Checkpoint inhibition in myeloma

Myeloma is a malignancy associated with significant immune dysfunction imparted by both the disease itself as well as many of the immunosuppressive therapies that have been used in the past. The growing body of preclinical data regarding immunoregulatory mechanisms that appear active in myeloma has begun to be translated to clinical trials targeting these signalling axes. This review summarized the current understanding of the basic biology of several immune checkpoint pathways that may be important in myeloma and provide an up-to-date overview of recent and ongoing clinical trials of immune checkpoint inhibitors in myeloma. Finally, several current challenges and possible future direction of immune checkpoint blockade in myeloma will be reviewed. Key words: Myeloma; Checkpoint inhibition; American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting