Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter to the Editor
  • Published:

The research mission in myeloma

Leukemia volume 23, pages 422–423 (2009)Cite this article

We have read with interest the editorial by Dr Bergsagel that accompanies the original article by Arzoumanian et al, which explores the complex relationship between cytogenetic abnormalities and clinical outcome in the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma, utilizing the ‘Total Therapy’ approach advocated by Barlogie et al.1, 2

We agree that the pursuit of improved patient outcome utilizing the least toxic therapy while maintaining efficacy is a key goal of new drug development in the field, and this goal has come closer to reality over the last decade, primarily through the development of thalidomide, bortezomib and lenalidomide. We also agree that the heterogeneity encountered in myeloma remains a major barrier in dissecting who benefits best from what, with the use of more sensitive and specific tools, such as immunophenotyping, molecular diagnostics and imaging to assess response a priority for ongoing research.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Bergsagel PL . A kinder, gentler way: control of the proliferative tumor compartment, not cosmetic complete response, should be the goal of myeloma therapy. Leukemia 2008; 22: 673–675.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Arzoumanian V, Hoering A, Sawyer J, van Rhee F, Bailey C, Gurley J et al. Suppression of abnormal karyotype predicts superior survival in multiple myeloma. Leukemia 2008; 22: 850–855.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Rajkumar SV, Jacobus S, Callander N, Fonseca R, Vesole D, Williams M et al. A randomized trial of lenalidomide plus high-dose dexamethasone (RD) versus lenalidomide plus low-dose dexamethasone (Rd) in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (E4A03): a trial coordinated by the eastern cooperative oncology group. Blood 2007; 110: 74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. San Miguel JF, Schlag R, Khuageva N, Shpilberg O, Dimopoulos M, Kropff M et al. MMY-3002: a phase 3 study comparing bortezomib-melphalan-prednisone (VMP) with melphalan-prednisone (MP) in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Blood 2007; 110: 76.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Richardson PG, Sonneveld P, Schuster M, Irwin D, Stadtmauer EA, Facon T et al. Bortezomib or high-dose dexamethasone for relapsed multiple myeloma. N Engl J Med 2005; 352: 2487–2498.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Weber DM, Chen C, Niesvizky R, Wang M, Belch A, Stadtmauer EA, et al., Multiple Myeloma (009) Study Investigators. Lenalidomide plus dexamethasone for relapsed multiple myeloma in North America. N Engl J Med 2007; 357: 2133–2142.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Dimopoulos M, Spencer A, Attal M, Prince HM, Harousseau JL, Dmoszynska A, et al., Multiple Myeloma (010) Study Investigators. Lenalidomide plus dexamethasone for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. N Engl J Med 2007; 357: 2123–2132.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Orlowski RZ, Nagler A, Sonneveld P, Bladé J, Hajek R, Spencer A et al. Randomized phase III study of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin plus bortezomib compared with bortezomib alone in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma: combination therapy improves time to progression. J Clin Oncol 2007; 25: 3892–3901.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Jawed I, Lee CM, Tward JD, Macdonald OK, Martincic D, Vudarla N et al. Survival outcomes for multiple myeloma over three decades: a surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) analysis. J Clin Oncol 2007; 25 (18s): 8019.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Kumar SK, Rajkumar SV, Dispenzieri A, Lacy MQ, Hayman SR, Buadi FK et al. Improved survival in multiple myeloma and the impact of novel therapies. Blood 2008; 111: 2516–2520.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA

    P G Richardson, C S Mitsiades, I Ghobrial, R L Schlossman, N Munshi & K C Anderson

  2. Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain

    J San-Miguel

  3. Department of Hematology Oncology, Winship Cancer Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    S Lonial & J Kaufman

  4. Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Canada

    D Reece

  5. Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    A Jakubowiak

  6. Department of Hematologic Malignancies, H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA

    M Hussein & W Dalton

  7. Department of Medical Oncology, St Vincent's Hospital, New York, NY, USA

    S Jagannath

  8. Center for Multiple Myeloma, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA

    N Raje

  9. Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

    D Avigan

Authors
  1. P G Richardson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J San-Miguel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S Lonial
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. D Reece
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A Jakubowiak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. M Hussein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. S Jagannath
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. C S Mitsiades
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. N Raje
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. J Kaufman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. D Avigan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. I Ghobrial
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. R L Schlossman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. N Munshi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. W Dalton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  16. K C Anderson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to P G Richardson.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Richardson, P., San-Miguel, J., Lonial, S. et al. The research mission in myeloma. Leukemia 23, 422–423 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/leu.2008.209

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/leu.2008.209

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links