[Multiple myeloma--recent advances in diagnosis and treatment]
1Dept. of Internal Medicine, Niigata Cancer Center Hospital, Niigata City, Niigata, Japan.
Gan to Kagaku Ryoho. Cancer & Chemotherapy
|March 29, 2005
Abstract:
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a systemic malignancy of pathologic plasma cells that is treatable with various chemotherapeutic agents and irradiation, but rarely curable. The mean age of affected patients is mid-60s. Recent clinical studies have confirmed that high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplantation is the standard therapy for MM. Furthermore, novel therapeutic agents, such as thalidomide and other immunomodulatory agents have been extensively investigated. Recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment were reviewed and summarized.
