Abstract

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a B-cell malignancy characterized by an accumulation of long-lived neoplastic plasma cells (PC) within the bone marrow (BM). Novel treatments are not only targeting myeloma cells but also directly interfere with myeloma-stromal cell interactions, interrupting signal transduction pathways. Farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTIs) and rapamycin represent novel classes of signal transduction inhibitors targeting principally Ras/MAPK and PI3K/Akt pathway. Pre-clinical and early clinical reports are presented in this study.

Keywords: CAAX binding site, Tipifarnib, STAT3 tyrosine phosphorylation, mTOR Kinase pathway, CCI-779, haematological malignancies