Multiple Myeloma Treatment Program

Overview

The Center for Multiple Myeloma provides comprehensive treatment for all stages of multiple myeloma and a condition called MGUS, or monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. MGUS can progress to become multiple myeloma. We also treat patients with related plasma cell disorders, including:

• Multiple myeloma
• Smoldering multiple myeloma
• Monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance
• Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia
• Amyloidosis
• Light chain deposition disease
• Other rare conditions

We tailor treatment to each individual patient. Each member of our multidisciplinary care team has special expertise in treating this particular kind of cancer.

Innovative Approaches

The Center for Multiple Myeloma provides comprehensive clinical care in a compassionate and caring environment. Our patients receive:

• The latest treatments and access to cutting-edge research, clinical trials, and novel targeted therapies
• Access to the Bone Marrow Transplant Program, where autologous and allogenic stem cell transplants are performed

Multidisciplinary Patient Care

Every patient in the Center for Multiple Myeloma has a multidisciplinary care team of specialists who coordinate and oversee his or her care. Members of a patient's care team might include:

• Medical oncologists to prescribe the most effective biologic agents, novel therapies and chemotherapies and who are focused on myeloma and related plasma cell disorders.
• Nurse practitioners, who are specially trained in cancer care and who focus on patients with myeloma and related plasma cell disorders
• Oncology nurses who are specially trained and certified in cancer care
• Bone Marrow Transplant Team of doctors and nurses with expertise autologous (and allogeneic) transplantation procedures
• Pathologists and radiologists specializing in multiple myeloma who provide a precise diagnosis of your cancer
• Orthopedic oncologists experienced in the latest approaches for spine stabilization surgeries and surgical fixation procedures in bone problems due to cancer.
• Radiation oncologists who specialize in delivering the highest therapeutic dose while protecting healthy tissue
• Interventional radiologists who specialize in vertebral augmentation procedures
• Oncology psychiatrists, social workers, and chaplains provide family, spiritual, emotional and mental health support.
• A nutritionist to help you with questions about diet during treatment
• Palliative care providers to improve quality of life

Expertise in Diagnosing Cancers

Correct diagnosis of each patient’s cancer is critical to treatment planning. Specialists in the Center for Multiple Myeloma treat a large number of patients, and our pathologists examine a corresponding large number of tissue samples. This enables each pathologist to develop specialized knowledge about cancer types and to keep up-to-date on new research. Our pathologists are routinely consulted by pathologists around the country for help with challenging cases. Our pathologists conduct evaluations of samples to offer second opinions through state-of-the art technology, including:

• Advanced microscopy
• Flow cytometry technology that allows for the detection of minimal residual disease
• A broad range of histochemical analyses
• Cytogenetic technologies that examine the chromosomes of cells from samples of bone marrow
• Molecular evaluation techniques such as fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) of cancer cells that deliver more precise diagnoses

Advanced Medical Oncology

Novel therapies, both on their own and in combination with other drugs, are a major component of treatment for multiple myeloma. Our center provides access to the latest clinical trials with novel combinations.

Pioneering Radiation Therapies

In cases where cancer has greatly affected a patient’s bones, particularly the spine, radiation therapy may be prescribed in addition to chemotherapy. External beam radiation therapy may help ease the pain of weakened bones while also attacking the cancer cells in the bone marrow.

Excellence in Surgical Care

While surgery is not a standard therapy for multiple myeloma, orthopedic surgeons are often members of a patient’s care team. Our program works closely with orthopedic surgeons who are specialized in caring for patients whose bones have become weakened or fractured by multiple myeloma. Orthopedic surgeons are also skilled in recognizing signs of disease in damaged bones and are often instrumental in diagnosing this type of cancer. Some patients with multiple myeloma may benefit from bone marrow transplantation, which is discussed during initial meetings with a patient’s team.

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies of new drugs, new combinations of drugs or already approved drugs being studied to treat patients in new/different ways. They may include new drug doses or new ways (schedules) to give the drugs. Clinical trials are run under strict guidelines. Their purpose is to help find out whether new cancer treatments are safe and effective or better than the standard (current) treatment. At Mass General Cancer Center, there are several clinical trials open for the treatment of multiple myeloma that use the latest in cancer treatments.

Cancer is increasingly becoming a disease in which the genetic make-up of each individual cancer drives therapy. The Center for Multiple Myeloma also has access to clinical trials involving these targeted therapy approaches.

Click here to find listings of our current clinical trials.

Immunotherapy

Mass General Cancer Center is an authorized treatment center for Abecma, the FDA approved CAR T-cell therapy for adult patients with multiple myeloma. Learn more.