Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 28, 2025

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

Published on: July 15, 2015

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Multiple Myeloma: Available Therapies and Causes of Drug Resistance

Vanessa Pinto1,2,3, Rui Bergantim1,2,4,5, Hugo R Caires1,2

  • 1i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.

Cancers
|February 14, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Multiple myeloma (MM) treatments are advancing, but drug resistance remains a challenge. Understanding resistance mechanisms is key to developing new therapies for this common blood cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Hematology
  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most prevalent blood cancer.
  • Current MM treatments include corticosteroids, chemotherapy, proteasome inhibitors, and monoclonal antibodies.
  • Survival rates have improved, yet drug resistance leads to relapse and refractoriness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current treatments for multiple myeloma.
  • To explore the multifaceted causes of drug resistance in MM.
  • To identify potential novel therapeutic targets against MM drug resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of MM treatments.
  • Analysis of mechanisms contributing to drug resistance.
  • Identification of research gaps and future therapeutic strategies.

Main Results:

  • MM treatment involves a diverse range of drug classes.
  • Drug resistance in MM stems from genetic, epigenetic, transport, metabolic, and cellular factors.
  • The tumor microenvironment and cancer stem cells also play roles in resistance.

Conclusions:

  • Despite treatment advances, drug resistance is a major obstacle in MM management.
  • Further research into resistance mechanisms is crucial for developing effective therapies.
  • Identifying new therapeutic targets is essential to overcome drug resistance and improve patient outcomes.
Keywords:
drug resistancedrug responsemultiple myelomatreatment

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