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The Cancer-Immunity Cycle in Multiple Myeloma

Mika Casey1, Kyohei Nakamura1

  • 1Immune Targeting in Blood Cancers Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, 4006, Australia.

Immunotargets and Therapy
|July 23, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Multiple myeloma, a cancer of plasma cells, is increasing globally. This review explores how harnessing the immune system offers promising new therapies for this incurable disease.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Multiple myeloma is an increasing global health concern, particularly affecting the elderly.
  • Despite therapeutic advances, multiple myeloma remains incurable, necessitating novel treatment strategies.
  • Immune system activation is a key mechanism for existing and emerging anti-myeloma therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the immune system's role in multiple myeloma.
  • To discuss therapeutic strategies that stimulate anti-tumor immunity in multiple myeloma patients.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of current research on multiple myeloma and cancer immunology.
  • Analysis of the cancer-immunity cycle framework in the context of multiple myeloma.
  • Discussion of various immune-based therapeutic approaches.

Main Results:

  • Multiple anti-myeloma therapies, including proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs, monoclonal antibodies, and stem cell transplantation, rely on immune system engagement.
  • Advanced T cell-based immunotherapeutics, such as chimeric antigen receptor T-cells and bispecific T-cell engagers, show significant promise in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.
  • Understanding the complex immune landscape in multiple myeloma patients is crucial for optimizing immune-based treatments.

Conclusions:

  • Immune-based therapies are critical for improving outcomes in multiple myeloma.
  • Further research into the immune system of multiple myeloma patients is essential for developing more effective treatments.
  • Targeting the cancer-immunity cycle holds potential for novel therapeutic interventions.
Keywords:
immune checkpointimmunosuppressionimmunotherapymultiple myeloma

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