Immunologic approaches for the treatment of multiple myeloma

The FDA approval of two monoclonal antibodies in 2015 has heralded a new era of targeted immunotherapies for multiple myeloma (MM). In this review we discuss the recent approaches using different immunological components to treat MM. In particular, we review current monoclonal antibody based therapies, engineered T- and NK cell products, 'off-target' immunomodulation, and strategies utilizing allogeneic cell transplantation in MM. We discuss how an immunologic approach offers promise for the treatment of this genetically heterogeneous disease, and how patients with acquired drug resistance may particularly benefit from these therapies. We also describe some of the limitations of the current strategies and speculate on the future of personalized immunotherapies for MM.