Using a combination of GM-CSF, SCF, flk-2/flt-3 ligand, and IL-4, dendritic cells (DC) have been generated in vitro from the adherent fraction of mononuclear cells isolated from the blood of patients with MM. Analysis of cell yield showed no significant difference in DC yield (numbers or percentage of leucocytes) or total number of leucocytes generated in myeloma cultures compared to similar cultures prepared using mononuclear cells from the blood of healthy donors. The mean number of DC produced after 10d of culture were 8.19 x 10(5) and 9.87 x 10(5) cells (41% and 51% of all leucocytes) for the myeloma and normal cultures respectively. Flow cytometry investigation of phenotypic markers including CD1a, HLA-DR, CD80 (BB1/B7.1) and CD86 (B70/B7.2), and functional status (stimulatory potential in allogeneic mixed leucocyte reactions (MLR)) confirmed the generation of cells phenotypically identified as cultured DC. In addition, these cells were more effective than PBMC at stimulating allogeneic PBMC proliferation. These data demonstrate no difference between DC generated from patients with MM and healthy donors. This study was considered a prerequisite for future investigations directed towards developing effective immunotherapies for myeloma.