New frontiers in the treatment of multiple myeloma.
Recent leaps in elucidating the biology of myeloma, particularly the intracellular pathways and the complex interaction with the bone marrow microenvironment, have resulted in an unprecedented surge of novel, targeted therapies and therapeutic regimens. There are currently over 30 new agents being tested in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM). Many of these are novel, targeted agents that have demonstrated significant efficacy and prolonged survival. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the mechanisms of action of novel therapies being tested in the preclinical and clinical settings in MM. These include agents that act directly on the intracellular signaling pathways, cell maintenance processes, and cell surface receptors. Finally, we present the clinical responses to some of these agents when used alone or in combination in clinical trials of patients with MM. Indeed, MM has become a model disease for the development of novel, therapeutic agents.
Hwang
Janice Jin
JJ
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Ghobrial
Irene M
IM
Anderson
Kenneth C
KC
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009194:Myeloma Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009194:Myeloma Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface