Researchers are always looking for ways to make stem cell transplant more effective. Here's a new clinical trial opening soon using a new oral agent. The Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida is opening a Phase I/II clinical trial using the drug Selinexor to start in July 2016 for approximately 46 patients. Its purpose is to determine the best dose when used in combination with melphalan as a conditioning regimen for a stem cell transplant. The second phase of the study phase will assess the complete response (CR) conversion rate. This study will be used to actively treat participants’ myeloma. Drugs and treatments used will be: auto stem cell transplant, dexamethasone (dex), melphalan, and Selinexor. Selinexor is a new oral drug and is in a new class of agents called Selective Inhibitor of Nuclear Export (SINE™) compounds. Selinexor works by inhibiting XPO1, a protein found in the nucleus of cancer cells, which activates tumor suppressors by retaining them in the nucleus of cancer cells. This causes cell death while sparing normal cells. Selinexor also reduces the levels of cancer generating proteins like C-MYC (learn about this in the Myeloma Crowd Radio Show with Dr. Jay Bradner) and bcl-2, so it is thought that it could also reduce the future growth of cancer cells. Selinexor has already been tested in clinical trials on over 1200 patients. For this clinical trial, patients achieving partial response or a very good partial response with chemotherapy and fewer than three lines of therapy may be eligible to participate. For more information, visit the SparkCures clinical trial summary here: SparkCures Clinical Trial: Selinexor + Stem Cell Transplant