Therapy of relapsed and refractory plasma cell myeloma

Abstract

Introduction of novel active drugs including immunomodulatory agents and proteasome inhibitors to the therapy of plasma cell myeloma (PCM) significantly improved frequency and depth of clinical responses, and, most importantly, prolonged PCM patients’ survival. However, despite the important therapeutic advances, PCM remains a relapsing and incurable tumor. The aim of this paper was to discuss factors that influence the choice of optimal treatment strategy in relapsed or/and refractory PCM (r/rPCM). Moreover, the treatment options for r/rPCM were characterized with major attention paid to chemotherapy regimens based on thalidomide, lenalidomide, bortezomib or bendamustine. Furthermore, early-phase clinical trial results of newest promising drugs with potential to further improve prognosis of r/rPCM were briefly reviewed.
Hematologia 2011; 2, 2: 116–130