
"I am glad that taking part in a trial might help others on their own cancer journey.”
This trial looked at bortezomib with chemotherapy for people with newly diagnosed amyloidosis. It was supported by Cancer Research UK.
Amyloidosis is a rare condition that affects the bone marrow, the spongy substance in the centre of bones where blood cells are made. In people with amyloidosis, the bone marrow makes abnormal .
These abnormal plasma cells make an abnormal protein (amyloid) that can build up in body tissues and affect the way some organs work. It can affect organs such as the kidneys, liver or heart.
Amyloidosis isn’t a type of cancer, but it is sometimes associated with myeloma. Doctors often treat it with the same treatment they use to treat myeloma.
When this trial was done, doctors often used bortezomib (Velcade) and chemotherapy to treat myeloma. Bortezomib is a type of targeted cancer treatment called a proteasome inhibitor.
We already knew from research that bortezomib and chemotherapy can be useful for people whose amyloidosis has come back after treatment. The research team hoped it would also be useful for people with newly diagnosed amyloidosis.
The aim of this trial was to compare different combinations of bortezomib and chemotherapy to find out which is best to treat people with amyloidosis. And to find out what the side effects of each combination are.
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Dr Ashutosh Wechalekar
Cancer Research UK
Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC)
NIHR Clinical Research Network: Cancer
This is Cancer Research UK trial number CRUK/09/027.
Freephone 0808 800 4040
"I am glad that taking part in a trial might help others on their own cancer journey.”