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Consolidation and maintenance therapy for multiple myeloma after autologous transplantation: where do we stand?

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 50, pages 1024–1029 (2015)Cite this article

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Abstract

Novel agents including proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory drugs are now routinely utilized as part of the induction regimen before transplantation and this has resulted in substantial improvements in the depth of response achieved before transplant. Given that depth of response is prognostic for overall outcome, a number of studies have been conducted or are ongoing to investigate the use of novel agents as consolidation and maintenance therapy after transplant. Most clinical trials have reported after consolidation and maintenance therapy an increased PFS and even overall survival in some of them. The use of post-autologous stem cell transplant consolidation and maintenance is an increasingly attractive concept. However, some side effects could be observed with such long-term therapy and many open questions are still under debate. The decision to administer consolidation and/or maintenance therapy will likely need to be guided by the individual patient situation. This review aims to analyze the currently available research evidence in this field.

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Acknowledgements

MM would like to thank Professor JV de Melo (Adelaide, Australia) and Dr F Malard (Paris, France) for critical reading of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Service d’Hématologie Clinique et Thérapie Cellulaire, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, APHP, Paris, France

    M Mohty

  2. Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France

    M Mohty

  3. INSERM, UMRs 938, Paris, France

    M Mohty

  4. Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, Boston, MA, USA

    P G Richardson

  5. Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA

    P L McCarthy

  6. Hématologie Clinique, Hôpital Purpan, and Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse (IUCT), Toulouse, France

    M Attal

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Correspondence to M Mohty.

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The authors disclose lectures honoraria and research support from Celgene and Janssen whose products are discussed.

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Mohty, M., Richardson, P., McCarthy, P. et al. Consolidation and maintenance therapy for multiple myeloma after autologous transplantation: where do we stand?. Bone Marrow Transplant 50, 1024–1029 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/bmt.2015.83

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