title: The microenvironment and molecular biology of the multiple myeloma tumor.
abstract: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a deadly plasma cell cancer that resides in the bone marrow (BM). Numerous studies have demonstrated the involvement of the BM microenvironment supporting tumor growth, angiogenesis, bone disease and drug resistance. Reciprocal interactions between the different components of the BM microenvironment and the MM cells are necessary to regulate migration, differentiation, proliferation and survival of the malignant plasma cells. In this review we focus on the interactions and molecular mechanisms by which the BM microenvironment exert these effects. Better understanding of these interactions and the study of the epigenetic changes that tumor cells undergo are necessary in order to improve current treatments and for the discovery of new therapies that may eventually lead to a potential cure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lemaire
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deleu
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Bruyne
authors.forename: Els
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Valckenborgh
authors.forename: Eline
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Menu
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vanderkerken
mesh_terms: D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D057890:Epigenomics / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008967:Molecular Biology; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000235:genetics*