Multiple Myeloma Stem Cell Transplant Progress

Abstract

What are the best treatments for multiple myeloma? Right now, a common treatment plan for patients with multiple myeloma is a combination of chemotherapy and stem cell transplants. Not every patient has good success with the typical treatment plan therefore currently being studied are different combinations of chemotherapy and other medications to contribute to getting more patients to remission. Some patients also have a high success rate with stem cell transplants but later relapse; such patients are referred to as high-risk and might need a different treatment plan after relapse. Such combinations of treatments for these patients include induction therapy including bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone. Several studies have had success with other combinations of drugs for all types of multiple myeloma patients, such as lenalidomide induction therapy. For the treatment plan a high-risk multiple myeloma patient studies have found that instead of using autologous stem cell transplants the use of allogenic stem cell transplants might help high risk patients reach remission or longer gaps of treatment. Even with the promising results from these studies there are still many combinations of drugs and treatment plans to be considered for both high risk and normal case multiple myeloma patients.