Lenalidomide-based induction and maintenance in elderly newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients: updated results of the EMN01 randomized trial.

n the EMN01 trial, the addition of an alkylator (melphalan or cyclophosphamide) to lenalidomide-steroid induction therapy was prospectively evaluated in transplant-ineligible patients with multiple myeloma. After induction, patients were randomly assigned to maintenance treatment with lenalidomide alone or with prednisone continuously. The analysis presented here (median follow-up of 71 months) is focused on maintenance treatment and on subgroup analyses defined according to the International Myeloma Working Group Frailty Score.

Clinical and Pharmacologic Features of Monoclonal Antibodies and Checkpoint Blockade Therapy in Multiple Myeloma.

Background: Survival of multiple myeloma patients has considerably improved in the last decades thanks to the introduction of many new drugs, including immunomodulatory agents, proteasome inhibitors and, more recently, monoclonal antibodies.

Methods: We analyzed the most recent literature focusing on the clinical and pharmacologic aspects of monoclonal antibody-based therapies in multiple myeloma, including monoclonal antibodies directed against plasma cell antigens, as well as checkpoint blockade therapy directed against immune inhibitory molecules, used as single agents or in combination therapy.

Results: Anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies including daratumumab, isatuximab and MOR202 have shown outstanding results in relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma patients.

[Radioactive isotopes in the diagnosis and therapy of tumors].

The Author, after some historical accounts, widely deals with physics and chemistry of the atom that are the necessary presupposition to the knowledge of the mechanisms of action of radio-isotopes. He hence exposes the radio-isotopes applications with special consideration to the action of radiations on the organism and the possibility of diagnosis and therapeutics with radioisotopes in oncology. The Author concludes that radio-isotopes must not be considered separately in the therapeutics of tumours, but as main component of the whole anti-tumour armament (surgical, consentional radiological, chemi-therapeutic) in which the immune-therapeutics is proving itself with fascinating possibilities.