Aim: The purpose of this review was to investigate if advances in bone-targeted therapies have decreased the incidence of skeletal morbidity rates over time in patients with multiple myeloma-related bone disease.
Methods: A literature search was conducted over the OvidSP platform in MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to identify Phase III results from bone-targeted therapy trials in patients with multiple myeloma. The skeletal morbidity rate was the end point of interest, and for each study, a mean year of enrollment ([start of enrollment + end of enrollment]/2) was calculated.
Results: A total of eight study arms were identified, with only two placebo arms; therefore, a weighted linear regression was not feasible and only intervention treatment arms were analyzed. A statistically significant downward trend in the skeletal morbidity rate was observed in all intervention arms.
Conclusion: The incidence of skeletal morbidity rates has decreased significantly over time in patients with multiple myeloma.