Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2025

09:41
An Organotypic High Throughput System for Characterization of Drug Sensitivity of Primary Multiple Myeloma Cells
Published on: July 15, 2015
8.6K
[Immune microenvironment and immunotherapy resistance in multiple myeloma]
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Nippon Medical School.
[Rinsho Ketsueki] the Japanese Journal of Clinical Hematology
|October 2, 2024
Summary
Understanding the immune microenvironment is key to overcoming immunotherapy resistance in multiple myeloma (MM). New insights reveal how immune suppression in MM progresses, impacting treatment effectiveness and patient survival.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Hematology
Background:
- Multiple myeloma (MM) treatments utilize immunotherapies targeting the tumor microenvironment.
- Despite advances, many MM patients relapse due to disease progression influenced by the immune microenvironment and genetic factors.
- The immunosuppressive nature of the MM immune microenvironment is a significant barrier to effective treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the mechanisms of the immunosuppressive immune microenvironment in multiple myeloma.
- To understand the spatiotemporal interactions between MM cells and immune cells.
- To identify factors contributing to immunotherapy resistance in MM.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing studies on MM immune microenvironment.
- Analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing data.
- Cytometry by time-of-flight analysis of patient bone marrow samples.
Main Results:
- Immunosuppression is present early in MM and intensifies with disease progression.
- Spatiotemporal crosstalk between MM and immune cells contributes to immune evasion.
- Progressive immunosuppression correlates with increased resistance to immunotherapies.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the evolving immune microenvironment is critical for MM treatment.
- Targeting the immune microenvironment may improve long-term responses and cure rates for MM patients.
- Further research into MM immune dynamics is essential for developing next-generation immunotherapies.
Related Concept Videos
The Tumor Microenvironment
6.6K
Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...
6.6K
Tumor Immunotherapy
489
Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
489
Treatment Resistant Cancers
3.3K
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
3.3K
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens
1.4K
The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
1.4K
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
857
Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
857
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
4.9K
Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
4.9K

