Smoldering Myeloma Patients: Recruiting Patients For OncoPep Cancer Vaccine Clinical Trial. New Site Added

The ongoing OncoPep cancer vaccine study for patients with moderate and high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) has recently opened up an additional site in the Midwest. With its opening, the Illionis Cancer Specialists in Niles, Illinois becomes the sixth site currently carrying out this phase 1b/2a clinical trial. Hematologist and medical oncologist Dr. Leonard Klein, the site’s principal investigator, brings with him over 39 years of experience to the study. Currently, there are four spots remaining for potentially interested patients. Complete study information can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01718899. Multiple myeloma (MM) is a cancer of the plasma cells whereby cancerous cells accumulate in the bone marrow and affect normal blood cell production. Although treatment strategies have improved in recent years, there is still no cure for MM. Because of this, doctors are specifically interested in methods that may delay or prevent the progression of precursor illnesses into full-blown MM. Who can participate? To pre-qualify, patients must: have an SMM diagnosis, be HLA A2 positive, and have at least two of the following risk factors: 1) Levels of Serum monoclonal (M)-protein ≥3 g/dL 2) BMPC >10% 3) Abnormal serum free light chain (FLC) ratio (note: complete study information can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01718899 ) How will the trial and treatment affect my daily work and lifestyle? You will be expected to go to the study center for screening procedures to see if you meet the eligibility criteria. More than one visit for screening procedures will be required. If you meet the eligibility criteria, you will be expected to go to the study center for treatment and follow up visits according to the study schedule. This includes bi-weekly visits to the treatment center over the 10 weeks of study treatment and follow up visits at 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. What does treatment look like? If the patient meets the study criteria, they will then be required to go to the study center to receive the study drug for six injections given every two weeks over a 10 week period. Patients receive the injection and are then observed for one hour before going home. Study participants will also be given three cycles of Revlimid ® (lenalidomide) to be taken within the 10 week treatment period. The lenalidomide is taken as an orally dosed capsule. You can read more information about the study by reading the article previously featured on Myeloma Crowd.   The complete listing of participating sites and corresponding physicians is listed below: