The results of a recent study suggest that Zolinza (vorinostat), in combination with Velcade (bortezomib), may be effective in patients with relapsed or refractory myeloma after prior treatment with Velcade. The study was published in the journal Clinical Lymphoma, Myeloma & Leukemia.

Velcade has become a standard first-line treatment option for multiple myeloma, but more and more patients are developing resistance to or relapsing after it. Zolinza is a new cancer drug that is already approved for a certain form of lymphoma. Preclinical trials suggest that it enhances sensitivity to Velcade.

In a recent Phase 1 clinical trial, a combination of Zolinza and Velcade led to substantial response rates in patients with relapsed or refractory myeloma (see related Beacon news).

In this retrospective study, researchers investigated the effectiveness of Zolinza in combination with Velcade in six patients with persistent myeloma despite prior treatment with Velcade.

All patients had been heavily pretreated, and five had undergone stem cell transplants. They received treatment in 21-day cycles – 300 mg or 400 mg of Zolinza on days 1 to 14 and 1.3 mg/m² of Velcade on days 1, 4, 8, and 11.

Among the six patients, one (17 percent) achieved a very good partial response and four (67 percent) had a minimal response, for an overall response rate of 83 percent. One patient experienced stable disease. The treatment was well-tolerated, causing only mild to moderate nausea and diarrhea in three of the six participants.

The researchers concluded that the combination of Zolinza and Velcade may be a viable option for treating patients who have developed resistance to or relapsed after treatment with Velcade alone. They recommend more extensive research to verify their conclusions.

For more information, please see the journal Clinical Lymphoma, Myeloma & Leukemia (abstract).