Grzegorz S. Nowakowski, MD

In the past decade there has been arapid increase in our understandingof the biology of multiple myelomaand the development of newtreatment strategies.[1] In the currentissue of ONCOLOGY, Richardson etal provide an excellent overview ofnew agents in the treatment of multiplemyeloma. Two of these agentsare currently available in the UnitedStates outside of clinical trials: thalidomide(Thalomid) and bortezomib(Velcade). The thalidomide analog-lenalidomide (Revlimid)-will likelybe available in the near future,while several other novel agents arebeing evaluated in clinical trials.Richardson and colleagues haveplayed a major role in the developmentof bortezomib and lenalidomide,as well as numerous novel agentscurrently in clinical trials. Their reviewis therefore particularly enlightening,and provides a first-handaccount of the clinical developmentof various new drugs for the treatmentof myeloma.