[orchid]

Cancer researchers uncover root cause of myeloma relapse

by orchid on Thu Jan 16, 2014 8:08 am

Hi Guys,

I found this read about multiple myeloma relapse reasons:

https://myelomabeacon.org/pr/2013/09/18/root-cause-multiple-myeloma-relapse-2/

I am wondering if someone out here have some information on this findings and whether some research is being done to find a targeted new drug for the found " progenitor cells " that escapes initial treatment.

[Multibilly]

Re: Cancer researchers uncover root cause of myeloma relapse

by Multibilly on Thu Jan 16, 2014 9:49 am

I saw this article earlier. I was a little surprised by it because myeloma cancer research circles have understood the importance of progenitor cells for many years now (progenitor cells are similar to stem cells but are more restricted to developing into certain types of cell and can't reproduce indefinitely...this is in contrast to stem cells which can become just about any kind of cell and can reproduce indefinitely). They also have known that drugs like proteasome inibitors don't target the pathways in these progenitor cells.

It was my understanding that several of the latest drugs and techniques for multiple myeloma treatment specifically target multiple myeloma progenitor functions. As an example, some of the newer myeloma drugs like those from Array Biopharma specifically target P38 (a protein) in multiple myeloma progenitor cells. P38 is associated with tumor development. In a nut, this process causes apoptosis (death) of these cells, instead of allowing them to live on eternally, as is the nature of cancerous cells.

I may be wrong, but I sort of thought that the referenced study was not that much of a revelation to the cancer industry?

[DM Walking]

Re: Cancer researchers uncover root cause of myeloma relapse

by DM Walking on Fri Jan 17, 2014 3:14 am

My cursory examination of this work suggests that the progenitor cells have CD20 on their surface - a target that is hit by several approved drugs, including the antibody Rituxan (Rituximab). I may send an inquiry to the author asking about this.

[Multibilly]

Re: Cancer researchers uncover root cause of myeloma relapse

by Multibilly on Fri Jan 17, 2014 9:35 am

Regarding the cause of relapse and the ineffectiveness of some treatments, see this recent article. Your specialist may have already told you this (as mine did), but I suspect that many of the newer folks on the forum don't realize that they can easily have subclonal populations of myeloma cancer cells that have different mutations (and that new mutations can develop over time). It's not necessarily just one disease that one is fighting.

http://www.broadinstitute.org/news/5438

[rstrode]

Re: Cancer researchers uncover root cause of myeloma relapse

by rstrode on Fri Jan 17, 2014 12:06 pm

That is one of the huge challenges with multiple myeloma. It affects each person both similarly and differently at the same time and clinicians are fighting on multiple fronts at the same time with different outcomes due to mutations of the cell genes that in turns affects relapse in one and CR in another patient. We are just fortunate there is continuing research and alternate drugs that can still work.

[Wayne K]

Re: Cancer researchers uncover root cause of myeloma relapse

by Wayne K on Fri Jan 17, 2014 1:33 pm

Are you suggesting that a relapse multiple myeloma is a different animal?

[Tom_L]

Re: Cancer researchers uncover root cause of myeloma relapse

by Tom_L on Tue Jan 06, 2015 5:17 pm

Hi,

I remember last year at this time when this good news made it in the Beacon.

One part of the message brought me into a good mood: That the discovery of the myeloma root cause will soon lead to new approaches. Ok - soon is a relative thing.

But my question is: Any updates or news about this topic and Dr. Tiedemann's research?

Any information will be highly appreciated. Thank you. Tom