The Multiple Myeloma blogging community is abuzz with new research recently published by a team of Dana Farber scientists involving a new molecule, JQ1, which shows great promise for treating MM. This brouhaha has been stoked by a YouTube video starring one of the researchers, Dr. James Bradner. Here is a link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wOiKRVH0nQ8.
Pat Killingsworth cited this video in his blog with some cautionary concerns about the glitzy presentation format, which comes across more like a TV ad for ginsu knives ("But wait, there's more!") than a scientific presentation. However, other bloggers are fanning the flames of this new discovery. I agree with Pat that it is a bit early to get too excited by the research at this stage. It will be about two years before this is even ready to conduct human clinical trials. However, it's hard not to be just a bit enthusiastic.
A reasonably understandable description of this article appeared in Science Daily on 9/9/11:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110909111521.htm
Note that Dr. Richardson is one of the coauthors! Wow! I can't wait to talk to him about this at our next visit. The full article was published in the journal Cell on 9/16/11. Here is the link to the online version:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867411009433.
I can't even understand the summary section, so I'm sure I would not be enlightened by reading the whole article.
JQ1 may or may not be the silver bullet that finally cures MM, but it is exciting to see how quickly the research is progressing in finding new ways to fight this disease. I am pleased to be part of this research with the MLN 9708 clinical trial, not just for myself, but for the chance to help others. This trial has just gone into Phase II, where they intend to recruit hundreds of new participants. If my results (along with the other Phase I participants) to date are any indication, this drug could be the next significant advance in MM treatment.
It's all good.
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