Multiple myeloma is characterized by the presence of malignant plasma cells predominantly localized in bone marrow. Our prior studies have suggested that human myeloma derived-cell lines adhere specifically to fibronectin and to bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) via beta 1 and beta 2 integrins as well as RGD peptide, and that tumour cell to BMSC contact triggers interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion from BMSCs. Since IL-6 is a growth factor for myeloma, adhesion may be important in paracrine IL-6 mediated tumour cell growth. We therefore examined phenotypic expression of adhesion molecules on the U266 and IM-9 human myeloma-derived cell lines using the panel of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) directed at adhesion molecules submitted to the Vth International Conference on Human Leukocyte Differentiation Antigens. U266 and IM-9 myeloma cell lines express mainly CD29, CD49d, VLA-1, CD18, CD54, ICAM-2 and ICAM-3. In contrast, CD49b, VLA-3, CD49f, CD11b, VCAM-1, selectins and selectin-ligands were not expressed on these cell lines. Specific adherence of IM-9 cells to BMSC line LP101 was demonstrated which could be partially blocked by pre-incubation and culture of tumour cells with anti-beta 1 integrin, anti-beta 2 integrin, anti-CD49d, anti-VLA-5, anti-CD11a, anti-CD44 and anti-CD54 MoAbs. The combination of these MoAbs (anti-CD29, CD18, CD11a, CD49d, VLA-5, CD44, CD54, ICAM-2, ICAM-3 MoAbs) decreased but did not completely abrogate binding of IM-9 to BMSCs. Moreover, increases in IL-6 secretion from BMSCs after adherence of IM-9 cells were also partially blocked by these MoAbs. These findings suggest that multiple adhesion pathways may mediate adherence of myeloma cell lines to BMSCs, localizing tumour cells in the marrow microenvironment and triggering IL-6 secretion by BMSCs which may augment tumour cell growth.