title: Current approaches for the treatment of multiple myeloma.
abstract: The development of novel therapeutic agents over the past decade, including the proteasome inhibitor, bortezomib, and the immunomodulatory drugs, lenalidomide and thalidomide, has resulted in improved outcomes for patients with multiple myeloma. However, there is still considerable controversy as to which regimen should be used as first-line therapy, which patients should be considered for autologous or allogeneic transplantation, and how consolidation or maintenance therapy is used in patients that have a good response to first-line therapy. The present paper will review clinical evidence from previous and ongoing studies to explore issues related to these questions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, 1981 Kamoda, Kawagoe, Saitama, 350-8550, Japan. reikow@saitama-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Reiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Michihide
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tokuhira
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kizaki
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077269:Lenalidomide; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D013792:Thalidomide; D000077269:Lenalidomide