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Macrophages in multiple myeloma: key roles and therapeutic strategies.

Khatora S OppermanKate VandykePeter J PsaltisJacqueline E NollAndrew C W Zannettino
Published in: Cancer metastasis reviews (2021)
Macrophages are a vital component of the tumour microenvironment and crucial mediators of tumour progression. In the last decade, significant strides have been made in understanding the crucial functional roles played by macrophages in the development of the plasma cell (PC) malignancy, multiple myeloma (MM). Whilst the interaction between MM PC and stromal cells within the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment has been extensively studied, we are only just starting to appreciate the multifaceted roles played by macrophages in disease progression. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that macrophage infiltration is associated with poor overall survival in MM. Indeed, macrophages influence numerous pathways critical for the initiation and progression of MM, including homing of malignant cells to BM, tumour cell growth and survival, drug resistance, angiogenesis and immune suppression. As such, therapeutic strategies aimed at targeting macrophages within the BM niche have promise in the clinical setting. This review will discuss the functions elicited by macrophages throughout different stages of MM and provide a comprehensive evaluation of potential macrophage-targeted therapies.
Keyphrases
  • multiple myeloma
  • bone marrow
  • stem cells
  • adipose tissue
  • endothelial cells
  • induced apoptosis
  • risk assessment
  • signaling pathway
  • vascular endothelial growth factor
  • climate change