This research project focuses on optimizing melphalan dosing for older adults undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for multiple myeloma (MM). While ASCT with high-dose melphalan is effective, older adults are at increased risk of severe toxicities, impacting their quality of life. Currently, there’s uncertainty about the appropriate melphalan dose for older adults, with many … Continued

Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation represents a widely accessible therapy in Latin America, particularly crucial given the limited availability of new medications in the region, including monoclonal antibodies, next-generation proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulators, and advanced cellular therapies. This study aims to assess the impact of the genetic profile, particularly single nucleotide variants (SNVs), on the clinical outcomes … Continued

The research project aims to understand the molecular mechanisms behind microenvironment-dependent immune escape to natural killer (NK) cells in myeloma, with the goal of identifying biomarkers for rational combination treatment strategies. Aim 1 involves validating candidate markers of NK cell resistance and investigating NK cell adaptive changes in primary myeloma samples at different disease stages … Continued

To test the hypothesis that plasmacytomas can represent spatial and temporal clonal escape events, featuring distinct myeloma-defining genomic events characteristic of active disease, through the following specific aims: Aim 1. Compare genomic driver events in paired samples from patients with newly diagnosed solitary plasmacytoma (SP) with minimal marrow involvement versus newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) … Continued

This project aims to systematically characterize the functional genomics of 17p13 deletion in multiple myeloma (MM). Aim 1 seeks to identify potential tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) within 17p13 that cooperate with TP53 loss, investigating if haploinsufficiency of these genes contributes to MM pathogenesis. Aim 2 aims to define therapeutic vulnerabilities in MM cells with 17p … Continued

This project aims to develop a clinically useful method for monitoring treatment response in multiple myeloma (MM) by detecting circulating tumor cells in peripheral blood (PB) using next-generation flow cytometry. The proposed approach, called BLOOD-FLOW, involves optimizing immunomagnetic enrichment of circulating plasma cells from large PB volumes, achieving a limit of detection two logs more … Continued

The aim of the IMS funded project was to investigate whether different subgroups of patients (i.e. defined by baseline clinical and biological characteristics) with newly-diagnosed multiple myeloma who have achieved a complete response (CR) after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) benefit from different maintenance treatments or if some of them even require observation only. Due … Continued

The study aims to investigate mechanisms of Multiple Myeloma (MM) resistance to Natural Killer (NK) cells and the role of NK cells’ interaction with macrophages in immune evasion. Aim 1 focuses on validating candidate NK cell resistance genes identified from previous functional genomic screens, using CRISPR editing and activation techniques on MM cell lines. This … Continued

This project aims to comprehensively analyze the spatial organization of the plasma cell niche and its alterations in monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and multiple myeloma (MM) using CO-Detection by IndEXing (CODEX) multiplex tissue imaging. The study anticipates that cellular interactions within the bone marrow microenvironment generate specific tissue features, which can be identified … Continued