Onkológia 1/2013

New insights into the pathophysiology of multiple myeloma

The last decade has seen significant advances in our understanding of the biology of multiple myeloma (MM) and our approaches to its treatment. As a result of these advances, the median survival of patients has increased and we can now achieve a cure in at least some patients. This improved knowledge about MM biology needs to be rapidly translated and transformed into diagnostic and therapeutic applications to finally achieve cure in a larger proportion of patients. Genetic mutations leading to chromosomal translocations and deletions play a key role in the progression to active, malignant MM. As a part of these translation efforts, novel drugs that inhibit oncogenic proteins overexpressed in defined molecular subgroups of the disease, are currently being developed. Identification of potential therapeutic targets in the bone marrow microenvironment is leading to the development of therapies that are changing the standard of care for MM patients.

Keywords: multiple myeloma, molecular pathogenesis, cytogenetic, cytokines,, bone marrow microenvironment, target treatment.