Multiple Myeloma—Biology, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prognosis (2nd Edition)

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is the second edition of the Special Issue “Multiple Myeloma—Biology, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prognosis”, which published 7 papers that have been viewed by 6126 scholars. 

In the recent two years since the reveal of the past Special Issue, many advances have been reached in the field of multiple myeloma, from the introduction of new drugs in clinical practice to the improved understanding of disease biology. Based on these developments, we have decided to launch a second edition to capture and highlight the latest progress in the field. Below is the call from the previous one, which reflects the ongoing vision and goals of this project:

Advancements in the deep understanding of multiple myeloma (MM) biology, coupled with the development of novel diagnostic tools and evermore effective drugs, have opened the way to the tremendous revolution we are experiencing in the management of patients with MM. Indeed, survival rates have significantly improved in recent years, with a current median life expectancy (since diagnosis) exceeding 10 years. Innovative approaches significantly impacted many areas of MM research and clinical practice, and many others are ready to “translate” from the bench to bedside. Along the same line, many new technologies are now ready to reach our “ordinary” work and will produce profound changes in our patient–management workflow. These effects are more visible in specific fields of MM research: MM biology was recently “shocked”  by the introduction of single-cell technologies (RNAseq, ATACseq, CITEseq, multiparametric spectral and traditional flow cytometry), which helped to characterize the microenvironment as well as the transcriptome of MM cells at an unprecedent detail level. The diagnostics of MM are facing the introduction of mass spectrometry for the detection of MM components, as well as the development of improved imaging strategies for the study of bone marrow involvement. Innovative immunotherapeutic agents, including CAR-T and bispecific agents, are finally ready to enter current clinical practice, and their correct positioning is still a matter of important debates (Will there still be a role for autologous stem cell transplant? Are there new mechanisms of resistance?). The achievement and maintenance of undetectable minimal residual disease (MRD) status is considered the most important prognostic factor for patients with MM, but is there still room for improvements? Could we use MRD for treatment guidance?

As an additional point, MM develops from premalignant conditions such as MGUS and smoldering MM. However, what are the key factors that drive disease progression? Can we identify specific populations at higher risk of developing plasma cell dyscrasias?

On these bases, this Special Issue aims to provide an overview of the current advances in the field of biology, innovative diagnostic and prognostic approaches (including immunomonitoring and MRD detection), and the development of novel treatment strategies for patients with MM.

We are pleased to invite you to submit original research articles and reviews focusing on the biology/pathology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of MM. Topics related to basic, clinical and translational research are welcome.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Cirino Botta
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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• multiple myeloma
• bone marrow microenvironment
• minimal residual disease
• mass spectrometry
• flow cytometry
• CAR-T
• bispecific agents
• genomic alterations

• Multiple Myeloma—Biology, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prognosis in Cancers (7 articles)