Research progress of the chemokine/chemokine receptor axes in the oncobiology of multiple myeloma (MM)

• Published in: Cell communication and signaling 2024-03, Vol.22 (1), p.177-177, Article 177
• Main Authors: Du, Jun, Lin, Zheng, Fu, Xue-Hang, Gu, Xiao-Ran, Lu, Guang, Hou, Jian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anemia; Antagonists; Antigens; Antimitotic agents; Antineoplastic agents; Apoptosis; Biological markers; Biomarkers; Bone lesions; Cancer; Cancer therapies; CAR-T cell therapy; Chemokine receptors; Chemokines; Chimeric antigen receptors; Clinical trials; CXCL10 protein; CXCL12 protein; CXCL13 protein; CXCR4 protein; Cytotoxicity; Dendritic cells; Development and progression; Drug therapy; Health aspects; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization; Heterocyclic Compounds; Humans; Immune system; Immunosuppressive agents; Ligands; Lymphocytes; Medical prognosis; Medical research; Metastasis; Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1; Multiple Myeloma; Multiple Myeloma (MM); Oncology, Experimental; Plasma cells; Proteins; Recruitment; Review; Signal Transduction; Stem cells; Tumors; Vaccines
• ISSN: 1478-811X; 1478-811X
• DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01544-7

The incidence of multiple myeloma (MM), a type of blood cancer affecting monoclonal plasma cells, is rising. Although new drugs and therapies have improved patient outcomes, MM remains incurable. Recent studies have highlighted the crucial role of the chemokine network in MM's pathological mechanism. Gaining a better understanding of this network and creating an overview of chemokines in MM could aid in identifying potential biomarkers and developing new therapeutic strategies and targets. To summarize the complicated role of chemokines in MM, discuss their potential as biomarkers, and introduce several treatments based on chemokines. Pubmed, Web of Science, ICTRP, and Clinical Trials were searched for articles and research related to chemokines. Publications published within the last 5 years are selected. Malignant cells can utilize chemokines, including CCL2, CCL3, CCL5, CXCL7, CXCL8, CXCL12, and CXCL13 to evade apoptosis triggered by immune cells or medication, escape from bone marrow and escalate bone lesions. Other chemokines, including CXCL4, CCL19, and CXCL10, may aid in recruiting immune cells, increasing their cytotoxicity against cancer cells, and inducing apoptosis of malignant cells. Utilizing anti-tumor chemokines or blocking pro-tumor chemokines may provide new therapeutic strategies for managing MM. Inspired by developed CXCR4 antagonists, including plerixafor, ulocuplumab, and motixafortide, more small molecular antagonists or antibodies for pro-tumor chemokine ligands and their receptors can be developed and used in clinical practice. Along with inhibiting pro-tumor chemokines, studies suggest combining chemokines with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T therapy is promising and efficient.