Active clinical trials for "Paraproteinemias"

This randomized phase II trial studies how well celecoxib works in preventing multiple myeloma in patients with monoclonal gammopathy or smoldering myeloma. Chemoprevention therapy is the use of certain drugs to try to prevent the development or recurrence of cancer. The use of celecoxib may be effective in preventing multiple myeloma.

The purpose of this study is to study the safety and preliminary efficacy of a dendritic cell DKK1 vaccine against myeloma. Dendritic cells are immune cells that are collected from the blood of the patient at Case Western Reserve Medical Center and then brought into contact with DKK1, a molecule that is present of myeloma cells but not to a significant amount on other cells except for the prostate and the placenta. It is an investigational (experimental) vaccine that based on studies in the laboratory and in mice is expected to work by presentation of DKK1 to anticancer immune cells via dendritic cells leading to an immune attack on myeloma cells. It is experimental because it is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The purpose of this research study is to learn about the effect of Liraglutide (Victoza) on the fat of the heart and some fat cells in blood.

Background: - Recent studies have shown that the premalignant conditions monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) have a high risk of progressing to multiple myeloma (MM). There are currently no known effective treatments to prevent MGUS or SMM from developing into MM, and there are no known tests for determining whether an individual with MGUS or SMM will develop MM. Researchers are investigating new and improved imaging techniques that may be able to better detect the progression of MGUS or SMM into MM. Objectives: To compare the results of three imaging techniques in individuals with MGUS, SMM, and MM. To correlate the information from the imaging studies with established clinical markers of progression from MGUS/SMM to MM. Eligibility: - Individuals at least 18 years of age who have been diagnosed with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, smoldering multiple myeloma, or multiple myeloma. Design: Participants will be screened with a physical examination and medical history, and will provide baseline blood, urine, and bone marrow samples before beginning the imaging studies. Participants will have three imaging studies on separate days: a standard 18-fludeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan (18-FDG PET/CT), a PET/CT scan with an experimental sodium fluoride-based drug (18-NaF PET/CT), and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI). Participants will be closely monitored during each scan, and will provide additional blood samples before and after the scans. Participants may provide additional blood, urine, tissue, and bone marrow samples for optional research studies.

The purpose of this study is to see how long lenalidomide therapy can maintain or improve the disease response obtained after induction therapy that does not include lenalidomide, pomalidomide or thalidomide; and consequently reduce worsening of disease and to evaluate the activity of lenalidomide. Patients will receive lenalidomide or be under observation. All patients will attend regular clinic visits to evaluate their disease and health. Patients will have the option to participate in additional biomarker correlative studies in addition to their participation in the main study.

Ambispective, national, multicenter observational cohort study aimed at characterizing the satellite dysimmune manifestations of clonal hematopoiesis, including Vexas (Vacuoles, E1 enzyme, X-linked, Autoinflammatory and Somatic) syndrome.

This research study is evaluating the effects of a mind body medicine intervention called the Relaxation Response Resiliency Program (3RP) on stress and stress related symptoms in patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM). This research study is a supportive care trial. This means that the intervention program may improve general well-being and comfort, but is not considered a treatment or "cure" for MGUS or SMM. It is considered an investigational intervention because the investigators are examining the effectiveness of a new program - the 3RP - on reducing stress and stress-related symptoms in patients with MGUS and SMM. Standard management of MGUS and SMM involves regular monitoring without chemotherapy. Mind-body medicine, as defined by the National Institutes of Health, "focuses on the interactions among the brain, mind, body, and behavior, and on the powerful ways in which emotional, mental, social, spiritual, and behavioral factors can directly affect health." The 3RP is a newly designed group therapy program that through a variety of mind body principles and self-care interventions seeks to buffer stress and promote psychological resiliency and physical well-being. This study will examine the effectiveness of the 3RP in reducing stress and symptoms associated with stress in patients diagnosed with MGUS or SMM. Data from this study will also be used to assess changes in gene expression that result from 3RP intervention, particularly genetic pathways that are known to be dysregulated in MM.

This is a research study to determine if the study drug lenalidomide will increase the body's immune response, which is the body's response against infections or tumors, to hepatitis B vaccine in patients with plasma cell diseases which include multiple myeloma, monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS) and Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia. It is not a study to see if lenalidomide is an effective treatment for plasma cell disease. Participants in this study have multiple myeloma or other plasma cell disease and have never been vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine. One of the effects of the drug lenalidomide is to alter the immune system and thereby increase immune response. It also has some effect against cancer cells; therefore, in theory, it may reduce or prevent the growth of cancer cells. In this study, one-half of the subjects will be chosen at random to receive the study drug and the other half will take a placebo pill (a sugar pill that looks the same as the real medication). This is a double blind study where neither the subjects nor the investigators know whether the patient receives the study drugs or placebo pills. The effects of the active drug lenalidomide will be compared to the effects of the placebo. The results from this study will be also be compared with a similar but separate study to be done on individuals without known disease. This study expects to enroll 64 subjects and will be carried out at the Boston VA Healthcare System and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

Blood circulating endothelial cells (CEC) and microparticles (MPs) are described in the literature to be associated with vascular failures and dysfunction that reflect neo-angiogenesis and risk of thrombosis, respectively. There a few number of CEC in healthy patients although they significantly increase in several cancers including myeloma. However, no study explored to date a correlation of CEC and/or circulating endothelial progenitors (CEP) and MPs with the tumoral growth of monoclonal gammopathy. On the other hand, there is no study measuring the CEC and CEP directly in the bone marrow. The investigators aim is to evaluate these 2 original features in patients with monoclonal gammopathy: monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined signification (MGUS) and myeloma. This is a preliminary multicentric study.

Background: - Multiple myeloma (MM) is a type of malignant blood cancer. It affects the plasma cells, which help produce antibodies and fight infection. MM is nearly always preceded by a pre-malignant state, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) or smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM). Currently, it is not possible to predict when someone with MGUS or SMM will develop MM. Also, the disease changes in those early states are not well understood. Researchers want to look at imaging studies of people with MGUS, SMM, and MM. They will study whether the growth of blood vessels can be used to predict disease progression. Objectives: - To use imaging studies to evaluate disease progression in multiple myeloma. Eligibility: - Individuals at least 18 years of age who have MGUS, SMM, or newly diagnosed MM. Design: Participants will be screened with a physical exam and medical history. They will also have blood and urine tests, and provide bone marrow samples. Participants will have positron emission tomography (PET) scans with the new contrast agent [18]F-Fluciclatide. The contrast agent is intended to show patterns of increased vessel growth in the bone marrow. Participants will also have a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. This scan will be done according to standard procedures. Researchers will compare these scans with blood tests and other clinical information to study disease progression of MGUS, SMM, and MM.