What is a primary systemic therapy for multiple myeloma?

What is a primary systemic therapy for multiple myeloma?

• A. Surgery
• B. Chemotherapy
• C. Radiation Therapy Alone
• D. Observation

Answer: (B)

Multiple myeloma is a systemic plasma cell malignancy that involves the bone marrow throughout the skeleton, so treatment must reach the disease everywhere in the body. Local therapies like surgery are used for specific problems (biopsy, stabilization of a fracture, or relief of a focal issue) but do not address the widespread marrow involvement. Radiation can help control pain or a single symptomatic lesion but again won’t treat the marrow-wide disease. Observation is not appropriate for active myeloma because the malignant cells are expanding and causing damage systemically. Therefore, the main approach is chemotherapy, which is designed to reduce malignant plasma cells throughout the entire marrow. In modern practice, this often means combinations that include newer targeted agents and stem cell strategies, but the core idea is systemic therapy that treats the whole body rather than a local area.

Multiple myeloma is a systemic plasma cell malignancy that involves the bone marrow throughout the skeleton, so treatment must reach the disease everywhere in the body. Local therapies like surgery are used for specific problems (biopsy, stabilization of a fracture, or relief of a focal issue) but do not address the widespread marrow involvement. Radiation can help control pain or a single symptomatic lesion but again won’t treat the marrow-wide disease. Observation is not appropriate for active myeloma because the malignant cells are expanding and causing damage systemically. Therefore, the main approach is chemotherapy, which is designed to reduce malignant plasma cells throughout the entire marrow. In modern practice, this often means combinations that include newer targeted agents and stem cell strategies, but the core idea is systemic therapy that treats the whole body rather than a local area.