Open AccessMyeloma Bone Disease: Recent Advances in Biology, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Author(s) -
Sezer Orhan
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the oncologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.176
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1549-490X
pISSN - 1083-7159
DOI - 10.1634/theoncologist.2009-0003
Subject(s) - medicine , multiple myeloma , osteoclast , bone disease , osteoblast , bone resorption , disease , bone pain , bone remodeling , osteolysis , lytic cycle , osteoporosis , bioinformatics , pathology , cancer research , oncology , immunology , surgery , chemistry , virus , biochemistry , receptor , in vitro , biology
Bone disease is a hallmark of multiple myeloma (MM). Occurring in the majority of MM patients, it is associated with bone pain, fractures, and hypercalcemia and has major impacts on quality of life. Furthermore, bone resorption activity has been shown to be an independent risk factor for overall survival in patients with symptomatic MM. Myeloma is characterized by a unique form of bone disease with lytic bone destruction that is not followed by reactive bone formation (uncoupling). This review focuses on recent advances in our understanding of the biology of osteoclast activation and osteoblast inhibition in MM, diagnostic standards, and recent progress in treatment options for myeloma bone disease. Translational research has enabled a rapid transfer of mechanistic insights from the bench to the bedside and will hopefully result in better treatment options and outcome for patients in near future.