title: New developments in the management and treatment of newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The introduction of autologous stem cell transplantation as well as novel agents such as proteasome inhibitors (bortezomib) and immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs; thalidomide and lenalidomide) have significantly improved long-term outcome of multiple myeloma patients. However, patients with high-risk disease at diagnosis had less benefit from these new strategies. In addition, myeloma patients with lenalidomide and bortezomib double-refractory disease have a very poor survival.
  
  
  METHODS
  Several next generation novel agents are active in patients with double-refractory disease including carfilzomib and pomalidomide. Various monoclonal antibodies are also promising in the setting of relapsed/refractory disease, including daratumumab, elotuzumab and lorvotuzumab mertansine. This editorial will focus on the most promising next generation novel agents for the treatment of multiple myeloma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Incorporation of these new novel agents in frontline therapies will lead to more effective and less toxic combination therapies. Furthermore, new diagnostic techniques such as gene-expression profiling and next-generation sequencing will hopefully result in more personalized treatments for molecularly-defined subgroups.
authors.forename: Niels W C J
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: van de Donk
authors.forename: Henk M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lokhorst
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061988:Proteasome Inhibitors; D012008:Recurrence; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009842:Oligopeptides; D061988:Proteasome Inhibitors; D013792:Thalidomide; C524865:carfilzomib; C467566:pomalidomide