title: [The role of the bone marrow microenvironment in the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma].
abstract: Multiple myeloma (MM) is one of the most common hematologic malignancies. It remains an incurable disease, so far. The mainstay of treatment for decades was pointless therapy with cytostatic agents and immunosuppressant's. Because myeloma is most common in the elderly population, vulnerable to aggressive therapy, non-specific treatment approaches led to poor patient survival. Intensive study of MM, allowed identification of the molecular interactions between myeloma cells and bone marrow tumour microenvironment, responsible for the development of the disease and associated complications, such as osteolytic bone lesions. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of action of adhesion molecules, cytokines and signalling pathways involved in the development of myeloma, has led to develop of novel, targeted therapies to improve the quality of patients life and significantly prolong the median survival time. This paper discusses the current state of knowledge of signalling pathways involved in the progression of cancer and the destruction of bone tissue, with particular emphasis on interactions with the bone marrow microenvironment of the tumour.
authors.affiliation: Katedra i Klinika Hematologii, Collegium Medicum Uniwersytet Jagielloński, Kraków.
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jurczyszyn
authors.affiliation: Zakład Radioligandów, Wydział Farmaceutyczny, Uniwersytet Jagielloński Collegium Medicum, Kraków.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gdula-Argasińska
authors.affiliation: Instytut Immunologii i Terapii Doświadczalnej im. L. Hirszfelda, Polska Akademia Nauk, Wrocław.
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kosmaczewska
authors.affiliation: Katedra i Klinika Hematologii, Collegium Medicum Uniwersytet Jagielloński, Kraków.
authors.forename: Aleksander B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Skotnicki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016207:Cytokines; D006801:Humans; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016207:Cytokines