[Maintenance treatment of multiple myeloma-review].
Chemotherapy with traditional standard dose or autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) after chemotherapy with high dose have some remission effect for multiple myeloma, but relapse still exists. The maintenance treatment would prolonged the remission stage. These treatments included the use of alkylating agent, interferon, corticosteroids, thalidomide and so on. Every maintenance treatment has some advantages and some side effects. The truly effective maintenance treatment would not only minimize the harm of the disease, but also would prolong the overall survival, progression-free survival and the event-free survival. This article summarizes the current progress in the maintenance treatments for multiple myeloma.
Su
Ji-Ying
JY
Department of Hematology, The Sixth Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200233, China.
Li
Xiao
X
D000477:Alkylating Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000477:Alkylating Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007372:Interferons