2025, Volume 18, Issue 6, pp 536 – 544

Beyond the bone marrow: a review of therapeutic approaches for extramedullary disease in multiple myeloma and the significance of MRD assessment

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Authors and Affiliations

Corresponding author Horia Bumbea, Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Emergency University Hospital, Bucharest, Romania; Scientific Research Methodology and Hematology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania; E-mail: horiabum@gmail.com

Abstract

Extramedullary disease (EMD) in multiple myeloma (MM) represents a distinct clinical entity associated with poor prognosis, therapeutic resistance, and aggressive behavior. EMD can occur at diagnosis or during relapses, either contiguous with bone lesions or as soft tissue plasmacytomas due to hematogenous spread. This review outlines the current understanding of EMD pathophysiology, diagnostic challenges, and therapeutic approaches. The review differentiates between bone-related and non-bone-related EMD, highlighting their prognostic implications. Diagnostic strategies rely on advanced imaging modalities, including PET-CT and MRI, and require histopathological confirmation through biopsy and immunohistochemistry. Management includes local therapies, primarily radiotherapy and, in selected cases, surgery, alongside systemic treatments involving proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs, and monoclonal antibodies. New emerging therapies, such as chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T) and bispecific antibodies, are under evaluation for the treatment of relapsed/refractory EMD. Autologous stem cell transplantation is recommended for eligible patients, with tandem procedures considered in high-risk cases. The role of minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring is emphasized, employing next-generation sequencing (NGS), flow cytometry, and imaging, with MRD negativity serving as a surrogate marker for treatment efficacy and survival prediction. Despite therapeutic advances, the prognosis for patients with EMD remains unfavorable. The review underscores the necessity of a multidisciplinary approach for accurate diagnosis, individualized treatment, and consistent monitoring. Recognizing EMD as a high-risk MM variant mandates the integration of novel diagnostics and therapies. Future clinical trials must incorporate EMD-specific endpoints to optimize treatment and improve outcomes.

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About this article

PMC ID: 12314847
PubMed ID: 
DOI: 10.25122/jml-2025-0104

Article Publishing Date (print): 6 2025
Available Online: 

Journal information

ISSN Printing: 1844-122X
ISSN Online: 1844-3117
Journal Title: Journal of Medicine and Life

Copyright License: Open Access

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.


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