Clinical Utility of Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Multiple Myeloma in the Era of Novel Agents

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common haematological malignancy, with upwards of 35,000 diagnoses in the USA each year.1,2 It remains a leading cause of blood cancer–related mortality worldwide, and although therapeutic advances have allowed for significant improvements in the median overall survival,3,4 the majority of patients still experience cycles of relapse that are eventually fatal.5 While patients with MM are living longer, a subgroup with high-risk disease at diagnosis still does poorly, with a median […]

The optimal maintenance approach postautologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for patients with multiple myeloma is still an area of ongoing research. Lenalidomide has demonstrated clear superiority in clinical trials compared to placebo, and continuous post-transplant lenalidomide until progression is considered standard of care. All patients, however, do not derive equal benefit from single-agent lenalidomide, and […]

Treatment options for myeloma have rapidly expanded in the past decade and, as with many cancers, the number of oral drug options has increased considerably. Given the more limited number of cancer hospitals, patients often must travel considerable distance to get to their closest cancer centre, which places a significant burden on receiving adequate therapy. […]