title: Biology and treatment of myeloma.
abstract: In recent years significant progress has been made in the understanding of multiple myeloma (MM) biology and its treatment. Current strategies for the treatment of MM involve the concept of sequential blocks of therapy given as an induction followed by consolidation and maintenance. In an age characterized by emerging and more powerful laboratory techniques, it is of primary importance to understand the biology of MM and how this biology can guide the development of new treatment strategies. This review focuses on the genetic basis of myeloma, including the most common genetic abnormalities and pathways affected and the effects that these have on MM treatment strategies. MM biology is discussed also in the light of more recent theory of intraclonal heterogeneity.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Myeloma Research, Division of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom; Istituto di Ematologia Seràgnoli, Università degli Studi di Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brioli
authors.affiliation: Centre for Myeloma Research, Division of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Melchor
authors.affiliation: Centre for Myeloma Research, Division of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Brian A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: Centre for Myeloma Research, Division of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Faith E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.affiliation: Centre for Myeloma Research, Division of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: gareth.morgan@icr.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Gareth J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D002985:Clinical Protocols; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016328:NF-kappa B; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D018631:ras Proteins
keywords: Genetic; Intraclonal heterogeneity; Multiple myeloma; Sequential treatment; Treatment