Progress in Myeloma — A Monoclonal Breakthrough

In the past decade, we have witnessed more progress in the treatment of multiple myeloma than any other cancer. An improved understanding of disease pathogenesis coupled with biomarker discovery has led to a new disease definition.1 The pronounced depth of response that is possible with new treatments has prompted the development of the assessment of minimal residual disease.2 More importantly, overall survival among patients with myeloma has more than doubled, which is attributable in large part to the effective incorporation of lenalidomide (an immunomodulatory, cereblon-binding drug) and bortezomib (a first-in-class proteasome inhibitor) into the modern therapy for the disease.In . . .