Summary

With the advent of novel therapies, the mean survival rate of patients with multiple myeloma is now about 10 years. Prior to the approval of the novel therapies, stem cell transplantation was considered the first-line therapy for younger patients with multiple myeloma. Current prospective trials should shed light on delaying stem cell transplantation in favor of first-line treatment, so as to avoid both acute and long term toxicities in the years to come.