Immune regulation of myeloma cells

MM is a B-cell neoplasm that is accompanied by a variety of qualitative and quantitative alterations in immunoregulatory cells. Interactions between myeloma cells and immunoregulatory cells may relate both to disease progression and to some of the complications of MM, including hypogammaglobulinemia. Of particular interest is the relationship between stable-phase or plateau-phase myeloma and increased numbers of T-suppressor cells. In addition, the more recent discovery of production of certain interleukins and the presence of interleukin receptors on the plasma membranes of myeloma cells suggest that these cytokines may be involved in oncogenesis in MM. Because these cytokines may also be produced by immunoregulatory cells, further work needs to be done to determine the relative contribution of cytokines to the growth and regulation of myeloma cells. Finally, it is also possible that certain interleukins may be efficacious in the treatment of patients with MM.