The Immune Microenvironment in Multiple Myeloma: Friend or Foe?

Simple Summary The crosstalk between multiple myeloma and immune cells within the bone marrow niche has been identified as an emerging hallmark of this hematological disease. As our knowledge on this interplay increases, it becomes more evident that successful treatment approaches need to boost the body's natural defenses through immunotherapy. The present review will focus on the mechanisms by which myeloma cancer cells turn immune populations into their partners in crime. Additionally, we will provide an overview of currently ongoing pre-clinical studies targeting the bone marrow immune microenvironment. Multiple myeloma (MM) is one of the most prevalent hematological cancers worldwide, characterized by the clonal expansion of neoplastic plasma cells in the bone marrow (BM). A combination of factors is implicated in disease progression, including BM immune microenvironment changes. Increasing evidence suggests that the disruption of immunological processes responsible for myeloma control ultimately leads to the escape from immune surveillance and resistance to immune effector function, resulting in an active form of myeloma. In fact, one of the hallmarks of MM is the development of a permissive BM milieu that provides a growth advantage to the malignant cells. Consequently, a better understanding of how myeloma cells interact with the BM niche compartments and disrupt the immune homeostasis is of utmost importance to develop more effective treatments. This review focuses on the most up-to-date knowledge regarding microenvironment-related mechanisms behind MM immune evasion and suppression, as well as promising molecules that are currently under pre-clinical tests targeting immune populations.

Automated summary

The interaction between multiple myeloma and immune cells in the bone marrow microenvironment is considered a key aspect of this hematological disease. Understanding how myeloma cells disrupt immune homeostasis is crucial in developing effective treatments, particularly through immunotherapy. Ongoing pre-clinical studies are focused on targeting immune populations within the bone marrow niche, aiming to improve outcomes for patients with multiple myeloma.