Treatment strategies for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma

Abstract

Multiple myeloma is a malignancy of plasma cells,which is still incurable now.Despite dramatic improvement of the response rate and overall survival have been made due to the application of target therapy and stem cell transplantation,the treatment effect is difficult to maintain,nearly all patients will eventually relapse and become refractory.At relapse,the challenge is to select the appropriate treatment for each patient.The decision will be both disease-dependent and patient-dependent. Key words: Multiple myeloma;  Relapse;  Refractory;  Stem cell transplantation;  Novel agents