Korean J Med.
2015 Mar;88(3):252-257. 10.3904/kjm.2015.88.3.252.
Novel Agents for Treatment of Multiple Myeloma
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea. hemonc@hallym.or.kr
- KMID: 2082582
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjm.2015.88.3.252
Abstract
- Multiple myeloma (MM) is a neoplasm of clonal plasma cells that closely interacts with the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment. The overall survival of patients with MM has improved dramatically in the last 20 years, due primarily to the development of autologous stem cell transplantation and novel drugs, including a proteasome inhibitor (bortezomib) and immunomodulatory agents (thalidomide and lenalidomide), as well as advances in supportive care. However, this disease remains classified as an incurable hematological malignancy. Understanding the intracellular mechanisms and the interactions between plasma cells and the BM microenvironment has accelerated development of second- and third-generations of "old novel" agents or new agents with novel targeted mechanisms of action, such as monoclonal antibodies, cell cycle-specific drugs, and deacetylase inhibitors. Among them, carfilzomib and pomalidomide have been approved for treating patients with relapsed/refractory MM. Results of ongoing preclinical and clinical trials of novel agents provide hope for continuous improvements and a cure for MM in the near future.
