrow samples from up to 700 newly diagnosed myeloma patients will be analyzed by researchers at The Institute of Cancer Research in London.
Patients whose genetic profiles indicate high-risk disease may enroll in the second part of the study — a Phase II trial called MUK nine b — in which they will receive a drug cocktail consisting of Velcade (bortezomib), Revlimid (lenalidomide), Darzalex (daratumumab), and dexamethasone in combination with low-dose cyclophosphamide, in conjunction with autologous stem cell transplants.
In addition to assessing the efficacy of this regimen, the trial aims to increase understanding of the genetic basis of myeloma and to find disease markers that can help personalize myeloma therapies, Myeloma UK said.
"Around 20 percent of myeloma patients are characterised as having high-risk myeloma, yet there is relatively little research looking at high-risk disease and treatment," Simon Ridley, director of research at Myeloma UK, said in a statement. "This trial is looking to the future — we are trying to gain more insight into which treatment combinations might work best in different groups of high-risk patients. It also offers patients access to novel combination treatments that they cannot currently get access to through routine commissioning."