Multiple myeloma: 2018 update on diagnosis, risk‐stratification, and management

• Published in: American journal of hematology 2018-08, Vol.93 (8), p.1091-1110
• Main Author: Rajkumar, S. Vincent
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Allografts; Anthracycline; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological - therapeutic use; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Autografts; Biopsy; Bone lesions; Bone marrow; Bone Marrow - pathology; Bortezomib; Bortezomib - administration & dosage; Chemotherapy; Chromosome Aberrations; Dexamethasone; Dexamethasone - administration & dosage; Diagnosis; Disease Management; Hematology; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Hypercalcemia; Lenalidomide - administration & dosage; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Melphalan - administration & dosage; Multiple myeloma; Multiple Myeloma - diagnosis; Multiple Myeloma - epidemiology; Multiple Myeloma - genetics; Multiple Myeloma - therapy; Panobinostat - administration & dosage; Patients; Plasma; Plasma cell leukemia; Plasma cells; Plasmacytoma; Plasmacytosis; Prognosis; Protease Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Renal failure; Risk; Risk Assessment; Salvage Therapy; Stem cell transplantation; Transplantation, Autologous; Transplants & implants
• ISSN: 0361-8609; 1096-8652; 1096-8652
• DOI: 10.1002/ajh.25117

Multiple myeloma accounts for approximately 10% of hematologic malignancies. The diagnosis requires ≥10% clonal bone marrow plasma cells or a biopsy proven plasmacytoma plus evidence of one or more multiple myeloma defining events: CRAB (hypercalcemia, renal failure, anemia, or lytic bone lesions) features felt related to the plasma cell disorder, bone marrow clonal plasmacytosis ≥60%, serum involved/uninvolved free light chain (FLC) ratio ≥100 (provided involved FLC is ≥100 mg/L), or >1 focal lesion on magnetic resonance imaging. Patients with del(17p), t(14;16), and t(14;20) have high‐risk multiple myeloma. Patients with t(4;14) translocation and gain(1q) have intermediate‐risk. All others are considered standard‐risk. Initial treatment consists of bortezomib, lenalidomide, dexamethasone (VRd). In high‐risk patients, carfilzomib, lenalidomide, dexamethasone (KRd) is an alternative to VRd. In eligible patients, initial therapy is given for approximately 3‐4 cycles followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Standard risk patients can opt for delayed ASCT at first relapse. Patients not candidates for transplant are treated with VRd for approximately 8‐12 cycles followed by lenalidomide or lenalidomide plus dexamethasone. After ASCT, lenalidomide maintenance is recommended for standard risk patients, while maintenance with a bortezomib‐based regimen is needed for patients with intermediate or high‐risk disease. Most patients require a triplet regimen at relapse, with the choice of regimen varying with each successive relapse. Aggressive relapse with extramedullary plasmacytomas or plasma cell leukemia may require anthracycline containing combination chemotherapy regimens.