Is hormone therapy used for Multiple Myeloma and how does it work

Hormone Therapy and Multiple Myeloma

Based on the NCCN Guidelines for Multiple Myeloma, hormone therapy (also called hormonal therapy) is NOT a primary treatment approach for multiple myeloma. This is an important distinction because myeloma is fundamentally different from hormone-sensitive cancers like breast or prostate cancer.

Why Hormone Therapy Doesn't Apply to Myeloma

Multiple myeloma develops from plasma cells (a type of white blood cell) in the bone marrow. These cancer cells don't depend on hormones like estrogen or testosterone to grow, unlike some breast or prostate cancers. Therefore, blocking hormones wouldn't stop myeloma cells from multiplying.

What IS Used Instead

According to the NCCN Guidelines, the standard treatments for multiple myeloma include:

Multi-drug combinations typically containing:

• Targeted therapy (proteasome inhibitors like bortezomib/Velcade or ixazomib/Ninlaro)
• Immunomodulators (lenalidomide/Revlimid, pomalidomide/Pomalyst, thalidomide/Thalomid)
• Monoclonal antibodies (daratumumab/Darzalex, isatuximab/Sarclisa)
• Corticosteroids (dexamethasone/Decadron) - which reduce inflammation and help kill cancer cells
• CAR T-cell therapy (for relapsed or resistant myeloma)

Supportive care including:

• Bone-building therapy (bisphosphonates or denosumab) to protect bones
• Blood thinners if needed to prevent clots

The Bottom Line

If you've heard about hormone therapy in relation to your myeloma diagnosis, it's worth clarifying with your oncologist what they meant—they may be referring to corticosteroids (which are hormonal drugs but work differently than hormone-blocking therapy) or discussing a different aspect of your treatment plan.

This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult your healthcare team for personalized medical advice and decisions.