Patient information sheet:
Treating Multiple Myeloma with Ritonavir and Clarithromycin:
The proposed trial was motivated by various new discoveries and observations. Secondly
various old observations have been re-interpreted taking new information into account.
Multiple Myeloma is a cancer caused by the unchecked growth of a plasma cell. This plasma
cell has no ability to die and is thus immortal. It multiplies until it is present in vast
numbers in the bone marrow and normal blood cells are pushed out of the bone marrow. These
cells cause bone destruction in the areas where they grow. They are also responsible for
producing an antibody in vast quantities. This antibody causes damage to the kidneys by
blocking the normal sifting mechanism.
In the trial we want to use two drugs known to inhibit RNA protein expression. In other
words we want to use medicines known to inhibit viral proteins. These proteins are very
important in multiple myeloma because they are the growth factors for the malignant plasma
cells (myeloma cells) and they cause the cell to become immortal. We are going to try to
switch off this stimulus. By doing this we hope that the immune system will be able to
resume normal function and keep the cancer in check.
Secondly, we hope that the plasma (cancer) cells will be able to die, as normal plasma
cells do.
The medicines fall into the group of medicines called antibiotics. These medicines are
taken orally mornings and evenings. They have side effects which are outlined in the
patients informed consent forms. All the common side effects are reversible after
cessation of therapy.
The reason we started the trial is the relative unsatisfactory results obtained with
standard chemotherapy and interferon. It makes sense that chemotherapy will only put
myeloma into temporary remission because the actual cause of myeloma is not removed. We
believe a virus to be a major contributor to the development of myeloma and thus our
efforts at inhibiting these malicious bugs.
If the trial is completely unsuccessful we would start patients on the standard
chemotherapy regimes or adopt a "wait and see" attitude. It is a slow growing
tumor and not much will be lost if we decide on normal therapy after the trial ends |
