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Updated: Nov 7, 2025

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

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Emerging Therapeutic Strategies to Overcome Drug Resistance in Multiple Myeloma

Lorraine N Davis1, Daniel W Sherbenou1,2

  • 1Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.

Cancers
|April 30, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Understanding drug resistance in multiple myeloma (a plasma cell cancer) is vital for improving patient survival. This review covers resistance mechanisms and novel therapies to overcome treatment challenges.

Area of Science:

  • Hematology
  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Multiple myeloma is an incurable plasma cell malignancy.
  • Drug resistance significantly limits treatment efficacy and patient survival.
  • Understanding resistance mechanisms is crucial for developing new therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on drug resistance in multiple myeloma.
  • To explore how multiple myeloma's biology contributes to drug resistance.
  • To identify knowledge gaps and future research directions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of resistance mechanisms to key drug classes (immunomodulatory drugs, proteasome inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies).
  • Analysis of how multiple myeloma heterogeneity influences drug resistance.
  • Evaluation of emerging therapeutic strategies and their potential to overcome resistance.

Main Results:

  • Resistance develops to immunomodulatory drugs, proteasome inhibitors, and monoclonal antibodies.
  • Tumor cell heterogeneity plays a role in acquiring drug resistance.
  • Numerous novel agents and strategies are under investigation to combat resistance.

Conclusions:

  • Overcoming drug resistance in multiple myeloma requires a deeper understanding of its complex biology.
  • Next-generation therapies, including CAR T-cells and bispecific antibodies, show promise in delaying or overcoming resistance.
  • Continued research into novel agents and combination therapies is essential for improving outcomes in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.
Keywords:
clinical trialsdrug resistanceimmunomodulatory drugsimmunotherapymonoclonal antibodiesmultiple myelomaproteasome inhibitorsresistance mechanismstreatment

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