If you are having trouble viewing this email please use this link to view a web version 2010 Issue 9 Dear First Name, Happy New Year and welcome to Issue 9 of InSite. As we begin another new year we have several key congresses to look forward to and below you will find details and their abstract deadlines. I hope to meet you at one or more of these congresses so please visit our stand and let me know what you want to see in future editions of InSite. Additionally I am pleased to announce the 6th International Symposium on Clinical Applications of Serum Free Light Chain Analysis which will again be held in Bath, UK and will also include information on Hevylite™. More details are below. Kind Regards Barbara Maniglia International Marketing Manager – Freelite & Hevylite 6th International Symposium on Clinical Applications of Serum Free Light Chain Analysis (Plus Hevylite) First Announcement for the 6th International Symposium on Clinical Applications of Serum Free Light Chain Analysis which will again be held in Bath, UK and will also include late breaking information on Hevylite. The meeting dates are 23-24 September 2010 so please keep your diary free. More information will soon be available on www.bath2010.com due to launch beginning of February. We will keep you updated in future editions of InSite. Publication review – keep up to date with recent publications In recent months there has been 1 publication of note: Screening Hobbs JA, et al. Frequency of altered monoclonal protein production at relapse of Multiple Myeloma. Br J Haematol 2009; Oct 26 Epub ahead of print. ISSN 1365-2141 (Electronic) In this retrospective, follow up study of 48 IgG and 29 IgA Multiple Myeloma patients from the UK MRC Myeloma VII trial, the authors studied the frequency of altered monoclonal protein production at disease relapse relative to the initial diagnosis. In 8% of patients (4 IgG myelomas, 2 IgA myelomas) there was a clear difference in monoclonal protein phenotype at relapse, regardless of treatment regimen. This indicates that the monoclonal protein identified at presentation can change during the course of the disease process. By monitoring Intact Immunoglobulin Multiple Myeloma patients with both serum electrophoresis and Serum Free Light Chains, such clonal changes can be detected early and assist in prompt clinical management of progressing disease. Exhibitions and meetings – catching up and planning ahead Renal Week 27th Oct – 1st Nov 2009 – San Diego, USA Binding Site attended Renal Week, which was organised by the American Society of Nephrology. It took place on the 27th of October to the 1st of November 2009 in San Diego, USA. This annual meeting is the world’s largest meeting devoted to the latest advances in nephrology research, clinical care and education. The 2009 program covered the major areas of basic, translational and clinical sciences. Each day began with a plenary State-of-the-Art lecture given by an internationally recognised scientist on topics that would interest a broad range of attendees, such as Roger Stein, PhD, who was awarded the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Approximately 12,500 delegates from the USA and around the world attended. Of particular interest to the participants was the Multiple Myeloma session; this was moderated by Laura M. Dember (USA) and Paul W. Sanders (USA) and contained lectures from G.A. Herrera (USA), Peter M. Vororhees (USA), Francois Madore (Canada) and Jerry A. Katzmann (USA). Dr Katzmann’s lecture was of particular interest to attendees as it was titled “The Role of Free Light Chain Measurement in the Management of Multiple Myeloma”. For additional information on the meeting please see: http://www.asn-online.org To request the latest review of Serum Free Light chain assessment in monoclonal gammopathy and kidney disease please see: http://www.nature.com 51st ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition, December 5-8, 2009, New Orleans, USA This was a busy meeting with attendees from all around the world and many topics covered by a large number of high profile speakers. You can see the full program here http://www.hematology.org The goal of the society was to present the best new science in all areas of haematology. Sessions of interest included a general education session on Multiple Myeloma, a scientific program on the linking of unusual manifestations of myeloma and a meet the expert session which included Dr Rajkumar, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA – the author of many important papers on Multiple Myeloma, and contributor to the International Working Group Guidelines on the use of Serum Free Light Chain analysis. In total there were over 50 myeloma experts presenting at the meeting with over 80 presentations made on Multiple Myeloma. Delegates came from all over the world including countries as far apart as China, Mexico, Italy and Africa. The International Myeloma Foundation are offering recordings of many of the sessions so visit their website for more details http://myeloma.org Next key meetings: The XII International Symposium on Amyloidosis “From Molecular Mechanisms Toward the Cure of Systemic Amyloidoses” will take place on April 18-21, 2010 in Rome, Italy. Giampaolo Merlini, President of the Symposium, in his invitation to the conference says 'After decades of hard work aimed at understanding the molecular events involved in the pathogenesis of these complex diseases, new drugs are entering clinical trials and new therapeutic strategies are being designed: the cure of amyloidosis now seems within reach. This Symposium will be a showcase for the discussion of new developments in the area of protein misfolding diseases and the program will be largely based on the discussion of submitted abstracts reporting progress in basic mechanisms, diagnosis and treatment of systemic amyloidoses. The organising committee is working hard to put together a meeting of outstanding scientific quality. Furthermore, consensus conferences will define updated criteria in order to improve the care of patients, and special sessions will offer patients and their families an opportunity to share the hopes provided by the latest advancements. The venue for the Symposium offers state of the art facilities and has been chosen to provide an ideal context in which participants can meet and have a fruitful exchange of ideas, create new opportunities for collaborations and consolidate those scientific and personal contacts which are so important.' For more information visit www.amyloidosis2010.com Binding Site are a Platinum Sponsor and will be holding a symposium so please come and join us at the symposium and on our stand. The programme for the symposium is: Chair Person: Robert Kyle, Mayo Clinic,US Diagnosis of Amyloid Using FLC: Philip Hawkins, Royal Free Hospital, UK Monitoring of Amyloid Using FLC: Ray Comenzo, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, US Potential Utility of Hevylite Analysis: Jo Bradwell, Birmingham University Hospital, UK 15th European Haematology Association Congress, June 10-13 2010, Barcelona, Spain EHA congresses have become the most significant haematology meetings in Europe, offering presentations of latest research, relevant both to basic scientists and clinical scientists as well as state of the art education sessions for clinicians and haematologists in training. Oral presentations and poster sessions offer opportunities for investigators, especially younger scientists to present their work. The program will also include Hematology-in-Focus sessions and Meet-the-Expert sessions, as well as Lunch Debates and EHA Scientific Working Group meetings. Abstract submission deadline March 1, 2010 For more information visit eha.eurocongres.com/15th/ XLVII ERA-EDTA Congress, June 25-28 2010, Munich, Germany This year the ERA-EDTA and the German Society of Nephrology will join forces to produce a meeting of outstanding scientific quality combined with an extremely rich cultural experience. There will be a wide choice of lectures and symposia covering the various aspects of basic and clinical Nephrology as well as the most recent research in the field. Special attention will be given to young researchers and nephrologists and to late breaking clinical trials. Abstract submission deadline February 5, 2010 For more information visit www.eraedta2010.org New Guidelines available as reprints If you don’t already have a copy of the new guidelines please use this link to request your copy Dispenzieri A et al. Spotlight Review. International Myeloma Working Group guidelines for serum-free light chain analysis in Multiple Myeloma and related disorders. Leukemia 2009; 23:215-224 The key recommendations are:- ‘The serum FLC assay in combination with serum PEL and serum IFE is sufficient to screen for pathological monoclonal plasmaproliferative disorders other than AL which requires all the serum tests as well as 24 h urine IFE.’  ‘The serum FLC assay should be measured at diagnosis for all patients with MGUS, smoldering or active multiple myeloma. Solitary plasmacytoma and AL amyloidosis.’  ‘Serial FLC ascertainment should be routinely performed in patients with AL amyloidosis and Multiple Myeloma patients with oligosecretory disease.’  ‘It should also be done in all patients who have achieved a CR to determine whether they have attained a stringent CR.’ What’s in the next Issue: Details of the 6th International Symposium on Clinical Applications of Serum Free Light Chain Analysis (Plus Hevylite) Review of Publication and Conferences The latest information on both Freelite and Hevylite Webinars Don’t forget to visit our webinars page www.Freelite.co.uk/webinarmenu.asp regularly to view webinars held in the USA by The Binding Site Inc. Learn more about Serum Free Light chains by visiting our website www.Freelite.co.uk Refer a friend / colleague If you have a friend or colleague who you feel would benefit from receiving this newsletter then please use this link and ask them to complete the form - we will then be able to include them next time. Opt out If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter please use this unsubscribe link or reply to this email with unsubscribe in the subject line Previous editions Previous editions of InSite can also be read online using this link The Binding Site Group Ltd PO Box 11712, Birmingham, B14 4ZB, U.K. Registered in England Number 05508774