title: Oncogenomics to target myeloma in the bone marrow microenvironment.
abstract: Multiple myeloma (MM) is an example of rapid bench-to-bedside translation in new drug development. Bortezomib and lenalidamide target the tumor cell in the bone marrow microenvironment to overcome drug resistance in laboratory and animal models; each is effective to treat relapsed and/or refractory, relapsed, and newly diagnosed MM, and both are now showing promise as maintenance therapy. Major ongoing translational research efforts include improved classification and personalized therapies; identification and validation of next-generation agents targeting the tumor cell in its microenvironment; novel immune therapies; rationally based combination therapies; and use of novel agents to delay or prevent development of active MM. This paradigm of targeting the tumor in its microenvironment has already extended median survival in MM from 3 to 7 to 8 years and has great potential to improve patient outcome in other hematologic malignancies and solid tumors as well.
authors.affiliation: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Medical Oncology, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. kenneth_anderson@dfci.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Kenneth C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000378:metabolism*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000473:pathology; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D023281:Genomics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome