title: Treatment of relapsed and refractory myeloma.
abstract: Multiple myeloma is a malignancy of plasma cells that remains incurable and almost all patients will eventually require some form of salvage therapy. Increasing insight into the biology of myeloma and the availability of new therapeutic options has resulted in rapid change in its management. Clinical trials have investigated numerous agents and regimens for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory myeloma, presenting a host of treatment options. Important questions in determining optimal therapy for patients with relapsed/refractory myeloma include the influence of prior therapy, optimal sequencing of regimens, sequential versus combination use of agents, and the role of cytogenetic and other prognostic factors. This article reviews the literature for the treatment of relapsed/refractory myeloma and considers the ability of the evidence to answer these questions, both for established regimens and newer regimens incorporating thalidomide, bortezomib and lenalidomide.
authors.affiliation: Program for Multiple Myeloma and Related Diseases, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. donna.reece@uhn.on.ca
authors.forename: Donna E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Reece
authors.forename: Heather A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Leitch
authors.forename: Harold
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Atkins
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Voralia
authors.forename: Leah A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Canning
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: LeBlanc
authors.forename: Andrew R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Belch
authors.forename: Darrell
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kovacs
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001897:Boronic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069286:Bortezomib; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D006801:Humans; D000077269:Lenalidomide; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001897:Boronic Acids; D011719:Pyrazines; D013792:Thalidomide; D000069286:Bortezomib; D000077269:Lenalidomide