Studying Blood Samples From Patients With Multiple Myeloma Who Were Treated With Thalidomide or Lenalidomide
Studying Blood Samples From Patients With Multiple Myeloma Who Were Treated With Thalidomide or Lenalidomide
RATIONALE: Studying samples of blood from patients with cancer in the laboratory may help
 doctors learn more about changes that occur in DNA and identify biomarkers related to cancer.
 It may also help doctors predict how patients will respond to treatment.

 PURPOSE: This research study is looking at blood samples from patients with multiple myeloma
 who were treated with thalidomide or lenalidomide.
OBJECTIVES:

 Primary

 -  To analyze the mechanism of development of thalidomide/lenalidomide-induced venous
 thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with multiple myeloma treated on clinical trial
 ECOG-E4A03 or E-E1A00.

 -  To determine the intensity, dynamics, and specificity of cathepsin G (CG) upregulation
 in response to thalidomide and lenalidomide treatment.

 -  To determine the specificity and threshold levels of CG for induction of platelet
 aggregation in response to thalidomide and lenalidomide and the resulting risk for VTE
 development.

 OUTLINE: Blood samples obtained before, during, and after treatment with thalidomide or
 lenalidomide from patients previously enrolled on clinical trial ECOG-E4A03 or E-E1A00 are
 analyzed to determine the total content of cathepsin G (CG) via ELISA; to determine mRNA
 levels of CG via RT-PCR; and for platelet aggregation studies. Blood samples are collected
 from healthy volunteers for platelet preparation.
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

 -  Meets 1 of the following criteria:

 -  Diagnosed with multiple myeloma and treated with thalidomide or lenalidomide on
 clinical trial ECOG-E4A03 or E-E1A00

 -  Healthy volunteer

 PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

 -  Not specified

 PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

 -  See Disease Characteristics