Commentary (Nowakowski/Rajkumar): New Treatments for Multiple Myeloma

In the past decade there has been a rapid increase in our understanding of the biology of multiple myeloma and the development of new treatment strategies.[1] In the current issue of ONCOLOGY, Richardson et al provide an excellent overview of new agents in the treatment of multiple myeloma. Two of these agents are currently available in the United States outside of clinical trials: thalidomide (Thalomid) and bortezomib (Velcade). The thalidomide analog— lenalidomide (Revlimid)—will likely be available in the near future, while several other novel agents are being evaluated in clinical trials. Richardson and colleagues have played a major role in the development of bortezomib and lenalidomide, as well as numerous novel agents currently in clinical trials. Their review is therefore particularly enlightening, and provides a first-hand account of the clinical development of various new drugs for the treatment of myeloma.