The impact of NF-κB signaling on pathogenesis and current treatment strategies in multiple myeloma

Abstract Multiple myeloma, which ranks as the second most common hematological malignancy, is known for its great genetic heterogeneity. One pathway, however, stands out in this diverse group. NF-κB pathway is one of the most important pathways in multiple myeloma not only for its role in pathogenesis, but also for its importance in various treatment strategies. Mutations in several major components of the NF-κB pathway and its regulators are present in at least 17% of primary multiple myeloma tumors and 42% of multiple myeloma cell lines. The NF-κB pathway regulates numerous genes, which influence development and pathogenesis of multiple myeloma. This significance of NF-κB for myeloma cells, however, is used against them, as current treatment strategies often use NF-κB as their primary or secondary target.