[Nancy Shamanna]

Oxygen bubbles to predict sensitivity to IMIDS

by Nancy Shamanna on Sun Mar 19, 2017 3:50 pm

Blood 2017 129:923-925; doi: https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2017-01-760512


In the February issue of Blood (pubished by the American Soc. of Hematologists), is this interesting article about the mechanism of how IMID's work. IMID's include thalidomide, lenalidome (Revlimid) and pomalidomide (Pomalyst). The author, Dr. Marc Raab, of the German Cancer Research Ctr., writes that the action of IMIDs requires binding to E3 ligase (cereblon). This binding leads to oxidative tress by inhibition of key enzymes of intracellular H2O2 decomposition. H202 is peroxide. Dr. Raab devised a test using myeloma cell lines (in vitro) to monitor oxygen bubble formation. From there, the lab measured more detailed tests such as flow cytometry to measure the effects of the IMIDS on the cell lines.

I found this to be interesting, since did have over three years use of Revlimid, and it was effective against myeloma.