CURRENT ROLE OF IMMUNOTHERAPY IN MULTIPLE-MYELOMA

Myeloablative chemotherapy improved the results of multiple myeloma tr eatment but the disease remains incurable. Residual disease eradicatio n is one of the main clues for further improvement of the prognosis of myeloma patients. Interferon alpha maintenance therapy has controvers ial results. New methods, such as consolidation therapy, antibodies, g ene therapy, interleukins, immunotoxines, dendritic cells, vaccines an d induction of graft-versus-tumor effect, are tested in the phase I/II clinical trials. This article briefly reviews the new treatment modal ities of immunotherapy. Progress in adoptive cellular immunotherapy an d progress in induction of graft versus myeloma effect are very promis ing. We are still not able to transfer very good preclinical results o f immunotherapy into clinical results in vivo measured by event free a nd long-term survivals. Combination of myeloablative therapy followed a new type of immunotherapy focusing on residual disease eradication e valuated in the setting of sensitive disease may be optimal. Such appr oach could improve the current controversial status of immunotherapy i n MM.