Recent advances in the treatment of multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma represents the second most common hematologic malignancy, with nearly 15,000 new cases each year in the United States. Although further understanding of the pathogenesis of this B-cell malignancy has been made, the disease remains incurable with a median survival of approximately 3 years. The identification of new genetic events in the malignant cells themselves may lead to new potential therapies. Moreover, recent identification of the new human herpesvirus 8 in the supporting cells of the bone marrow of these patients will likely change approaches to this disease in the laboratory and the clinic. Further development of new high-dose therapy approaches has led to a reduction in treatment-related mortality with an improvement in overall survival. Treatment with the bisphosphonate pamidronate reduces skeletal complications and may also improve overall survival of these patients.