According to the American Society of Hematology, scientists at the Institute for Myeloma and Bone Cancer Research (IMBCR) have discovered a new mechanism by which multiple myeloma tumors obtain their own blood supply.

Many tumors produce a protein called pleiotrophin. New research has found that pleiotrophin produced by multiple myeloma tumor cells is capable of changing certain types of white blood cells into “vascular endothelial cells.” These “vascular endothelial cells” form the lining of blood vessels that emerge within the tumor.

This discovery opens up new possibilities for scientists seeking treatments for multiple myeloma and other cancers. With a better understanding of the role pleiotrophin plays, scientists will be able to focus on more targeted approaches to cutting off the blood supply to cancerous tumors.

For more information, see the full article in Blood, a weekly publication by the American Society of Hematology. Also available is the press release from the IMBCR Web site.