The two drugs Velcade (bortezomib) and Revlimid (lenalidomide) are designed to treat the bone marrow cancer called multiple myeloma. A Phase I clinical trial has shown that the drugs may be more effective together than when used individually.
The trial was led by researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. It included 38 patients who had their cancer recur despite other therapies. The patients were divided into groups that received successively higher doses of Velcade and Revlimid. Some patients also received the drug dexamethasone which can add to the anticancer effects of these two drugs.
Fifty-eight percent has responded to the combined treatment, six percent achieved complete remission. Researcher Dr. Paul Richardson said in a prepared statement "We are hopeful that this combination will prove to be a key therapeutic backbone in improving outcomes for our patients, both early and later in the course".
