GM-CSF and IL-12 production by malignant plasma cells promotes cell-mediated immune responses against monoclonal Ig determinants in a light chain myeloma model

Immune responses towards malignant plasma cells have clearly been demonstrated in the course of monoclonal B cell dyscrasias and shown to be mostly specific for idiotypic determinants of the monoclonal immunoglobulin (Ig). These responses are specifically efficient against lymphoma cells expressing a membrane form of the monoclonal Ig. In myeloma, such immune responses are often weak and a number of strategies are currently assayed in order to boost the cell-mediated responses against the secreted monoclonal Ig. The use of cytokines promoting Th1 responses could be helpful for the induction of anti-tumour immunity and the control of residual disease in patients treated with myeloablative therapy, and such strategies need to be evaluated