Open label study of vorinostat in patients with Multiple Myeloma

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    An International, Multicentre, Open-Label Study of Vorinostat (MK-0683) in combination with Bortezomib in Patients with Relapsed and Refractory Multiple Myeloma

  • IRAS ID

    6575

  • Contact name

    Majid A Kazmi

  • Sponsor organisation

    Merck & Co., Inc.

  • Eudract number

    2008-003753-33

  • ISRCTN Number

    N/A

  • Research summary

    Multiple myeloma (MM) is a cancer that begins in plasma cells found in the bone marrow. Abnormal plasma cells grow out of control and produce abnormal immunglobulins, causing bone and kidney damage and suppression of the normal bone marrow and immune system. Although the median survival of patients with multiple myeloma has improved in the last years thanks to the availability of new treatment options, the disease remains largely incurable. This highlights the importance of developing new treatments in particular for patients with very advanced disease no longer responding to any of the standard of care available to them.Previous studies in the lab and 2 small clinical studies in patients have shown that adding vorinostat to bortezomib treatment can overcome in certain patients the resistance that patients have developed against bortezomib and make them potentially again responsive to bortezomib treatment. This study is an International phase II trial enrolling patients with multiple myeloma refractory to previous bortezomib treatment. All patients will receive a combination of bortezomib and vorinostat till disease progression, unacceptable toxicity or consent withdrawal. Treatments will be given in cycles which are 21 day repeating periods. Patients will attend regular clinic visits for standard medical care, to give blood and urine samples, maybe have an x-ray or scan to show their disease status and asked questions about their health.The participating sites will be located in North America, Europe and Asia-pacific countries.

  • REC name

    South Central - Berkshire Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    08/H0505/203

  • Date of REC Opinion

    13 May 2009

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion