Use of carfilzomib in second-line therapy and beyond for relapsed multiple myeloma

The development of proteasome inhibitors has been a major advance in therapy of multiple myeloma, accounting, in part, for the significant increase in the survival of patients diagnosed with this disease. Bortezomib was the first proteasome inhibitor to be approved for the therapy of multiple myeloma. Carfilzomib is a second-generation proteasome inhibitor with irreversible binding to proteasome and less off-target toxicity. The drug has been approved for use in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. In this article, we review the use of carfilzomib as second-line therapy in multiple myeloma. We also review the current standards of care for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, with particular focus on the use of carfilzomib in advanced disease.