Maintenance therapy for multiple myeloma

Maintenance therapy is usually given after a stem cell transplant. Maintenance therapy may also be used after induction therapy in people who don’t have a stem cell transplant. A maintenance therapy drug is usually given in a low dose over a long period of time. This helps to keep the person in remission and prevent relapse. Because the drug is given at a low dose, there tend to be fewer side effects and the person is able to have a better quality of life.

Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy is the main type of maintenance therapy for multiple myeloma. Targeted therapy drugs used as maintenance therapy include:

• lenalidomide (Revlimid)
• bortezomib (Velcade)
• thalidomide (Thalomid)

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are steroid hormones that act as an anti-inflammatory by reducing swelling and lowering the body’s immune response (the immune system’s reaction to foreign substances). Sometimes corticosteroids are used along with or instead of targeted therapy as maintenance therapy for multiple myeloma. The most common corticosteroids used include:

• dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexasone)
• prednisone