Pharmacotherapy of multiple myeloma

Abstract

Multiple myeloma is a malignant process of the plasma cell. There is no cure for this disease and at present the focus is to manage the disease as a chronic process to achieve a good quality of life. Hopefully, with the advancement in the understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease, target therapy should allow for the control of multiple myeloma, its prevention, and/or the reversal of organ damage; therefore prolonging survival. Proteasome inhibitors and immune modulators are the first of new therapies that target the malignant plasma cell microenvironment. In this review, different aspects of these agents are discussed.

Keywords::

• bortezomib
• CC-4047
• lenalidomide
• multiple myeloma
• thalidomide