Recently Diagnosed or Relapsed? Stop Looking For a Miracle Cure, and Use Evidence-Based Therapies To Enhance Your Treatment and Prolong Your Remission
Multiple Myeloma an incurable disease, but I have spent the last 25 years in remission using a blend of conventional oncology and evidence-based nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle therapies from peer-reviewed studies that your oncologist probably hasn't told you about.
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Teclistamab w/ at least 1 prior anti-BCMA
The study below reports two important things for MM survivors. First, teclistamab is an anti-BCMA therapy that is a viable therapy for MM survivors. Remember that teclistamab is newly approved therapy for MM patients who had relapsed or refractory myeloma after at least three therapy lines, including triple-class exposure to
- an immunomodulatory drug- thalidomide, lenalidomide, and pomalidomide
- a proteasome inhibitor- velcade. Carfilzomib and ixazomib
- and an anti-CD38 antibody- Empliciti, Darzalex , and Sarclisa
And second, teclistamab can be administered to MM patients who have undergone either CAR-T cell or ADC therapies.
I admit that I didn’t understand everything said in this video but I did hear discussion of both CAR-T and teclistemab as well as t-cell exhaustion and danger of infection so I think this video is echoing my blog post.
Having said that teclistamab is a “viable therapy” I have to quickly follow up with my entreaties to support your immune function before, during and after this therapy.
I can’t say that teclistamab is any harder on a MM patient’s immune system that any of the other MM treatments are that are listed above. I say this because years of working with MM survivors has taught me that the human immune system is weakened, as is bone, blood, etc. health is from repeated assaults from chemo regimen after chemo regimen.
Anti-BCMA therapies such as teclistamab are FDA approved for triple-class exposure to the above chemotherapy regimens- often prescribed in triplet or quadruplet chemo cocktails.
Here are some evidence-based non-conventional therapies that may help boost the immune system in cancer patients:
1. Nutritional Support
- Medicinal Mushrooms: Species like reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), shiitake (Lentinula edodes), and turkey tail(Trametes versicolor) have immunomodulating properties. Studies show these mushrooms may enhance the activity of immune cells, particularly natural killer (NK) cells, which are important in fighting cancer cells.
- Probiotics: A healthy gut microbiome is linked to better immune function. Probiotics, particularly Lactobacillusand Bifidobacterium strains, can support gut health and may enhance immune responses.
- Antioxidant-rich Diet: Foods rich in antioxidants, such as berries, leafy greens, and cruciferous vegetables(e.g., broccoli, cauliflower), can help reduce oxidative stress and support immune function.
- Vitamin D: Research suggests that adequate vitamin D levels are important for immune regulation. Low levels are associated with poorer cancer outcomes, and supplementation may help boost immune health in cancer patients.
2. Herbal Remedies
- Astragalus Root: Traditionally used in Chinese medicine, astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) is known for its immune-boosting properties. It may stimulate the production of white blood cells and improve immune response in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
- Curcumin: The active compound in turmeric, curcumin has strong anti-inflammatory and immune-enhancing properties. It may help reduce inflammation and support the body’s ability to fight infections and cancer cells.
3. Mind-Body Practices
- Meditation and Mindfulness: Practices like mindfulness meditation and yoga have been shown to lower stress, which can positively impact immune function. Stress reduces immune function by increasing inflammation and suppressing immune cell activity, so managing stress through these practices can help bolster immunity.
- Tai Chi and Qigong: These ancient Chinese practices involve slow, deliberate movements, controlled breathing, and meditation. Research shows that they can improve immune function, increase NK cell activity, and enhance overall well-being in cancer patients.
4. Acupuncture
- Acupuncture has been studied for its ability to enhance immune function in cancer patients, particularly by reducing treatment-related side effects like fatigue, pain, and nausea. Some studies suggest it may help modulate immune responses, although more research is needed.
5. Physical Activity
- Moderate exercise, such as walking, swimming, or gentle yoga, has been shown to enhance immune function by stimulating circulation and promoting the activity of immune cells. Even light physical activity can improve quality of life and support immune resilience in cancer patients.
6. Integrative Oncology Approaches
- Mistletoe Therapy: Used in integrative oncology, particularly in Europe, mistletoe extract (Viscum album) may support the immune system by stimulating the production of immune cells, such as T-cells and macrophages. Some studies have found mistletoe therapy to improve quality of life and immune function in cancer patients.
- High-dose Vitamin C: Intravenous high-dose vitamin C has been researched for its potential to act as a pro-oxidant in cancer cells while also supporting the immune system. Some studies show it can improve cancer treatment outcomes, though more research is needed to establish its role.
7. Supportive Supplements
- Beta-glucans: These are naturally occurring polysaccharides found in yeast, fungi, and oats. Beta-glucans can help activate immune cells like macrophages, neutrophils, and NK cells, enhancing the body’s immune response.
- Glutathione: This antioxidant is crucial for detoxification and maintaining a healthy immune response. Some research suggests that supporting glutathione levels can help reduce oxidative stress and support immune function in cancer patients.
Unfortunately, conventional oncology spends little if any time studying non-conventional therapies such as the therapies listed above. This means that the average MM patient gets little if any encouragement to pursue these therapies.
What do you think about enhancing your immune function with non-conventional therapies? Email me at David.PeopleBeatingCancer@gmail.com
Thanks,
David Emerson
- MM Survivor
- MM Cancer Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
Teclistamab Yields Durable Responses in MM Patients With Prior Anti-BCMA Treatment
“Teclistamab produced “clinically meaningful” responses in patients with heavily pretreated multiple myeloma (MM) who had received prior anti-BCMA treatment, according to researchers…
These results, published in Blood, come from cohort C of the phase 1/2 MajesTEC-1 trial (NCT03145181; NCT04557098).
The cohort included 40 patients with relapsed/refractory MM. At baseline, the patients’ median age was 64 (range, 32-82) years, 62.5% of patients were men, 30.0% had at least 1 extramedullary plasmacytoma, and 33.3% had high-risk cytogenetics.
Patients had received a median of 6 prior lines of therapy (range, 3-14). All patients were triple-class-exposed, and 85% were triple-class refractory. Eighty percent of patients were penta-drug-exposed, and 35% were penta-refractory.
All patients had received at least 1 prior anti-BCMA treatment, including
- an antibody drug conjugate (ADC; 72.5%) and
- chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy (37.5%).
(Four patients had received both an ADC and CAR T-cell therapy.)…
The median follow-up was 28.0 months, and the median duration of teclistamab treatment was 6.0 months. Reasons for treatment discontinuation included
- disease progression (n=21),
- death (n=9),
- adverse events (n=3),
- physician decision (n=2), and
- patient refusal (n=1).
The overall response rate (ORR) was 52.5%, the rate of very good partial response (VGPR) or better was 47.5%, and the rate of CR or better was 30.0%.
The ORR was 55.2% in patients who had received prior treatment with a BCMA-targeted ADC and 53.3% in those who had received BCMA CAR T-cell therapy. The rate of VGPR or better was 48.3% and 46.7%, respectively. The rate of CR or better was 27.6% and 26.7%, respectively…
The median progression-free survival was 4.5 months overall, 4.4 months among patients who had received prior CAR T-cell therapy, and 7.3 months among patients who had received an ADC.
The median overall survival was 15.5 months overall, 14.9 months among patients who had received prior CAR T-cell therapy, and 16.0 months among patients who had received an ADC.
All patients had at least 1 treatment-emergent adverse event. The most common hematologic adverse events were neutropenia (70.0%), anemia (50.0%), lymphopenia (45.0%), and thrombocytopenia (45.0%).
The most common non-hematologic adverse events were infections and infestations (70.0%), CRS (65.0%), constipation (37.5%), diarrhea (37.5%), pyrexia (35.0%), injection site erythema (32.5%), arthralgia (27.5%), neurotoxicity (27.5%), and COVID-19 (25.0%)…