Abstract
Ashley Del Dosso1,*, Elizabeth Tadevosyan2,* and James R. Berenson1,2,3
1 ONCOtherapeutics, West Hollywood, CA 90069, USA
2 Berenson Cancer Center, West Hollywood, CA 90069, USA
3 Institute for Myeloma and Bone Cancer Research, West Hollywood, CA 90069, USA
* These authors contributed equally to this work
Correspondence to:
James R. Berenson, | email: | jberenson@berensoncancercenter.com |
Keywords: multiple myeloma; ruxolitinib; JAK/STAT; cytokine; clinical trial
Received: November 27, 2023 Accepted: December 18, 2023 Published: February 05, 2024
ABSTRACT
Multiple myeloma (MM) is the most common primary malignancy of the bone marrow. No established curative treatment is currently available for patients diagnosed with MM. In recent years, new and more effective drugs have become available for the treatment of this B-cell malignancy. These new drugs have often been evaluated together and in combination with older agents. However, even these novel combinations eventually become ineffective; and, thus, novel therapeutic approaches are necessary to help overcome resistance to these treatments. Recently, the Janus Kinase (JAK) family of tyrosine kinases, specifically JAK1 and JAK2, has been shown to have a role in the pathogenesis of MM. Preclinical studies have demonstrated a role for JAK signaling in direct and indirect growth of MM and downregulation of anti-tumor immune responses in these patients. Also, inhibition of JAK proteins enhances the anti-MM effects of other drugs used to treat MM. These findings have been confirmed in clinical studies which have further demonstrated the safety and efficacy of JAK inhibition as a means to overcome resistance to currently available anti-MM therapies. Additional studies will provide further support for this promising new therapeutic approach for treating patients with MM.