Dendritic cells are rare cells that comprise less than 1% of the circulating white blood cells. They are unique in that they are extremely potent initiators of immune responses against foreign or abnormal substances in the body. This research is developing new technology to obtain optimal blood dendritic cell preparations from patients with multiple myeloma with a view to manipulating the dendritic cells to induce an anti multiple myeloma immune response. The plan is to ultimately generate an anti multiple myeloma vaccine that could be used to prevent or treat disease after chemotherapy or radiotherapy.