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An Organotypic High Throughput System for Characterization of Drug Sensitivity of Primary Multiple Myeloma Cells
09:41

An Organotypic High Throughput System for Characterization of Drug Sensitivity of Primary Multiple Myeloma Cells

Published on: July 15, 2015

Environmental-mediated drug resistance: a target for multiple myeloma therapy

Kenneth H Shain1, William S Dalton

  • 1Departments of Experimental Therapeutics and Oncologic Sciences, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, University of South Florida, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. ken.shain@moffitt.org

Expert Review of Hematology
|November 19, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Multiple myeloma drug resistance is not just from cancer cell changes. The tumor microenvironment creates new resistance mechanisms, leading to treatment failure and persistent disease.

Area of Science:

  • Hematology
  • Oncology
  • Cancer Biology

Background:

  • Multiple myeloma is an incurable B-cell malignancy.
  • Drug resistance is a key factor in its refractory nature.
  • Traditionally, resistance was linked to genetic changes within cancer cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review emerging evidence on environmental-mediated drug resistance (EM-DR) in multiple myeloma.
  • To explain how tumor microenvironment dynamics contribute to treatment failure.
  • To highlight the role of EM-DR in minimal residual disease.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on multiple myeloma drug resistance.
  • Analysis of mechanisms involving the tumor microenvironment.
  • Synthesis of findings on EM-DR and its clinical implications.

Main Results:

  • Emerging evidence points to dynamic, de novo resistance mechanisms coordinated by the tumor microenvironment.
  • Environmental-mediated drug resistance (EM-DR) contributes significantly to treatment failure.
  • EM-DR plays a crucial role in the persistence of minimal residual disease.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding EM-DR is critical for overcoming treatment resistance in multiple myeloma.
  • Targeting the tumor microenvironment offers new therapeutic strategies.
  • Interventions reducing EM-DR could improve outcomes and reduce minimal residual disease.

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