Multiple myeloma: an update of developments in targeted therapy

Abstract

Multiple myeloma continues to be an incurable illness. Improvement in our understanding of the disease is leading to new therapeutic modalities and the definition of new targeted therapy. Several pathways have been identified as areas for targeted therapy, and this review will discuss key molecules in some detail. New agents and molecules with biologic modulator activity appear to be changing the natural history of the disease. Agents such as thalidomide or its analogs, arsenic trioxide or bortezomib, hold great promise; however, much is yet to be learned on how to integrate these agents into disease management.

Keywords::

• arsenic trioxide
• bortezomib
• immunomodulatory agents
• NF-κB
• multiple myeloma
• pegylated doxorubicin
• revlimid
• thalidomide