Oral proteasome inhibitor maintenance for multiple myeloma

High-dose melphalan with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) has improved survival of patients with multiple myeloma considerably; 1 Attal M Lauwers-Cances V Hulin C et al. Lenalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone with transplantation for myeloma. N Engl J Med. 2017; 376: 1311-1320 Crossref PubMed Scopus (690) Google Scholar , 2 Cavo M Hajek R Pantani L et al. Autologous stem cell transplantation versus bortezomib-melphalan-prednisone for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: second interim analysis of the phase 3 EMN02/HO95 study. Blood. 2017; 130 (abstr).: 397 PubMed Google Scholar , 3 Gay F Oliva S Petrucci MT et al. Chemotherapy plus lenalidomide versus autologous transplantation, followed by lenalidomide plus prednisone versus lenalidomide maintenance, in patients with multiple myeloma: a randomised, multicentre, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2015; 16: 1617-1629 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (239) Google Scholar however, most patients eventually relapse. Among strategies to improve outcomes after ASCT is the use of maintenance therapy to sustain disease response and delay relapse. Oral ixazomib maintenance following autologous stem cell transplantation (TOURMALINE-MM3): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled phase 3 trialIxazomib maintenance prolongs PFS and represents an additional option for post-transplant maintenance therapy in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Full-Text PDF