Angiogenesis in Multiple Myeloma: 25 Years of Research in This Field

In 1994, Vacca, Ribatti, and colleagues demonstrated for the first time that bone marrow microvascular density was significantly increased in multiple myeloma (MM) compared to monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance (MGUS) and moreover in active vs. non-active forms. Starting from 1994, the aim of this review article is to summarize the most important acquisitions in the literature concerning the role of angiogenesis in MM progression and the possibility to use anti-angiogenic drugs in its treatment. Despite the controversy and not clearly defined efficacy of anti-angiogenic drugs in MM, angiogenesis inhibition still represents an attractive strategy in MM treatment, and the discovery of new anti-angiogenic agents is still an attractive objective in this field, because angiogenesis still plays a crucial role in tumor progression.