While such drugs as thalidomide (Thalomid), Revlimid (lenalidomide), and Velcade (bortezomib) have been approved to treat multiple myeloma, the disease remains incurable. New studies are targeting different mechanisms of multiple myeloma in order to create better therapies. A recent paper published in "Lancet Oncology" examines drugs that target different biological mechanisms in multiple myeloma. This article will be the first of three articles discussing these new drugs for myeloma.

Multiple myeloma, like other cancers, is caused by a harmful proliferation of cells that can spread throughout …