title: Monoclonal antibodies currently in Phase II and III trials for multiple myeloma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite the introduction of novel agents, such as thalidomide, lenalidomide and bortezomib, multiple myeloma (MM) remains an incurable disease and new therapies are needed. mAbs are a new promising anticancer treatment option.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review will focus on mAbs that are currently under evaluation in Phase II and III clinical trials, as single agent and in combination with established treatment options.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  mAbs are a new strategy against MM, and they have demonstrated encouraging results in preclinical models. mAbs have a relatively benign side-effect profile and work synergistically with traditional chemotherapies and with immunomodulatory drugs and proteasome inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: University of Torino, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Division of Hematology, Myeloma Unit , Via Genova 3, 10126, Torino , Italy +39 011 6334198 ; +39 011 6963737 ; sarabringhen@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Donato
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gay
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bringhen
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Troia
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palumbo
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D001897:Boronic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000069286:Bortezomib; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D006801:Humans; D000077269:Lenalidomide; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001897:Boronic Acids; D011719:Pyrazines; D013792:Thalidomide; D000069286:Bortezomib; D000077269:Lenalidomide
keywords: antibodies; monoclonal; multiple myeloma