Anna Azvolinsky

Dec 18, 2024 | cancertodaymag.org | Anna Azvolinsky

TREATMENTS FOR PEOPLE with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer that occurs in the plasma cells of the bone, have extended many patients’ lives. But even in cases where people have a complete response—showing no signs of cancer on imaging or in blood and urine tests—the cancer can return. That’s because multiple myeloma is incurable, and most people with the disease go through cycles of remissions and relapse, followed by rounds of treatment to keep the cancer at bay.

Jun 21, 2024 | cancertodaymag.org | Anna Azvolinsky

PEOPLE WITH MELANOMA who receive immunotherapy typically undergo an 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT scan about three months after starting treatment to see whether their tumors are responding. A study published May 1, 2024, in Clinical Cancer Research has found FDG PET/CT—one of the most readily available ways to detect cancer—can reveal responses to immunotherapy just one week after people with metastatic melanoma begin treatment.

May 16, 2024 | ashpublications.org | Anna Azvolinsky

Researchers have demonstrated the ability to reprogram and revitalize exhausted antigen-specific memory CD8+ T cells using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology in the laboratory. The innovative method, which targets multiple myeloma (MM), might be an important adaptive T-cell therapeutic strategy for MM — and potentially other cancers — that maintains anti-tumor activity and has the potential to circumvent long-term T-cell exhaustion. The laboratory results were published in Blood.

Mar 20, 2024 | ashpublications.org | Anna Azvolinsky

Obesity is an established, modifiable risk factor for the development of multiple myeloma (MM). Now, in a new study, researchers provide evidence that obesity may also be associated with the precursor to MM, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). The research also shows an inverse association between high levels of physical activity and risk of MGUS.

Mar 14, 2024 | ashpublications.org | Anna Azvolinsky

In a retrospective study of more than 15,000 Taiwanese patients newly diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), those patients who were regular statin users had fewer heart failure events and had an improved overall survival (OS) compared to non-statin users. The survival benefit was more pronounced for those patients who had a longer statin exposure.