[Experimental animal models of multiple myeloma]

Human multiple myeloma is an incurable B cell malignancy that accounts for 10% of human hematopoietic malignancies and 1% of all human cancers. The characteristic features of multiple myeloma are a high production of immunoglobulin, anemia, bone lytic lesions, renal impairment. The lack of the ideal animal model of multiple myeloma had hampered us to understand its pathology and to develop the novel chemotherapy. Recently, the introduction of transgenic technology and the immunodeficient mice provided more appropriate model of the human multiple myeloma.