Publication details

Personalized therapy in multiple myeloma according to patient age and vulnerability: a report of the European Myeloma Network (EMN).

Authors	PALUMBO A. BRINGHEN S. LUDWIG H. DIMOPOULOS M.A. BLADÉ J. MATEOS M.V. ROSINOL L. BOCCADORO M. CAVO M. LOKHORST H. ZWEEGMAN S. TERPOS E. DAVIES F. DRIESSEN C. GIMSING P. GRAMATZKI M. HÁJEK Roman JOHNSEN H.E. LEAL DA COSTA F. SEZER O. SPENCER A. BEKSAC M. MORGAN G. EINSELE H. SAN MIGUEL J.F. SONNEVELD P.
Year of publication	2011
Type	Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source	Blood
MU Faculty or unit	Faculty of Medicine
Citation
Web	http://dx.doi.org/10.1182/blood-2011-06-358812
Doi	http://dx.doi.org/10.1182/blood-2011-06-358812
Field	Oncology and hematology
Keywords	multiple myeloma; therapy;Prednisone; Thalidomide; Randomized Controlled-Trial; Hematopoietic-Cell Transplantation; Dexamethasone; Prognostic Index
Description	Most patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) are aged > 65 years with 30% aged > 75 years. Many elderly patients are also vulnerable because of comorbidities that complicate the management of MM. The prevalence of MM is expected to rise over time because of an aging population. Most elderly patients with MM are ineligible for autologous transplantation, and the standard treatment has, until recently, been melphalan plus prednisone. The introduction of novel agents, such as thalidomide, bortezomib, and lenalidomide, has improved outcomes; however, elderly patients with MM are more susceptible to side effects and are often unable to tolerate full drug doses. For these patients, lower-dose-intensity regimens improve the safety profile and thus optimize treatment outcome.