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.