- Abstract -

The outcome of multiple myeloma (MM) patients have significantly improved over the last decade, due to the efficacy of novel drugs, such as Thalidomide, Lenalidomide, and Bortezomib, which have shown marked activity in the relapsed-refractory setting. Once the patient relapses, after up-front treatment, the durations of subsequent responses to rescue therapies are shortened. The current goal in relapsed MM is to optimize the efficacy of this three above mentioned drugs through their most appropriate combinations.

We will discuss about the treatment of relapsed MM patients and we will show the clinical data available with the three drugs (Thalidomide, Lenalidomide and Bortezomib), used as monotherapy and in combination with other drugs. Further, we will talk about the rational of targeted experimental agents which may contribute to improve the outcome of relapsed MM patients.