The polo-like kinase blocker BI 2536 shows strong activity against cancerous plasma cells and may be a new treatment for multiple myeloma

Inhibition of Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) leads to cell death in multiple myeloma cell lines and patient samples.

• Multiple myeloma cell lines and patient samples express the PLK1 protein.
• Apoptosis is observed in cells when Plk1 is inhibited using the compound BI 2536.
• Inhibition with BI 2536 causes cells to accumulate in the G(2)/M phase of the cell cycle, resulting in endoduplication.
• The effects of BI 2536 on cell viability are maintained regardless of the microenvironment, including extracellular matrix components and interleukin-6 presence.

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