Most animal models of Multiple Myeloma (MM) do not accurately mirror clinical observation of bone involvement as the disease progresses. In this novel murine model developed by researchers at the Mater Medical Research Institute (MMRIⁱ), engraftment of a transplanted human MM cell line (RPMI8226) to bones of NOD/SCID recipients is aided by depletion of CD122+ cells (NK and myeloid). Alternatively, the transplantation of RPMI8226 cells expressing green fluorescence protein (GFP) and luciferase (Luc) (RPMI8226-TGL cells) can allow dynamic monitoring of bone involvement as cancer progresses by bioluminescent or fluorescent imaging.

Unlike other techniques, the model is not hindered by the limited number of cells harvested from individual bone marrow patient samples and the potential variability among MM cells obtained from different patients

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