The majority of myeloma patients develop bone disease, which is caused by two main factors: stimulation of cells that break down bone and suppression of cells that make bone. Drugs that alter these processes have therapeutic potential for bone disease.

A biological pathway called RANKL is known to increase break down of bone. Scientists have developed an antibody called denosumab, which decreases bone destruction by blocking the RANKL pathway. One dose of denosumab reduces bone resorption for 90 days. Denosumab is currently in clinical trials; however, it is …

Most myeloma patients suffer from bone disease, which can cause pain and fractures. Pain caused by bone disease is often treated with localized radiation therapy, and fractures can be stabilized by surgical procedures. However, these therapies only treat symptoms and do not actually slow or prevent further bone disease. Only bisphosphonates (BPs) are commonly used to prevent bone disease associated with myeloma.

BPs are a class of drugs that prevent bone from breaking down. This therapy can decrease bone pain and prevent the development of fractures, but it does not have antitumor …

Up to 90 percent of multiple myeloma patients develop bone lesions. Lesions form when cells responsible for bone formation are either suppressed or absent and cells responsible for reabsorbing bone are overactive.

Multiple myeloma patients can experience bone destruction in any type of bone. Almost half of the patients suffer bone lesions in the spine; around one third are affected in the skull, pelvis, and ribs; and under one quarter are affected in the humeri, femora, and mandible.

Bone imaging is an important diagnostic procedure used to monitor bone disease in myeloma …