Maintenance Therapy for Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a neoplasm typical of the elderly, with median age at diagnosis of 70 years, and approximately 65% of patients older than 65 years. Many advances have been made…
HEMATOLOGY
Frontline Therapy for Patients with Multiple Myeloma not Eligible for Stem Cell Transplantation
Considerable progress has been recently made in the treatment of elderly patients with multiple myeloma (MM). In Europe the combination of thalidomide with melphalan and prednisone and of bortezomib with…
Treatment of Transplant-Eligible Patients with Multiple Myeloma in 2014
Induction regimens containing a proteasome inhibitor and/or immunomodulatory agent with dexamethasone result in rapid disease control before autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). ASCT followed by consolidation and/or maintenance further improves…
Diagnosis and Risk Stratification in Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a tumor of monoclonal plasma cells, which produce a monoclonal antibody and expand predominantly in the bone marrow. Patients present with hypercalcemia, renal impairment, anemia, and/or…
Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance and Smoldering Multiple Myeloma
Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is characterized by an M spike less than 3 g/dL and a bone marrow containing fewer than 10% plasma cells without evidence of CRAB (hypercalcemia,…
Multiple Myeloma
Kenneth C. Anderson, MD, Editor Remarkable progress has been achieved in our understanding of the biology and pathogenesis of multiple myeloma in its bone marrow microenvironment. Novel agents, including immunomodulatory…
Referral to Transplant Center for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
Hematopoietic cell transplantation is a complex and highly specialized medical procedure offered by selected centers with the requisite expertise and resources. Timely referral to a transplant center is among the…
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Primary Immunodeficiencies
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has been shown to be curative for well-described as well as newly discovered immunodeficiencies. However, it is difficulty to define a universal transplant regimen given…
Bone Marrow Transplantation for Acquired Severe Aplastic Anemia
This article addresses current transplant options for patients with acquired severe aplastic anemia (SAA). This discussion includes ongoing progress in the use of SAA in the setting of unrelated donor…
Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation for Thalassemia Major
Allogeneic stem cell transplant remains the only curative option for β-thalassemia major. In patients with good risk features it is reasonable to anticipate a greater than 90% chance of a…
