[Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma]

In the past two decades, autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in combination with novel agents such as bortezomib, thalidomide, and lenalidomide have dramatically prolonged the survival of patients with multiple myeloma (MM), however, MM still remains incurable. Allogeneic HSCT can be a potentially curative therapy for MM through the graft-versus-myeloma (GVM) effect, but allogeneic HSCT is not regarded as a standard therapy because of high incidence of treatment-related mortality. Several studies have been employed to investigate efficacy of reduced-intensity conditioning regimens, autologous HSCT followed by consecutive allogeneic HSCT, and introduction of novel agents prior to and/or after allogeneic HSCT.