New and Developing Therapies for AL Amyloidosis | oneAMYLOIDOSISvoice
×

Trusted Resources: Education

Scientific literature and patient education texts

New and Developing Therapies for AL Amyloidosis

key information

source: Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy

year: 2017

authors: Zumbo G, Sadeghi-Alavijeh O, Hawkins PN, Fontana M

summary/abstract:

Systemic light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is an infiltrative disorder associated with an underlying plasma cells dyscrasia, in which monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains accumulate in an abnormal misfolded form as amyloid fibrils in the extracellular space. 

Symptoms and prognosis are governed by which organs are affected, and cardiac involvement is the major determinant of survival. Diagnosis requires demonstration of amyloid deposition and confirmation of the fibril protein type. Areas covered: This review will focus on the available treatments for systemic AL amyloidosis and on new drug targets and therapeutic approaches.

Expert opinion: 

At present, the choice of upfront treatment lies between autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and combination chemotherapy. Chemotherapy agents include dexamethasone, melphalan, cyclophosphamide, thalidomide, bortezomib, lenalidomide, bendamustine in various combinations.

Few randomized controlled trials have been performed in AL amyloidosis and treatment has been substantially influenced by clinical practice in myeloma. It has become clear that the best prospects of survival and preservation or improvement in amyloid related organ function require as near complete suppression as possible of the underlying hematological disorder. Future directions include therapies designed to target amyloid deposits directly, in particular anti-amyloid antibodies which are now well advanced in development and are showing great potential.

organization: University College London,UK; Royal Free Hospital,UK

DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2016.1274971

read more full text

To improve your experience on this site, we use cookies. This includes cookies essential for the basic functioning of our website, cookies for analytics purposes, and cookies enabling us to personalize site content. By clicking on 'Accept' or any content on this site, you agree that cookies can be placed. You may adjust your browser's cookie settings to suit your preferences.
More information

The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.

Close

To improve your experience on this site, we use cookies. This includes cookies essential for the basic functioning of our website, cookies for analytics purposes, and cookies enabling us to personalize site content. By clicking on 'Accept' or any content on this site, you agree that cookies can be placed. You may adjust your browser's cookie settings to suit your preferences.
More information

The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.

Close