BACKGROUND: Multiple myeloma is a malignant disease of plasma cells with a worldwide incidence of 6-7 cases per 100 000 persons per year. It is among the 20 most common types of cancer in Germany. METHODS: This review is based on pertinent publications up to December 2015 that were retrieved by a selective search of PubMed employing the terms "multiple myeloma" AND "therapy" OR "diagnostic." Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, and treatment recommendations from Germany and abroad were considered. RESULTS: The diagnostic evaluation of multiple myeloma comprises thorough history-taking and physical examination, various laboratory tests including analysis of a 24-hour urine sample, a bone-marrow biopsy, and skeletal radiography. Systemic treatment should be administered only when organ damage has been diagnosed. The type of treatment to be given is chosen individually on the basis of the patient's age, comorbidities, and risk profile. High-dose therapy with autologous stem-cell transplantation remains the treatment of choice for patients under age 70 who are otherwise in good health. For patients who are not candidates for high-dose therapy or who have had a recurrence of multiple myeloma after prior high-dose therapy, there are a number of further conventional treatment options. Patients need not only systemic antineoplastic treatment, but also supportive treatment for the prevention of treatment-induced toxicity and myeloma-associated organ damage. CONCLUSION: Recent therapeutic advances have made the treatment of multiple myeloma both more complex and more costly. In particular, the median survival of patients with multiple myeloma has been markedly prolonged through the use of targeted drugs such as proteasome inhibitors and immune modulators.
BACKGROUND:Multiple myeloma is a malignant disease of plasma cells with a worldwide incidence of 6-7 cases per 100 000 persons per year. It is among the 20 most common types of cancer in Germany. METHODS: This review is based on pertinent publications up to December 2015 that were retrieved by a selective search of PubMed employing the terms "multiple myeloma" AND "therapy" OR "diagnostic." Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, and treatment recommendations from Germany and abroad were considered. RESULTS: The diagnostic evaluation of multiple myeloma comprises thorough history-taking and physical examination, various laboratory tests including analysis of a 24-hour urine sample, a bone-marrow biopsy, and skeletal radiography. Systemic treatment should be administered only when organ damage has been diagnosed. The type of treatment to be given is chosen individually on the basis of the patient's age, comorbidities, and risk profile. High-dose therapy with autologous stem-cell transplantation remains the treatment of choice for patients under age 70 who are otherwise in good health. For patients who are not candidates for high-dose therapy or who have had a recurrence of multiple myeloma after prior high-dose therapy, there are a number of further conventional treatment options. Patients need not only systemic antineoplastic treatment, but also supportive treatment for the prevention of treatment-induced toxicity and myeloma-associated organ damage. CONCLUSION: Recent therapeutic advances have made the treatment of multiple myeloma both more complex and more costly. In particular, the median survival of patients with multiple myeloma has been markedly prolonged through the use of targeted drugs such as proteasome inhibitors and immune modulators.
Authors: A Badros; B Barlogie; E Siegel; C Morris; R Desikan; M Zangari; A Fassas; E Anaissie; N Munshi; G Tricot Journal: Br J Haematol Date: 2001-09 Impact factor: 6.998
Authors: Philip R Greipp; Jesus San Miguel; Brian G M Durie; John J Crowley; Bart Barlogie; Joan Bladé; Mario Boccadoro; J Anthony Child; Herve Avet-Loiseau; Jean-Luc Harousseau; Robert A Kyle; Juan J Lahuerta; Heinz Ludwig; Gareth Morgan; Raymond Powles; Kazuyuki Shimizu; Chaim Shustik; Pieter Sonneveld; Patrizia Tosi; Ingemar Turesson; Jan Westin Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2005-04-04 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: Gareth J Morgan; Faith E Davies; Walter M Gregory; Alex J Szubert; Sue E Bell; Mark T Drayson; Roger G Owen; A John Ashcroft; Graham H Jackson; J Anthony Child Journal: Blood Date: 2012-04-12 Impact factor: 22.113
Authors: Ola Landgren; Robert A Kyle; Ruth M Pfeiffer; Jerry A Katzmann; Neil E Caporaso; Richard B Hayes; Angela Dispenzieri; Shaji Kumar; Raynell J Clark; Dalsu Baris; Robert Hoover; S Vincent Rajkumar Journal: Blood Date: 2009-01-29 Impact factor: 22.113
Authors: J Drach; J Schuster; H Nowotny; J Angerler; F Rosenthal; M Fiegl; C Rothermundt; A Gsur; U Jäger; R Heinz Journal: Cancer Res Date: 1995-09-01 Impact factor: 12.701
Authors: M A Dimopoulos; C Chen; A Spencer; R Niesvizky; M Attal; E A Stadtmauer; M T Petrucci; Z Yu; M Olesnyckyj; J B Zeldis; R D Knight; D M Weber Journal: Leukemia Date: 2009-07-23 Impact factor: 11.528