title: An overview of the progress in the treatment of multiple myeloma.
abstract: Effective therapy for multiple myeloma has existed for a little more than the last half century. The introduction of melphalan 55 years ago was followed by a stagnant period of four decades in which many combinations of alkylating agents and chemotherapeutic drugs were developed without a significant increase in overall survival. The first novel agent, thalidomide, was introduced 15 years ago when it was used as an anti-angiogenesis agent. This was followed by a proteasome inhibitor, bortezomib. Then lenalidomide, a second-generation analog of thalidomide was introduced. More recently carfilzomib, a proteasome inhibitor, and pomalidomide, a third-generation derivative of thalidomide have entered the marketplace. Many new agents are in development and potentially available for future therapy.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Kyle
authors.forename: S Vincent
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Rajkumar
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077269:Lenalidomide; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000628:therapy*; D061988:Proteasome Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D061988:Proteasome Inhibitors; D013792:Thalidomide; C467566:pomalidomide; D000077269:Lenalidomide