Multiple myeloma (MM) is a disease of unknown, complex etiology that affects 
primarily older adults. The course of the disease and the patients' survival 
time are very heterogeneous, but over the last decade, clear progress in the 
treatment of this incurable disease has been observed. Therapeutics that have 
proven to be highly effective include the immunomodulatory drug thalidomide and 
its newer analogs, lenalidomide and pomalidomide, as well as the proteasome 
inhibitors bortezomib and carfilzomib. However, the administration of some of 
the treatments, e.g., thalidomide or bortezomib, has also been associated with 
the occurrence of a serious and common adverse effect, drug-induced peripheral 
neuropathy. The mechanism of the development of the peripheral neuropathy is 
poorly understood. Nevertheless, one of its potential causes could be inadequate 
concentrations of crucial trophic factors, including neurotrophic and/or 
angiogenic factors, which are responsible for the proliferation, 
differentiation, survival and death of neuronal and nonneuronal cells.