Synopsis of a research roundtable presented on cell signaling in myeloma: regulation of growth and apoptosis--opportunities for new drug discovery.

A wide variety of alterations affect important cell-signaling pathways involved in growth, survival, and migration of myeloma cells. Several of these pathways have been identified, and a number of potential anticancer agents are in development to block specific cell signaling proteins. The fifth experts' roundtable in multiple myeloma was convened in May 2001 to focus on this important issue. The roundtable brought together myeloma experts, researchers involved in cell signaling, industry scientists, and investigators studying other hematologic malignancies, with the single purpose of challenging current thought and increasing the collective knowledge in the evolving field of cell signaling and multiple myeloma. The session was cochaired by Dr. William S. Dalton of the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Dr. Kenneth C. Anderson of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Sponsored by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the roundtable was funded by the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation and McCarty Cancer Foundation of Canada.