title: Advances in treatment for relapses and refractory multiple myeloma.
abstract: Recent advances in the treatment of multiple myeloma have resulted in improved response rates and overall survival in patients with multiple myeloma. These advances are largely due to thalidomide-, lenalidomide-, and bortezomib-based combinations that have improved response rates, not only in patients with untreated disease, but also in those with relapsed and/or refractory myeloma, in some cases producing response rates up to 85%. Eventually, however, nearly all patients relapse, emphasizing a continuing role for the introduction of investigational agents that overcome drug resistance. This article will review the current role for thalidomide, lenalidomide, and bortezomib-based combinations, as well as some preliminary findings for promising investigational agents currently in clinical trials for patients with relapsed and/or refractory disease.
authors.affiliation: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Tiffany
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001897:Boronic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069286:Bortezomib; D006801:Humans; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D001897:Boronic Acids; D011719:Pyrazines; D013792:Thalidomide; D000069286:Bortezomib