Our laboratories and clinical
investigations of multiple myeloma have been recognized as
outstanding by the National Cancer Institute and its cooperative
clinical trial groups such as the Southwest Oncology Group.
Below is list of "firsts"
that have occurred at the Myeloma Institute for Research and
Therapy at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
* Did not occur at UAMS, but were accomplished under Dr. Bart
Barlogie at other centers.
|
Year |
Myeloma Institute Firsts |
|
1976* |
DNA Flow Cytemotry used to define staging criteria |
|
1984* |
VAD (vincristine, Adriamycin, dexamethasone) used as
the first effective "salvage" treatment |
|
1986* |
Interferon therapy utilized to increase survival rates |
|
1986* |
First autologous bone marrow transplant conducted |
|
1988 |
Risk assessment for Myeloma defined |
|
1988 |
First systematic study of cytogenetics |
|
1988 |
Importance of MYC and RAS oncogenes identified |
|
1989 |
Tandem transplants utilized |
|
1989 |
LDH identified as a marker for high-grade disease |
|
1990 |
MRI used as routine diagnosis tool |
|
1991 |
First outpatient bone marrow transplant conducted |
|
1992 |
First transplant for patient greater than age 70
conducted |
|
1993 |
Idiotype vaccine trial initiated; dendritic cell
vaccination utilized; TSK gene therapy utilized |
|
1993 |
Received first Myeloma Program Project Grant (PO1) ever
awarded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) |
|
1993 |
Defined supportive care for anemia using Erythropoietin |
|
1994 |
Retinoblastoma gene deletion in Myeloma discovered |
|
1995 |
Stem cell purification process created |
|
1995 |
Prediction of stem cell collection |
|
1995 |
Discovered IL-6 as a cause of dexamethasone resistance |
|
1996 |
Graft vs. Myeloma effect in allogenetic transplant
discovered |
|
1996 |
Safety of transplantation in renal failure determined |
|
1996 |
Identification of secondary leukemia after
transplantation |
|
1997 |
First Myeloma Intergroup trial (SWOG-9321) conducted |
|
1997 |
First Waldenstrom Intergroup trial with fludarabine
conducted |
|
1997 |
Introduction of Thalidomide as treatment |
|
1998 |
Identification of Chromosome 13 and high risk
cytogenetics |
|
1998 |
Syndecan used as a growth regulator |
|
1998 |
Created model for growth of patient Myeloma cells in
SCID-Hu mouse |
|
1998 |
Sky Karyotyping utilized |
|
1998 |
Interface FISH studies done |
|
1998 |
Combination antiangiogenesis and chemotherapy utilized |
|
1998 |
PET scan used in diagnostic and treatment response |
|
1998 |
Discovered role of NFKB in rescuing Myeloma cells from
cell death by glucocorticoids |
|
1999 |
Gene expression profiling (Gene Chip analysis) utilized |
|
2000 |
Durable 10-year remissions, identification in 1,000
patients |
|
2000 |
CTL-lymphocyte activity against autologous Myeloma
cells |
|
2001 |
Risk factors identified & extended survival
achieved in advanced & refractory disease with
single-agent thalidomide |
|
2001 |
Recognition of increased clotting tendency in patients
receiving combination therapy with thalidomide and
adriamycin |
|
2002 |
Thalidomide
in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy shown to be
associated with increased risk of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) |
|
2002 |
Identified multiple myeloma genes using gene expression profiling; developed gene-based
classification system for MM |
|
2002 |
Study
undertaken to examine the function of myeloma-specific
cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) by using dendritic
cells (DCs) pulsed with myeloma cell lysates as
stimulating cells is first demonstration that tumor lysate-primed
CTLs kill only myeloma cells, providing a rationale for
myeloma cell-based immunotherapy in multiple
myeloma |
|
2003 |
Good
response and survival rates seen with a regimen of velcade,
thalidomide and dexamethasone in patients who relapsed after
autologous transplantation |
|
2004 |
Performed
5,000th transplant . The Institute has performed
more stem cell transplants for the treatment of myeloma than
any other facility in the world |
|
2004 |
Advances
made in magnetic resonance imaging bone marrow surveys in
patients have resulted in improved diagnostics and safer and
more accurate biopsies |
|
2004 |
Discovered
that DKK-1,a gene produced by myeloma cells, contributes to
bone destruction by inhibiting maturation of the cells that
promote bone growth |
|
2005 |
Demonstrated that 18F-Fluorodeozyglucose
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) contributes to the
diagnosis and management of infections in patients with
multiple myeloma |
|
2005 |
Heparanase shown to promote the
spontaneous metastasis of myeloma cells to bone |
|
2005 |
More than 85% of transplants performed
in outpatient setting |
|
2006 |
Performed 6,000th transplant |
|
2006 |
Demonstrated that fibroblast activation
protein in the bone marrow is a critical supportive
microenvironmental factor and a potential therapeutic target
for myeloma |
|
2006 |
Identified via gene expression profiling
seven genetic subtypes of myeloma that have a bearing on a
patient’s prognosis. |
|
2006 |
Established that gene expression
signature of benign MGUS in multiple myeloma is linked to
good prognosis. |
| 2007 |
Discovered that gene expression of 17 specific genes can help predict response to therapy. |
| 2007 |
Performed 7,000th transplant |
| 2008 |
Molecular risk stratification leads to risk-adapted clinical trials with reduced toxicity for low risk myeloma and novel therapies for high risk myeloma. |
| 2008 |
8,000th patient came to the Myeloma Institute for treatment. |
