Abstract
Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated a possible association between exposure to environmental aromatic hydrocarbons and the development of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and multiple myeloma (MM). These aromatic hydrocarbons bind the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) expressed by plasma cells that seem to promote development and survival of malignant cells. Our group recently demonstrated that antagonism of AHR decreases viability of MM cells while increasing MM cell susceptibility to immune-mediated cytotoxicity whereas AHR antagonism enhances normal lymphocyte development and function. AHR may represent a novel therapeutic target in MM.
Keywords
Immune cells and organs, Immunotherapy, Tumor immunology