In this episode of The Onco'Zine Brief, Peter Hofland and Sonia Portillo talk with Robert Z. Orlowski, MD, PhD, chairman, Ad Interim, Director of Myeloma and Professor of Medicine in the Departments of Lymphoma, Myeloma and Experimental Therapeutics in the Division of Cancer Medicine at MD Anderson in Houston, Texas.

They ask Orlowski about his thoughts and unique perspective on research and the recent advancements in the treatment multiple myeloma (a type of blood cancer), including promising results with a drug called carfilzomib (marketed as Kyprolis® by Amgen), which has become the first treatment proven to extend the overall survival of patients with relapsed multiple myeloma when compared to the current standard of care.

In healthy people, normal plasma cells are found in the bone marrow and are an important part of the immune system. In patients with multiple myeloma, these cells have become malignant. These malignant plasma cells accumulate in the bone marrow, crowding out the normal plasma cells that help fight infections.