Multiple myeloma is a type of blood cancer that affects the plasma cells in the bone marrow. A relatively rare form of bone marrow cancer, multiple myeloma causes mutated plasma cells to multiply abnormally. This leads to a lowered count of healthy white blood cells and platelets in the body. Statistics show that multiple myeloma generally affects people above the age of 45 years. Men fall into a much higher risk bracket than women.

The symptoms of multiple myeloma include bone pain, constant fatigue, weight loss and a loss of appetite. Over time, as cancer spreads, the symptoms may lead to lowered immunity, hypercalcemia, and kidney failure. Multiple myeloma cannot be cured. However, it may be successfully managed and controlled through a targeted cancer treatment.

Targeted cancer therapy is a new type of treatment that works by identifying and targeting specific proteins in the cancer cells within the body. It is a more specific and efficient form of chemotherapy. Through targeted therapy for multiple myeloma, doctors may now:

• Successfully locate specific cancer cells with high accuracy
• Hinder the growth of cancer cells by blocking specific enzymes and proteins
• Study the DNA of cancer cells
• Direct toxins to kill cancer cells while avoiding healthy cells
• Boost the immune system to target and kill cancer cells.
• Stop blood vessels from feeding cancerous cells

There are various types of targeted treatments used to control multiple myeloma. Some of them are discussed below:

• Monoclonal antibody therapy
  Taken intravenously, a monoclonal therapy consists of drugs that are artificially engineered in a laboratory. These drugs target and kill specific proteins in and around the cancerous cells. Among these drugs are proteasome inhibitors. These target the proteins in cancerous cells and kill them, thus preventing cancerous cells from growing or multiplying. The three main proteasome inhibitors used to treat bone marrow cancer are Bortezomib, Ixazomib, and Carfilzomib. These are injected into the vein, under the skin, or administered in a capsule form. When combined with traditional chemotherapy and radiation therapy, monoclonal antibody therapy shows high rates of efficiency in successfully plugging the spread of cancer in the body and improving the prognosis for a healthy life.
• Small molecule drugs
  These drugs work by blocking the process that gives rise to the growth of cancer cells. For example, one type of small molecule drug is an angiogenesis inhibitor. Angiogenesis is the process by which the body forms new blood cells. These drugs prevent the tissue around the cancer cells from supplying it blood and nutrients. Thus, without nutrition, cancerous cells starve and die.
• Corticosteroids
  These are a type of steroid hormones known for their anti-inflammatory properties and are used for an effective cancer treatment. They also help to improve appetite and reduce any allergic reactions in the body. Corticosteroids may be administered orally or intravenously.
• Immunotherapy
  This method uses the immune system to attack specific cancer cells. It marks out the cancer cells so that the immune system may kill them accurately, without affecting the healthy cells.

Know the side-effects of a targeted therapy
Targeted therapy does not work the same way for everyone. Certain drugs are effective for some people, but may not have the same results in other patients. Therefore, doctors conduct different tests to determine their maximum efficiency. Moreover, targeted therapy is an expensive treatment; so there is no point in administering a medicine that may produce a strong side-effect. Some of the commonly reported side-effects of targeted therapy for multiple myeloma include:

• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Hair loss
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Mouth sores

Just like the treatment, its side-effects also differ from patient to patient. Always keep your doctor informed of any side-effects that you experience from the medication so that he or she may regulate the dosage accordingly.