Clinical Hematology International

Volume 1, Issue 4, December 2019, Pages 189 - 200

Moving Toward Continuous Therapy in Multiple Myeloma

Authors
Francesca Bonello, Giusy Cetani, Luca Bertamini, Francesca Gay, Alessandra Larocca*
Myeloma Unit, Division of Hematology, University of Torino, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Italy
*Corresponding author. Email: alelarocca@hotmail.com
Corresponding Author
Alessandra Larocca
Received 16 September 2019, Accepted 27 October 2019, Available Online 12 November 2019.
DOI
10.2991/chi.d.191101.001How to use a DOI?
Keywords
Multiple myeloma; Maintenance; Continuous therapy; Immunomodulatory agents; Proteasome inhibitors; Monoclonal antibodies
Abstract

The introduction of novel agents, characterized by favorable toxicity profiles and higher manageability compared to conventional drugs employed in the past, has considerably changed the treatment paradigm for multiple myeloma. Continuous therapy currently represents the standard approach for myeloma patients both at diagnosis and at relapse. In younger patients, long-term maintenance after autologous transplantation significantly improved progression-free survival and overall survival compared to observation. Also in transplant-ineligible patients, continuous treatment with combinations of newer agents and maintenance treatment following a more intense induction phase proved to be superior as compared to fixed-duration therapy. Maintenance and continuous therapy at diagnosis have shown to deepen responses and suppress minimal residual disease. At relapse, continuous therapy allowed better disease control over time. This review covers the main evidence supporting the use of continuous therapy in multiple myeloma as well as the open issues, such as the optimal agents to be used and the optimal candidates for receiving them.

Copyright
© 2019 International Academy for Clinical Hematology. Publishing services by Atlantis Press International B.V.
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

Download article (PDF)
View full text (HTML)

Journal
Clinical Hematology International
Volume-Issue
1 - 4
Pages
189 - 200
Publication Date
2019/11/12
ISSN (Online)
2590-0048
DOI
10.2991/chi.d.191101.001How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2019 International Academy for Clinical Hematology. Publishing services by Atlantis Press International B.V.
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

Cite this article

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Francesca Bonello
AU  - Giusy Cetani
AU  - Luca Bertamini
AU  - Francesca Gay
AU  - Alessandra Larocca
PY  - 2019
DA  - 2019/11/12
TI  - Moving Toward Continuous Therapy in Multiple Myeloma
JO  - Clinical Hematology International
SP  - 189
EP  - 200
VL  - 1
IS  - 4
SN  - 2590-0048
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/chi.d.191101.001
DO  - 10.2991/chi.d.191101.001
ID  - Bonello2019
ER  -