Evolution of the tumor load during 5T2MM disease progression. Naive mice were injected with 5T2MM cells, and each week 3 animals were killed until all remaining mice were terminally diseased. BMNCs were isolated, and the tumor load (total MM population in the BM) was assessed by flow cytometric staining and analysis for 5T2MM idiotype-positive cells, as described previously.³³  Each point represents mean value of 3 mice. The different growth stages and corresponding angiogenic phases are indicated.