Dendritic cell-based vaccine against multiple myeloma

Abstract

Multiple myeloma is a disease related to the disorder of heterogeneous cell proliferation, characterized by uncontrolled growth of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow. Cause of multiple myeloma is still not determined, however, environmental conditions, and genetic factors play a crucial role in the pathogenesis. Multiple myeloma is treated by (i) immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs), which modulate the immune system to prevent the development of myeloma cells; (ii) glucocorticoids, which activate programmed cell death by inhibiting the expression of Bcl-xL and NF-Ò¡B, and (iii) proteasome inhibitors (PI), targeting the beta 5 subunit of the 20S proteasome (PSMB5). However, multiple myeloma remains incurable. Moreover, drug resistance is a significant challenge in the treatment of multiple myeloma. The development of drug resistance in multiple myeloma is influenced by genetic abnormalities, bone marrow microenvironment, and immune escape. Immunotherapy is promising for multiple myeloma treatment due to its ability to support immune recovery against cancer. Immunotherapy against multiple myeloma includes various approaches. Among these, dendritic cell-based vaccine is one of the potential directions in combination treatment, enhancing the survival rate in relapsed patients.