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Vol 70, No 5 (2020)
Review paper
Published online: 2020-08-18
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Multiple myeloma – 2020 update on diagnosis and management

Grzegorz Charliński1, Artur Jurczyszyn2
DOI: 10.5603/NJO.a2020.0035
·
Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology 2020;70(5):173-183.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Haematology, Warmian-Masurian Cancer Centre of The Ministry of The Interior and Administration’s Hospital, Olsztyn, Poland
  2. Department of Haematology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland

open access

Vol 70, No 5 (2020)
Review article
Published online: 2020-08-18

Abstract

There has been remarkable progress made in the diagnosis and treatment of multiple myeloma (MM). The median survival of the disease has doubled as a result of several new active drugs. These advances have necessitated a revision of the disease definition and staging of MM. Until recently, MM was defined by the presence of end-organ damage, specifically hypercalcemia, renal failure, anaemia, and bone lesions (CRAB features) that can be attributed to the clonal process. In 2014, the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) updated the diagnostic criteria for MM to add three specific biomarkers that can be used to diagnose the disease in patients who did not have CRAB features: clonal bone marrow plasma cells greater than or equal to 60%, serum free light chain (FLC) ratio greater than or equal to 100 provided involved FLC level is 100 mg/l or higher, or more than one focal lesion on MRI. In addition, the definition was revised to allow CT and PET-CT to diagnose MM bone disease.

With the introduction of immunomodulatory agents (IMiDs) and proteasome inhibitors (PIs), major improvements have been achieved in the treatment and outcome of MM. Different treatment combinations are now in use and newer the­rapies are being developed. However, nearly all MM patients ultimately relapse, even those who experience a complete response to initial therapy. Management of the relapsed disease remains a critical aspect of MM care and an important area of ongoing research. The aim of this review is to summarise the current methods of diagnosis and treatment of MM.

Abstract

There has been remarkable progress made in the diagnosis and treatment of multiple myeloma (MM). The median survival of the disease has doubled as a result of several new active drugs. These advances have necessitated a revision of the disease definition and staging of MM. Until recently, MM was defined by the presence of end-organ damage, specifically hypercalcemia, renal failure, anaemia, and bone lesions (CRAB features) that can be attributed to the clonal process. In 2014, the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) updated the diagnostic criteria for MM to add three specific biomarkers that can be used to diagnose the disease in patients who did not have CRAB features: clonal bone marrow plasma cells greater than or equal to 60%, serum free light chain (FLC) ratio greater than or equal to 100 provided involved FLC level is 100 mg/l or higher, or more than one focal lesion on MRI. In addition, the definition was revised to allow CT and PET-CT to diagnose MM bone disease.

With the introduction of immunomodulatory agents (IMiDs) and proteasome inhibitors (PIs), major improvements have been achieved in the treatment and outcome of MM. Different treatment combinations are now in use and newer the­rapies are being developed. However, nearly all MM patients ultimately relapse, even those who experience a complete response to initial therapy. Management of the relapsed disease remains a critical aspect of MM care and an important area of ongoing research. The aim of this review is to summarise the current methods of diagnosis and treatment of MM.

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Keywords

multiple myeloma; diagnosis; treatment; novel agents; transplantation; supportive care

About this article
Title

Multiple myeloma – 2020 update on diagnosis and management

Journal

Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology

Issue

Vol 70, No 5 (2020)

Article type

Review paper

Pages

173-183

Published online

2020-08-18

Page views

1805

Article views/downloads

1187

DOI

10.5603/NJO.a2020.0035

Bibliographic record

Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology 2020;70(5):173-183.

Keywords

multiple myeloma
diagnosis
treatment
novel agents
transplantation
supportive care

Authors

Grzegorz Charliński
Artur Jurczyszyn

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