Currently, there are many treatments that slow down the progression of multiple myeloma, reduce tumors, and relieve pain and other symptoms. Clinical trials are also available at every stage of treatment.

Multiple myeloma treatments are tailored to patients’ age, general health, lifestyle, goals for treatment, response to any previous treatments, the disease’s stage, and whether the disease is active or inactive.

Smoldering multiple myeloma, also called inactive or asymptomatic multiple myeloma, is a stable form of myeloma where the affected person does not feel any symptoms. In this case, the person may …

Cyclophosphamide (the generic name for Cytoxan, Neosar, Revimmune), also known as cytophosphane, is a nitrogen mustard alkylating agent, from the oxazophorines group. It is used to treat various types of cancer and some autoimmune disorders. It is a "prodrug"; it is converted in the liver to active forms that have chemotherapeutic activity. [...]

Lenalidomide (initially known as CC-5013 and marketed as Revlimid by Celgene) is a derivative of thalidomide introduced in 2004. It was initially intended as a treatment for multiple myeloma, for which thalidomide is an accepted therapeutic modality, but has also shown efficacy in the hematological disorders known as the myelodysplastic syndromes. [...]

Pamidronic acid (INN) or pamidronate disodium (USAN), pamidronate disodium pentahydrate is a nitrogen containing bisphosphonate, used to prevent osteoporosis. It is marketed by Novartis under the brand name Aredia. [...]

Thalidomide is a sedative-hypnotic, and multiple myeloma medication. The drug is a potent teratogen in rats, rabbits, and primates including humans: this means that severe birth defects may result if the drug is taken during pregnancy. [...]

Zoledronic acid (INN) or zoledronate (marketed by Novartis under the trade names Zometa, Zomera, Aclasta and Reclast) is a bisphosphonate. Zometa is used to prevent skeletal fractures in patients with cancers such as multiple myeloma and prostate cancer. It can also be used to treat hypercalcemia of malignancy and can be helpful for treating pain from bone metastases. [...]

Bortezomib (originally PS-341 and marketed as Velcade by Millennium Pharmaceuticals) is the first therapeutic proteasome inhibitor to be tested in humans. It is approved in the U.S. for treating relapsed multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma. In multiple myeloma, complete clinical responses have been obtained in patients with otherwise refractory or rapidly advancing disease. [...]