Treatments
Treating multiple myeloma
The goal of treatment
Although we are still working towards a cure for multiple myeloma, treatments are more effective than they have ever been.
The goal of multiple myeloma treatment is three-fold:
- To stop or slow the progression of myeloma
- To encourage and prolong the periods where symptoms partially or completely disappear – known as remissions
- To improve your quality of life – for example by relieving symptoms
Available treatments
There are a number of treatment options available for multiple myeloma, detailed below. Depending on the myeloma you have, your general health and fitness, and the stage you’re at in your myeloma journey, you will receive some or all of these options. Often, more than one of these options are combined to achieve maximum effect.
Research into multiple myeloma treatment options is still ongoing, and so it’s worth noting that there may be additional kinds of treatment under development to those detailed below.
Your healthcare team may have prescribed one, or a combination of some of the below treatments. Expand each to find out more specific information.
To find out more information and specifics on each of these treatment options, download the ‘Understanding Multiple Myeloma and Treatments’ booklet.
When you are prescribed a treatment or treatments, you may also receive additional information from your healthcare team. You should also read any patient information leaflets that may accompany your medicine.
Anti-myeloma medicines
Proteasome inhibitors (PIs)
In a normal cell, proteins are broken down by a small structure known as a ‘proteasome’. This acts like a waste bin where used proteins are recycled. Cancer cells, which have increased metabolism, use these proteasomes very intensively to keep functioning, and by inhibiting its function this will eventually lead to myeloma cell death.
Immunomodulators (IMiDs)
These medicines have a direct effect on cancer cells, and they also regulate certain parts of the immune system. They can activate certain immune cells and prevent certain types of growth signals for cancer cells. By 'modulating' the immune system in this way, they use the body’s own defence mechanisms against the cancer.
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs)
These antibodies are used as immunotherapy to activate the body's own immune system to eliminate cancer cells. These antibodies are highly targeted, attaching to particular proteins located on the surface of the tumour cells. As a result, the immune system recognises these cells and they are attacked. Some of the mAbs may also exert direct anti-myeloma cell activities, killing the malignant cells.
Corticosteroids
These have long been used in myeloma treatment due to their ability to kill myeloma cells in high doses. They are often used in combination with other anti-myeloma medicines.
Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors
These kill cells by interfering with specific enzymes, weakening the genetic structures of cancer cells.
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs)
Antibodies that are attached to an anti-cancer drug or a therapeutic agent, with a linker, are used to search for and enter cancer cells. Once inside these cancer cells, the anti-cancer drug is released where it can prevent their growth and can also cause cell death. In addition, the antibodies themselves can activate the body’s immune system to further help eliminate cancer cells.
Selective inhibitor of nuclear export (SINE)
Overexpression of a protein called exportin 1 (XPO1) has an important role in helping cancer cells to survive – it is also associated with poorer treatment outcomes. SINEs block the activity of the XPO1 protein, which can prevent growth of cancer cells and can also lead to cancer cell death.
Bispecific antibodies
Bispecific antibodies are a type of protein made in a laboratory and can bind to two targets at the same time, such as on a cancer cell and a cell engaged in the immune system, responsible for attacking foreign cells in the body. This binding will lead to the destruction of cancer cells, also using the body’s own defence mechanisms against the cancer.
Standard chemotherapy
These medicines are administered either orally or intravenously (through a drip). They aim to kill cancer cells. A key drug used in this context is melphalan, which is given orally and is generally tolerated quite well. Melphalan is also used as part of autologous transplantation, but in this context it is administered at a high dose intravenously.
Allogenic transplantation
In this type of transplantation, the stem cells come from another person: a compatible donor – usually a brother or sister. Allogenic transplants aim to use the immune system of the donor to help fight the patient's myeloma.
However, these transplants are associated with risks. The most significant are that you will get an infection or that your body tissues will react badly to the transplanted cells from the donor.
Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT)
One issue with chemotherapy is that when given in high doses it destroys stem cells in the bone marrow. These are the cells that go on to develop into blood cells, and are therefore essential for maintaining good health. A solution is to collect a sample of stem cells from a patient before high-dose chemotherapy, so that they can be given back to them afterwards. Because it's the patient's own cells being given back to them, it is called an 'autologous' stem cell transplant.
To find out more information on ASCT, including the journey involved, how it works and potential benefits, download the ‘ASCT’ booklet.
Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell Therapy
CAR-T cell therapy is a type of immunotherapy that helps the immune system to fight cancer including multiple myeloma. T cells are a type of white blood cell and part of the immune system responsible for attacking foreign cells in the body. During CAR-T therapy, some of the body's own T cells will be collected then be reprogrammed in a lab to become CAR-T cells. The CAR-T cells are then reintroduced into the patient's body through an infusion so they can recognise and attack the multiple myeloma cells.
Learn more about the CAR-T process via looking at the CAR-T Virtual Interactive Journey (VIJ).
Treatment adherence
What is adherence?
Your doctor has prescribed medication for you that aims to improve your health. If you follow the treatment as agreed with your doctor, you are considered ‘adherent’.
What is non-adherence?
If you do not take the medication as prescribed, you are considered to be ‘non-adherent’. This means:
- You take an incorrect dose (e.g. missing a dose because you forget to take your medication)
- You take the medication at the incorrect time
- You stop the treatment on your own initiative
- You consume foods, or liquids, or both, that interact with your medication
Why is adherence so important?
If you do not adhere to your treatment, you should remember:
- Your medicine will be less effective
- Side effects may be more likely
- You run an increased risk of complications
If you don’t adhere to your treatment it can also:
- Make it more difficult to control your disease
- Make your disease worse
- Increase the symptoms you have
- Lead to hospitalisation that could otherwise be prevented
- Negatively impact on your quality of life and life expectancy
To find out more on the importance of adhering to treatment, download the ‘Treatment adherence brochure'
Follow-up
During your treatment, you will have regular check-ups where you can report anything that you are worried about. Do not hesitate to mention any symptoms even if you think they are minor.
At the end of your treatment, your healthcare team will assess your treatment again based on:
- The abnormal proteins in your blood and urine
- An analysis of the bone marrow
- A magnetic resonance imaging scan of the bone, possibly supplemented by a PET scan and X-rays
These examinations will show how complete your remission is. The more complete the remission, the longer it is likely to last. Based on these test results, your doctor will let you know how often you will have to return for checks.
It is important that you consult the doctor outside of these planned visits if you have any worrying symptoms, particularly a rise in temperature and pain. Do not wait until your next appointment.