Multiple myeloma medical therapy

Treatment
Treatment for multiple myeloma is focused on disease containment and suppression. If the disease is completely asymptomatic (i.e. there is a paraprotein and an abnormal bone marrow population but no end-organ damage), treatment may be deferred.

Although allogeneic stem cell transplant might cure the cancer, it is considered investigational given the high treatment-related mortality of 5-10% associated with the procedure. In addition to direct treatment of the plasma cell proliferation, bisphosphonates (e.g. pamidronate or zoledronic acid) are routinely administered to prevent fractures and erythropoietin to treat anemia.

Initial therapy
Initial treatment is aimed at treating symptoms and reducing disease burden. Commonly used induction regimens include dexamethasone with or without thalidomide and cyclophosphamide, and VAD (vincristine, adriamycin, and dexamethasone). Low-dose therapy with melphalan combined with prednisone can be used to palliate symptoms in patients who cannot tolerate aggressive therapy. Plasmapheresis can be used to treat symptomatic protein proliferation (hyperviscosity syndrome).

In younger patients, therapy may include high-dose chemotherapy, melphalan, and autologous stem cell transplantation. This can be given in tandem fashion, i.e. an autologous transplant followed by a second transplant. Nonmyeloablative (or "mini") allogeneic stem cell transplantation is being investigated as an alternative to autologous stem cell transplant, or as part of a tandem transplant following an autologous transplant (also known as an "auto-mini" tandem transplant).

A 2007 trial indicated that the addition of thalidomide to reduced-intensity chemotherapy (melphalan and prednisone, MP) in patients between 65-75 led to a marked prolongation (median 51 versus 33 months) in survival. Reduced intensity melphalan followed by a stem cell transplant was inferior to the MP-thalidomide regimen (median survival 38 months).

Relapse
The natural history of myeloma is of relapse following treatment. Depending on the patient's condition, the prior treatment modalities used and the duration of remission, options for relapsed disease include re-treatment with the original agent, use of other agents (such as melphalan, cyclophosphamide, thalidomide or dexamethasone, alone or in combination), and a second autologous stem cell transplant.

Later in the course of the disease, "treatment resistance" occurs. This may be a reversible effect, and some new treatment modalities may re-sensitize the tumor to standard therapy. For patients with relapsed disease, bortezomib (or Velcade®) is a recent addition to the therapeutic arsenal, especially as second line therapy. Bortezomib is a proteasome inhibitor. Finally, lenalidomide (or Revlimid®), a less toxic thalidomide analog, is showing promise for treating myeloma.

Renal failure in multiple myeloma can be acute (reversible) or chronic (irreversible). Acute renal failure typically resolves when the calcium and paraprotein levels are brought under control. Treatment of chronic renal failure is dependent on the type of renal failure and may involve dialysis.