Animal Models of Multiple Myeloma Bone Disease.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a clonal B-cell disorder characterized by the proliferation of malignant plasma cells (PCs) in the bone marrow, the presence of monoclonal serum immunoglobulin, and osteolytic lesions. It is the second most common hematological malignancy and considered an incurable disease despite significant treatment improvements. MM bone disease (MMBD) is defined as the presence of one or more osteolytic bone lesions or diffused osteoporosis with compression fracture attributable to the underlying clonal PC disorder. MMBD causes severe morbidity and increases mortality. Cumulative evidence shows that the interaction of MM cells and bone microenvironment plays a significant role in MM progression, suggesting that these interactions may be good targets for therapy. MM animal models have been developed and studied in various aspects of MM tumorigenesis. In particular, MMBD has been studied in various models, and each model has unique features. As the general features of MM animal models have been reviewed elsewhere, the current review will focus on the features of MMBD animal models.

α-Radioimmunotherapy with ²¹³Bi-anti-CD38 immunoconjugates is effective in a mouse model of human multiple myeloma.

In spite of development of molecular therapeutics, multiple myeloma (MM) is fatal in most cases. CD38 is a promising target for selective treatment of MM. We tested radioimmunoconjugates consisting of the α-emitter ²¹³Bi coupled to an anti-CD38 MAb in preclinical treatment of MM. Efficacy of ²¹³Bi-anti-CD38-MAb was assayed towards different MM cell lines with regard to induction of DNA double-strand breaks, induction of apoptosis and initiation of cell cycle arrest. Moreover, mice bearing luciferase-expressing MM xenografts were treated with ²¹³Bi-anti-CD38-MAb. Therapeutic efficacy was monitored by bioluminescence imaging, overall survival and histology. ²¹³Bi-anti-CD38-MAb treatment induced DNA damage which did not result in activation of the G2 DNA-damage-response checkpoint, but instead in mitotic arrest and subsequent mitotic catastrophe. The anti-tumor effect of ²¹³Bi-anti-CD38-MAb correlated with the expression level of CD38 in each MM cell line. In myeloma xenografts, treatment with ²¹³Bi-anti-CD38-MAb suppressed tumor growth via induction of apoptosis in tumor tissue and significantly prolonged survival compared to controls. The major organ systems did not show any signs of ²¹³Bi-induced toxicity. Preclinical treatment of MM with ²¹³Bi-anti-CD38-MAb turned out as an effective therapeutic option.