How is multiple myeloma treated?

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a type of blood cancer that starts in the bone marrow. It is a complex disease with no cure, but there are treatments that can slow the progression of the disease and help people with MM live longer.

Standard treatments for MM include:

- Chemotherapy: This is the most common treatment for MM. Chemotherapy drugs work by killing cancer cells throughout the body.

- Targeted therapy: This type of drug targets specific proteins that are involved in the growth of cancer cells.

- Immunotherapy: This type of treatment helps the body's own immune system fight cancer.

- Stem cell transplant: This is a procedure in which healthy stem cells are transplanted into the patient's body to replace the diseased bone marrow.

- Radiation therapy: This type of treatment uses high-energy X-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells.

The specific treatment plan for a person with MM will depend on the stage of the disease, their overall health, and their individual preferences.

Some new and emerging treatments for MM include:

- CAR T-cell therapy: This type of immunotherapy uses genetically modified T cells to target and kill cancer cells.

- Bi-specific antibodies: These drugs bind to two different proteins on the surface of cancer cells, which triggers an immune response that kills the cancer cells.

- Proteasome inhibitors: These drugs block the proteasome, which is a protein complex that plays a role in the growth of cancer cells.

- Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors: These drugs inhibit the activity of HDACs, which are enzymes that are involved in the regulation of gene expression.

These are just a few of the many treatments that are available for MM. The field of MM research is constantly evolving, and new treatments are being developed all the time. People with MM should talk to their doctor about their treatment options to find the best plan for them.