Mechanisms of myeloma cell growth control

The key feature that distinguishes myeloma cells from normal plasma cells is the tumor cell's failure to lose proliferative potential. This article discusses the effects of a number of molecules that have been shown to impact myeloma cell biology. On the basis of the differential effects of some of these molecules on myeloma cells versus normal counterpart cells, a number of key questions are raised, and several speculative models are proposed and discussed. Finally, this article highlights the need to understand intracellular mechanisms of growth regulation in malignant plasma cells.