The Myeloma Institute, the only center in the world devoted exclusively to research and clinical care related to multiple myeloma and related disorders, will mark its 20th anniversary at UAMS this year. Founded by Barlogie, the UAMS multiple myeloma program has seen more than 9,000 patients from every state in the United States and more than 50 foreign countries.

The latest trials, Total Therapy 4 for low-risk disease and Total Therapy 5 for high-risk disease, build on the success of earlier applications of the Total Therapy approach. Twenty-one percent of the 231 patients enrolled in UAMS' initial multiple myeloma clinical trial, known as Total Therapy 1, are still alive beyond 10 years, with some alive at 19 years. About 55 percent of those enrolled in Total Therapy 2, started in 1998, are still alive. Of almost 480 patients enrolled in Total Therapy 3, initiated in 2003, 78 percent are alive; 83 percent of those with low-risk multiple myeloma are still alive after four years, including 85 percent in complete remission with no signs of multiple myeloma.

Of 95 patients enrolled in Total Therapy 4 starting in July 2008, 90 are alive. All 12 patients enrolled in Total Therapy 5, which began in October 2008, are still alive.

SOURCE University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences