Molecular pathogenesis of multiple myeloma: Chromosomal aberrations, changes in gene expression, cytokine networks, and the bone marrow microenvironment

Abstract

This chapter focuses on two aspects of myeloma pathogenesis: (1) chromosomal aberrations and resulting changes in gene and protein expression with a special focus on growth and survival factors of malignant (and normal) plasma cells and (2) the remodeling of the bone marrow microenvironment induced by accumulating myeloma cells. We begin this chapter with a discussion of normal plasma cell generation, their survival, and a novel class of inhibitory factors. This is crucial for the understanding of multiple myeloma, as several abilities attributed to malignant plasma cells are already present in their normal counterpart, especially the production of survival factors and interaction with the bone marrow microenvironment (niche). The chapter closes with a new model of pathogenesis of myeloma. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.