Insights into Immunodeficiency and Immunotherapy in Multiple Myeloma

Dear Colleagues,

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant plasma cell tumour that remains incurable. It is characterized by the patchy accumulation of aberrant monoclonal plasma cells within the bone marrow, leading to anemia, bone destruction, hypercalcaemia, renal failure, and infections. Due to the monoclonal nature of the plasma cells and their excessive proliferation, they supress the normal function of healthy B cells, which leads to a decrease in the number of T cells, dendritic cells, and natural killer cells, causing immunodeficiency in the patient. The result is an immune system incapable of generating a normal immune response to irradicate pathogens, resulting in the patient becoming more vulnerable to infections. This condition is further exacerbated by treatments for MM such as chemotherapy and immunotherapies. However, these same immunotherapies, along with antibiotics and other anti-infectious agents, are used to compensate for compromised immunity in MM patients. Immunotherapies including monoclonal antibodies, immune checkpoints inhibitors, affinity-enhanced T cells, chimeric antigen receptor T cells, and dendritic cell vaccines are revolutionizing MM treatment. In this Special Issue, we will present the latest research in the study of immunodeficiency and immunotherapy in multiple myeloma.

Dr. Marjorie Pick
Dr. Eyal Lebel
Guest Editors

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