Background
The prognosis and treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) has evolved greatly over the past decade. The development and incorporation of new agents such as immunomodulators and proteasome inhibitors into therapy has improved outcomes and is helping patients enjoy longer periods of remission.
Conclusion
Major advancements in the diagnosis, staging, and treatment of myeloma offer promise in the future for changing MM from a terminal illness into a chronic, manageable condition.
Objective
To review current treatments for MM, including overview of drug therapy and management of adverse effects of therapy and comorbidities. Additionally, an overview of agents being studied and evaluated for use in MM and myeloma-related conditions, such as metastatic bone disease and venous thromboembolism, will be discussed. Summary: Great strides have been made regarding the understanding of disease pathology in MM, leading to therapies that may be targeted to each individual, based on their unique biology of disease. Therapy is currently tailored based on patient issues and stage of disease, but may soon be tailored individually based on the cytogenetic profile of a patient. Recent treatment guidelines have been published by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network which were updated with impressive