Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is known to enhance proliferation and survival of cancer cells, including malignant plasma cells, and elevated IL-6 levels in the serum are associated with poor prognosis in myeloma.11, 12, 13 IL-6 was shown to protect MM cells from apoptosis induced by steroids and chemotherapeutic drugs, including bortezomib. This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and cancer.