Facts and Hopes in Multiple Myeloma Immunotherapy

Among the hallmarks of cancer is the ability of neoplastic cells to evade and suppress immune surveillance to allow their growth and evolution. Nowhere is this as apparent as in multiple myeloma, a cancer of antibody-producing plasma cells, where a complex interplay between neoplastic cells and the immune microenvironment is required for the development and progression of disease. Decades of research has led to the discovery of a number of therapeutic agents, from cytotoxic drugs to genetically engineered cells that mediate their anti-myeloma effects at least partially through altering these immune interactions. In this review, we discuss the history of immunotherapy and current practices in multiple myeloma, as well as the advances that promise to one day offer a cure for this deadly disease.

Automated summary

One hallmark of cancer is the ability of tumor cells to evade and suppress the immune system, with multiple myeloma being a prime example. Decades of research have led to the discovery of various therapeutic agents, including those that alter immune interactions to combat myeloma. Progress in immunotherapy offers hope for a potential cure for this deadly disease.