Genomics in multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a complex disease that is driven by numerous genetic and epigenetic alterations. Comprehensive oncogenomic analysis indicates the presence of many highly recurrent and highly focal amplifications and/or deletions in the MM genome. Integrated oncogenomic analyses of human MM have identified candidates resident within regions of amplification and/or deletions that are predicted to be involved in MM pathogenesis and progression. The biological behavior and clinical outcome in MM are dependent on these molecular determinants, which are also attractive therapeutic targets. The data obtained from extensive analysis of patient samples, with annotated clinical outcomes, are providing insights into molecular mechanisms of disease behavior, helping to develop sensitive prognostic models, identifying novel therapeutic targets, providing the framework for the development of molecularly based therapies, and, eventually, will help in developing individualized therapy to improve outcomes, with reduced toxicity. ©2011 AACR.