Prof Miles Prince, Prof Kazuyuki Shimizu and Prof Jesus San Miguel come together for ecancertv at IMW 2013 to discuss the use of novel agents bortezomib, lenalidomide and thalidomide in Asian patients. Bortezomib is used as induction therapy and lenalidomide and thalidomide are reserved for relapsed or refractory patients in Japan. Rare reports of complications with these agents have been reported, However these are not believed to be treatment related.
The increased incidence of cancer in survivors of the atomic bomb during World War II has been addressed at IMW. Results from the Life Span Study investigating radiation effects on leukaemia, lymphoma and MM incidence in atomic bomb survivors were presented at this year's IMW meeting. This study found that the radiation exposure associated with this may be a possible predisposing factor for MGUS. However, the incidence of multiple myeloma appears to be the same as Western populations.

Overall, the incidence of MM appears to be lower in the Asian population, but higher rates have been noted in Vietnamese patients.

A number of clinical studies are ongoing covering the use of novel therapies, autologous stem cell transplant and maintenance therapy.

This programme has been supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Janssen Pharmaceutica (A Johnson & Johnson Company).