What Is Darzalex Used To Treat?

Darzalex is used to treat a type of cancer called multiple myeloma, which starts in the bone marrow. The marrow is the soft inner core of the bone, and it is responsible for producing red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Red blood cells transport oxygen throughout the body and white blood cells fight infection.

Sometimes, for reasons that are not entirely clear, one type of white blood cell, called a plasma cell, mutates. The mutation causes plasma cells to reproduce rapidly, producing abnormal antibodies that affect the immune system and the body’s ability to fight infections. When these plasma cells mutate and grow out of hand, they build up in the bone marrow and become cancerous.

Multiple myeloma can cause anemia because the bone marrow can no longer produce enough red blood cells. It can also cause increased susceptibility to infections because there are not enough healthy white blood cells to kill the pathogens. The buildup of the cancerous cells inside the bone can cause pain. It can also affect the bone structure, making it more susceptible to fractures.

Multiple myeloma typically begins in the vertebrae of the spine. Eventually, the cancerous cells can spread to other parts of the body via the bloodstream and cause tumors in several different places. The reason the condition is called multiple myeloma is that it causes tumors in multiple places at approximately the same time.