Multiple Myeloma Research
Multiple myeloma (MM) represents a malignant B cell disorder, characterized by an accumulation of monoclonal plasma cells in the bone marrow (BM). It accounts for approximately 1 % of all malignant diseases and represents about 10% of all hematological malignancies. The median age at diagnosis is 65 years and about 3% of patients are younger than 40 years.
The cause of MM is unknown. Environmental exposures that may increase the risk of MM include high doses of ionizing radiation and occupational exposure in the farming and petrochemical industries.
The clinical presentation of MM varies from totally asymptomatic in patients whose disease is discovered incidentally to life-threatening clinical events. The tumor itself, and the host response to it result in organ dysfunction with a variety of symptoms. These include bone pain with or without associated fractures (due to osteolysis), anemia, susceptibility to infections and hypercalcemia, with or without renal failure caused by the precipitation of monoclonal light chains in the collecting tubules.
The hallmark of MM is the detection of an M-protein in blood and/or urine (Bence Jones). Serum protein electrophoresis reveals a band in 80% of patients. The remaining 20% of patients will have either hypogammaglobulenimia or a normal appearing pattern. In this patient population with oligo- or non-secretory MM, the serum free light-chain assay can be useful for monitoring.
The research work in the department of Hematology-Immunology relates to different aspects in the biology and treatment of MM, using both human MM cells and the murine 5TMM model. The latter is a syngenic immunocompetent murine model, which mimics the human disease closely. The research group focuses, in particular on interactions between MM cells and their host microenvironment and studies how specific interactions with endothelial cells, osteoclasts and stromal cells can be targeted for therapeutical intervention, with special emphasis on overcoming drug-resistance.