title: Recent advances in the treatment of multiple myeloma.
abstract: Multiple myeloma represents the second most common hematologic malignancy, with nearly 15,000 new cases each year in the United States. Although further understanding of the pathogenesis of this B-cell malignancy has been made, the disease remains incurable with a median survival of approximately 3 years. The identification of new genetic events in the malignant cells themselves may lead to new potential therapies. Moreover, recent identification of the new human herpesvirus 8 in the supporting cells of the bone marrow of these patients will likely change approaches to this disease in the laboratory and the clinic. Further development of new high-dose therapy approaches has led to a reduction in treatment-related mortality with an improvement in overall survival. Treatment with the bisphosphonate pamidronate reduces skeletal complications and may also improve overall survival of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90073, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Henick
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Vescio
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Berenson
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents