Immunotherapeutic strategies for multiple myeloma

Abstract

The advent of biologic-based therapies for multiple myeloma has resulted in improved patient outcomes over the last decade. However, curative outcomes remain elusive. There has been an increased appreciation of the critical role host immunity plays in the evolution of disease and the potential therapeutic efficacy of immune-based therapies. These treatment approaches hold the potential promise of selective targeting of the malignant clone, disruption of stromal-plasma cell interactions, and generation of sustained antitumor immunity and durable response. However, the development of clinically efficacious immunotherapy is dependent on achieving greater understanding of the complex interactions between the immunologic milieu and disease. A number of antigens have been identified on malignant plasma cell that may be targeted by both humoral and cell-mediated immunotherapeutic strategies, and encouraging results have been demonstrated both preclinically and in clinical trials. In this chapter we summarize the immunotherapeutic strategies for multiple myeloma together with the most up-to-date clinical trial outcomes.