Grünwald V et al. Nat Rev Urol  2018. doi:10.1038/s41585-018-0034-9.

This review discusses current multiple myeloma treatment options, effective symptom management approaches, and practical strategies for supportive care. Summary points Recent therapeutic advances have significantly improved overall survival in patients with multiple myeloma (MM), with a concomitant increase in susceptibility to disease- and treatment-related symptoms. Current therapeutic regimens for relapsed/refractory MM include proteasome inhibitors (eg, bortezomib, carfilzomib) and immunomodulatory agents (eg, thalidomide, lenalidomide, pomalidomide), alone or in combination with chemotherapy or corticosteroids. Toxicities associated with agents and combination regimens used in the treatment of MM include myelosuppression, venous thromboembolism, peripheral neuropathy, infections, fatigue, gastrointestinal disorders, and/or cardiac events. Treatment-specific tools and clinical assessments can be useful for optimizing dosing and schedule adjustments to increase therapy duration, and implementing supportive care strategies (such as growth factors, transfusional support, intravenous hydration, bisphosphonates, and antiviral therapies) to manage treatment-related symptoms. Effective management of the patient with MM requires knowledge of the disease and of treatment-associated adverse events in addition to preventative measures, supportive care strategies, and management of comorbidities. Patient education and individualized survivorship plans can play a role in achieving maximal patient responses to treatment. Improved survival after MM diagnosis has led to increased patient susceptibility to other diseases and comorbidities due to advanced age, thus optimal symptom management will be important to maximize quality of life for patients in addition to disease control and survival. Colson K. Support Care Cancer 2015; 23: 1431–1445. doi:10.1007/s00520-014-2552-1

In this chapter Eda et al. discuss the pathogenesis of osteolytic bone disease and focus on advances in our understanding of its biology and therapeutic implications. Summary points Bone involvement represented by osteolytic bone disease (OBD) or osteopenia is one of the pathognomonic and defining characteristic of multiple myeloma (MM). OBD negatively impacts both patients’ quality of life and survival, highlighting the importance of treatment strategies that alleviate OBD in MM. OBD is a consequence of increased osteoclast (OC) activation along with osteoblast (OB) inhibition, resulting in altered bone remodeling; OC number and activity are increased in MM via cytokine deregulation within the bone marrow (BM) milieu. Inhibition of osteolysis and stimulation of OB differentiation leads to reduced tumor growth in vivo. Novel agents targeting OBD are promising therapeutic strategies not only for the treatment of MM OBD but also for the treatment of MM. Several novel agents in addition to bisphosphonates are currently under investigation for their positive effect on bone remodeling via OC inhibition or OB stimulation. Eda H et al. In:  Plasma Cell Dyscrasias . Edited by Roccaro AM & Ghobrial IM. Springer International Publishing, 2016. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-40320-5_14

This review article discusses pain and analgesic use assessment in patients with cancer-related pain and summarises pain outcomes in clinical studies of bone-targeting agents (e.g. bisphosphonates and denosumab). Patrick DL.  Support Care Cancer 2015; 23: 1157. DOI:10.1007/s00520-014-2525-4