Interactions between myeloma cells and bone microenvironment

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell malignancy characterized by the accumulation of malignant plasma cells within the bone marrow (BM). MM cells interact with the microenvironment inducing pathological modifications that in turn support the growth and survival of MM cells. Bone destruction is the hallmark of MM mainly due to the activation of osteoclastic cells and bone resorption together with the inhibition of osteoblast formation induced by MM cells. On the other hand in the last years growing evidences have highlighted that both osteoclasts and osteoblasts may affect MM cells growth and survival being involved in the pathophysiology of MM.