Advances in immunotherapy in multiple myeloma

Purpose of review: Here, we explore the significant progress made in the treatment of multiple myeloma, focusing on immunotherapy and the promise it has offered to patients suffering from advanced disease. Recent findings: Multiple myeloma, a B-cell malignancy, is characterized by unregulated plasma cell growth in the bone marrow as well as strong immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. mAbs targeting tumor antigens overcome this, increasing T-cell activation, multiple myeloma cell death, and depth of response. Similarly, adoptive T-cell therapy aims to engineer or isolate tumor-specific T cells for a targeted approach. Finally, peptide and dendritic cell/tumor fusion vaccines reeducate the immune system, expanding the immune response and generating long-term memory to prevent relapse of disease. Many of these approaches have been combined with existing therapies to enhance antitumor immunity. Summary: Immunotherapeutic approaches have remarkably changed the treatment paradigm for multiple myeloma, and encouraging patient responses have warranted further investigation into mAbs, adoptive T-cell therapy, vaccines, and combination therapy.

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