Multiple myeloma: Insights into underlying mechanisms, advances in diagnostic and therapeutic modalities.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by malignant proliferation and accumulation of terminally differentiated antibody-producing plasma cells in bone marrow. The underlying genetic causes of MM are highly complex, involving the loss of function in a myriad of crucial genes, especially those involved in DNA replication fidelity and repair. The important genetic events underscoring MM mutagenesis entail large-scale chromosomal aberrations, localized genetic changes, defective DNA repair mechanisms, point mutation, and mutagenic activity of enzymes such as activation-induced deaminase (AID) and apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme, and catalytic polypeptide (APOBEC).