Hypoxia promotes stem cell-like phenotype in multiple myeloma cells

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell malignancy affecting the bone marrow (BM); despite the introduction of novel therapies, >90% of the MM patients relapse owing to drug resistance and microresidual disease . 1 Relapse and microresidual disease in MM may be attributed to the development of a stem cell-like subpopulation, which demonstrates resistance to therapy and causes recurrence. 2 , 3