title: Current status and updated recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of plasma cell myeloma in Switzerland.
abstract: The availability of drugs such as thalidomide, bortezomib and lenalidomide changed the landscape in myeloma treatment and has extended the median survival up to 10 years with a substantial improvement in quality of life. This development prompted a Swiss expert panel to re-evaluate the current status and formulate updated clinical recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of plasma cell myeloma. These recommendations should help clinicians in their decision making to achieve the best outcome based on currently available data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Samaras
authors.affiliation: Centre of Oncology/Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, Cantonal Hospital Aarau, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bargetzi
authors.affiliation: Clinics of Medical Oncology, HFR Fribourg Cantonal Hospital, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Daniel C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Betticher
authors.affiliation: Service and Central Laboratory of Heamatology, University Hospital of Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Michel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Duchosal
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heim
authors.affiliation: Division of Oncology/Haematology, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Urs
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.affiliation: Clinic Bois-Cerf, Onco-haematology, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ketterer
authors.affiliation: Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI), Ospedale San Giovanni, Bellinzona, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lerch
authors.affiliation: Division of Haematology, University Hospital Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matthes
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology and Haematology, Cantonal Hospital Graubuenden, Chur, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Mey
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Berne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pabst
authors.affiliation: Oncology/Haematology, Cantonal Hospital Münsterlingen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Taverna
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Cantonal Hospital Lucerne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Thilo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zander
authors.affiliation: Oncology Centre Hirslanden & Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Renner
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D060830:Consolidation Chemotherapy; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D060046:Maintenance Chemotherapy; D008998:Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance / Q000473:pathology; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012008:Recurrence; D019233:Retreatment; D013557:Switzerland