NEW TREATMENTS FOR MULTIPLE-MYELOMA

Twenty-five years after the introduction of alkylating agents, multiple myeloma is still a severe malignancy with a median survival of 30 to 40 months. Advances have recently been achieved in two fields, i.e., pathophysiology and treatment. Interleukin 6 has been shown to be the main growth factor for myeloma cells, sparking new research into anti-interleukin 6 therapies. Current therapeutic advances consist mainly in improved survival rates with high-dose melphalan with or without bone marrow transplantation (+/- total body irradiation) and in prolongation of the plateau phase with interferon alpha therapy, which may in addition potentiate chemotherapy at the induction phase. Results of the main trials of these two approaches are discussed.