MYELOMA BIOLOGY AND THERAPY - PRESENT STATUS AND FUTURE-DEVELOPMENTS

Recent progress in cytokine studies has made it possible to understand the pathophysiological roles of cytokines in multiple my-eloma. Speci fically, interleukin (IL)-6 is a potent growth factor for myeloma cell s and is also responsible for the progressive bone resorption characte ristic of this disease. On the basis oi: this evidence, clinical trial s to interfere with IL-6 signals have been initiated for the treatment of patients with advanced myeloma. Such a new therapeutic approach as well as myeloblative therapy should be able to provide us with the br eakthrough needed to prevail over this so far incurable disease.