Thirteenth Biannual Report of the Cochrane Haematological Malignancies Group--Focus on Multiple Myeloma

This 13th biannual report of the Cochrane Hematological Malignancies Group highlights recently published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the field of hemato-oncology, covering the publication period from July 2010 to February 2011. Implications for clinical practice and methodological aspects are the main principles for selecting trials for this report. Studies were identified by an electronic search of MEDLINE using a broad search filter that covers all topics in hemato-oncology combined with a highly sensitive search filter for randomized trials (Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions). The electronic search of the OVID MEDLINE database was conducted on February 28, 2011. In this summary of key features of recent RCTs, we focus on multiple myeloma (MM). Of the 62 identified RCTs, 15 evaluated different treatment approaches in patients with MM. Five of these 15 trials are selected and presented in detail [three in long version (1–3) and two in short version (4,5)]. Three further RCTs of clinical importance are also presented in less detail (6–8).