Abstract:
Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by the accumulation of clonally identical plasma cells in the bone marrow. The response rate and overall survival (OS) of MM patients over the past decades have improved as a result of induction regimens after autologous stem cell transplantation. The overall remission rate ranges from 40% to 60%. The 5- and 10- year OS rates have increased from 28.8% and 11.1% in 1975 to 34.7% and 17.4% in 2004, respectively. However, MM remains an incurable disease. All MM patients inevitably relapse or develop refractory diseases. The curative effect of drugs for MM urgently needs to be improved significantly. At present, a generally accepted standard treatment plan for MM patients is still unavailable. The current review provides an overview of various treatment strategies, including new drugs with remarkable efficacies, which have been available over the past years for relapsed/refractory MM.