Posted by Admin
Post Date : Friday June 29 2007

DW was diagnosed with stage 3 multiple myeloma (MM) in May 2006 at age 65 after having a positive bone marrow biopsy and imaging data showing lesions on his ribs and compression fractures to several vertebra in the spine (T11-L2). He was immediately hospitalize and offered very aggressive chemotherapy or lighter chemotherapy and opted for the lighter treatment. His treatment consisted of bortezimib, doxil and decadron along with omeprazol, Fluconazol and prophylactic Septra since is tumor burden was extensive and tumor lysis was possible. He refused radiation treatment. His MM was progressing very rapidly and was being offered treatment in preparation for an autologous bone marrow transplant (BMT). After his first treatment, he was released from the hospital and continued to receive treatment outpatient every 4 days for 3 months. On May 15th, 2006 he started taking Poly-MVA and quickly went up to a dose of 16 teaspoons per day. Shortly after starting the chemotherapy, he experienced severe neuropathy and his therapeutic dose of decadron was reduced by ½ from 40 mg to 20 mg; his bortzemide dose was reduced by 30% from 1 mg/mm to .7mg/mm; and his doxil dose remained the same. He experienced no other side effects and the neuropathy quickly resolved. In June 2006, DW increased his dose of Poly-MVA to 16 teaspoons/day. He remained on this dose until he received his last dose of chemotherapy on July 31, 2006. During the course of his treatment his IgG and Beta-2-microglobulin were monitored. At time of diagnosis, his IgG was elevated at 7369, and his Beta-2-microglobulin was elevated at 3.7. By July his IgG was normal at 1232 and his Beta-2-microglobulin was normal at 3.7. His oncologist had expressed he had never seen such “phenomenal” results. However, the oncologist was insisting on the next step to prepare him for BMT and gave him several patients to contact who had the procedure. DW adamantly refused ABT after thoroughly reviewing the literature and talking with other patients. His IgG and Beta-2-microglobulin are tested every month and remain normal. By September of 2006, DW reduced his intake of Poly-MVA to a maintenance dose of 4 teaspoons per day. He has been on that dose since September and has had consistently normal Beta-2-microglobulin and IgG readings. He did not require a kyphoplasty and receives 90 mg of intravenous pamidronate each month. He continues to be closely monitored by his oncologist each month with laboratory tests. He is extremely active and his quality of life is excellent. He remains on a maintenance dose of Poly-MVA of 4 teaspoons per day since September 2006.

Case study written by Dr. Shari Lieberman as a part of the Poly-MVA Best Case Series.