Prof Orlowski discusses treatment goals and clinical outcomes in multiple myeloma. Regimes such as melphalan with prednisone and thalidomide, melphalan with prednisone and lenalidomide, and melphalan with prednisone and bortezomib. Also maintenance therapy after the initial therapy, such as bortezomib and thalidomide or bortezomib with prednisone.

Using these novel drugs earlier, mainly as first line therapy, followed by maintenance therapy, patients have shown much more complete response, suggesting better progression free survival as well as overall survival.

Also evidence presented by Prof Delforge on giving bortezomib once a week and subcutaneously rather than intravenously. This is important to better manage toxicities especially in elderly patients, eg neuropathy.

Prof Orlowski also covers the use of histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDAC inhibitors) to help combat the myeloma cell’s defence against bortezomib and the role of monoclonal antibodies in multiple myleoma treatment.

Talking at the International Myeloma Workshop, Paris, 5th May 2011.