Advances in Emerging Therapies for Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable plasma cell malignancy with a typical course characterized by response to initial treatment and eventual resistance. Despite major advances in the clinical treatment of multiple myeloma driven by the introduction of new drugs (e.g., proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulators), MM remains incurable. Nevertheless, subsequent cycles of remission and relapse continue as long as new treatments are available to patients. With the development of many new treatments, the approval of 12 new drugs over the past 15 years, and the promising trend of clinical trials, the treatment landscape has dramatically changed and patient survival has improved. This article reviews the progress of new treatments for MM.