Newly diagnosed with Multiply Myeloma, information on your planned Essay

Newly diagnosed with Multiply Myeloma, information on your planned treatment with Lenalidomide 2 - Essay Example There is also elevated levels of antibodies and also other plasma proteins. In vitro, effects of lenalidomide 2 include direct anti-tumor action. It inhibits the microenvironment support for the thriving of the tumor cells. It plays an immunomudulary role. In vivo, it leads to the apoptosis of tumor cells both directly and indirectly. It does this by inhibition of support for bone marrow stromal cells. It also has anti-osteocaltrogenic, anti-angiogenic, and immunomodulary activities. The choice of chemotherapy would depend on factors such as the health of the patients, future ability to undergo stem cell transplantation, age and also disease characteristics that indicate a high risk to MM. Treatment options for patients with high risk of multiple myeloma is indistinct. It is recommended that patients of that nature enrol in clinical trials. Patients who are unwilling to participate in clinical trials would have a regimen that should include a combination that has bortezomib. After initial chemotherapy, stem cell transplanataton is recommended. For standard risk MM, the treatment options include a drug without melphalan, such as lenalidomide 2 and dexamethasone (RD), or cyclophosphamide , dexamethasone and bortezomib (VCD). In case the patient would not undergo stem cell transplantation, treatment should include thalidomide, melphalan and prednisone (MPT) or prednisone, bortezomib and melphalan (VMP). Another suitable combination is lenalidomide 2, with dexamethasone in low doses (RD). Lenalidomide 2, an immunomudalting agent, is usually effective in the treatment of MM. It is most often used in combination with dexamethasone. The combination is taken in the form of pills for between 3 to 4 weeks, dexamethasone being taken weekly. Due to the tendency to lead to formation of clots, warfarin or aspirin is given to reduce the risk. Kumar, S., Flinn, I.W., Hari, P.N. et al (2009). Novel three- and four-drug combinations of bortezomib, dexamethasone,