Your doctor will choose from a variety of treatment options depending on factors such as your overall health, the stage of your multiple myeloma, and how many treatments you have already received. Drugs can disrupt the growth of cancer cells, kill the cancer itself, or help your immune system attack the cancer. They may be used in combination with each other, with other drugs, or with other therapies.
Multiple myeloma treatments
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Stem cell transplants provide a new source of healthy blood cells following chemotherapy. Stem cells can come from your blood (autologous stem cell transplant) or a donor’s (allogeneic stem cell transplant)
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Immunomodulatory agents enhance or suppress your immune system. Examples: Revlimid® (lenalidomide), Pomalyst® (pomalidomide)
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Proteasome inhibitors (PIs) interfere with processes that play a role in cell function. Examples: Velcade® (bortezomib), Kyprolis® (carfilzomib), Ninlaro® (ixazomib)
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Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors work at the DNA level to slow the growth of multiple myeloma cells. Example: Farydak® (panobinostat)
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Monoclonal antibodies kill cancer cells directly and help the immune system attack them. Example: DARZALEX® (daratumumab), Empliciti™ (elotuzumab)
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Chemotherapy either kills cancer cells or stops them from dividing. Examples: melphalan, cyclophosphamide
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Corticosteroids are used in combination with other products to help decrease the nausea and vomiting. Examples: dexamethasone, prednisone
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Radiation uses high-energy particles or rays to damage cancer cells and prevent them from growing
Supportive treatments
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Bisphosphonates help strengthen and reduce the risk of fractures in bones that have been weakened by multiple myeloma
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Plasmapheresis is a transfusion technique that removes abnormal proteins from the blood
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Surgery may be used to remove individual bone tumors. Surgery may also be needed to prevent or treat fractures
