Results from a small Australian study provide new evidence that the immune systems of myeloma patients may play an important role in why some patients survive much longer than others.

In particular, the Australian researchers found that myeloma patients who live for more than 10 years after diagnosis have more robust immune function as compared to other myeloma patients.

Certain killer immune cells were more common, and divided more read­i­ly, in long-term myeloma survivors than in patients with shorter sur­vival.

The investigators also found that long-term survivors had more helper cells (which promote …

In a recent multi-center study, Spanish researchers identified several immune system characteristics of multiple myeloma patients who have achieved long-term disease control.

They found that patients who achieve long-term disease control have a distinct immune system profile that differs from patients with active disease and from that of healthy adults.

This distinct profile, the researchers argue, likely plays a role in the patients achieving long-term control of their myeloma, and thus deserves further investigation.

The majority of multiple myeloma patients relapse within a median of three years from their initial diagnosis. However, …