Active clinical trials for "Multiple Myeloma"

RATIONALE: Sirolimus, tacrolimus, and methotrexate may be effective in preventing acute graft-versus-host disease in patients who are undergoing donor stem cell transplantation. PURPOSE: This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects of sirolimus when given together with tacrolimus and methotrexate and to see how well they work in preventing acute graft-versus-host disease in patients who are undergoing donor stem cell transplantation for hematologic cancer.

RATIONALE: Epoetin alfa may stimulate red blood cell production and treat anemia in patients with solid tumors. It is not yet known whether epoetin alfa given once a week is more effective than epoetin alfa given once every 3 weeks in treating anemia. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to study the effectiveness of epoetin alfa in treating anemia in patients who have solid tumors.

RATIONALE: Music therapy may be effective in relieving pain and emotional distress in patients who are undergoing cancer therapy. PURPOSE: Randomized trial to determine the effectiveness of music therapy to ease pain and emotional distress in patients with hematologic cancer who are undergoing high-dose therapy and stem cell transplantation.

RATIONALE: Giving antibiotics may be effective in preventing or controlling early infection in patients with multiple myeloma and may improve their response to chemotherapy. PURPOSE: This randomized clinical trial is studying antibiotics to see how well they work compared to no antibiotics in preventing early infection in patients with multiple myeloma.

RATIONALE: The use of dalteparin may be able to prevent complications caused by the use of a catheter to supply chemotherapy to cancer patients. It is not yet known if dalteparin is effective in reducing these complications. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to determine the effectiveness of dalteparin in preventing catheter-related complications in cancer patients who are receiving chemotherapy through a catheter.

This trial investigates the effect of fermented milk supplementation on symptoms of disease and treatment in patients with multiple myeloma. Patients with multiple myeloma may experience symptoms related to the disease and/or treatment that affect quality of life. Supplementing usual diet with a probiotic fermented milk product called kefir may contribute to reducing disease and treatment-related side effects through changing the intestinal bacteria community structure and related metabolism.

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.

This pilot clinical trial studies how well psychoeducational and behavioral strategies work in reducing distress and anxiety in patients with multiple myeloma and their family caregivers. Education and walking programs, may be able to reduce distress and anxiety and improve the well-being and quality of life of patients with multiple myeloma and their family caregivers. Understanding how different forms of education and support can promote emotional wellness may help nurse researchers find ways to improve services provided to patients and family members during cancer treatment.

The goal of this project is to refine and evaluate the feasibility of a brief, behavioral intervention to improve the recovery following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Cancer patients who were treated with HSCT will learn behavioral techniques to improve sleep and increase daytime activity with the goal of alleviating insomnia, fatigue, and depression after HSCT. If the intervention is feasible and acceptable to patients, a future study will test the effects in a larger trial, with the long-term goal of improving the care and quality of life of cancer survivors recovering from HSCT.