Finding vital treatments for multiple myeloma

Background

Each year about 1,200 Australians are diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer that develops in bone marrow. In most patients it damages the bones, causing weakness and repeated fractures. Even though treatments are available to manage the disease, multiple myeloma is currently incurable and survival prognosis is poor. Myeloma cells can lie dormant in the skeleton and make a comeback at any time, growing another tumour. Once a patient has suffered bone loss, there are no medicines available to rebuild the bone tissue, leaving them with permanently damaged bones.

The research

The research teams are working to improve treatment options for multiple myeloma, including efforts to find medication that can rebuild lost bone tissue for affected patients.

• Professor Croucher and his team have made a major discovery about what causes dormant myeloma cells to re-awaken in the bone marrow. Their work could lead to better use of existing osteoporosis drugs, keeping the cancer cells ‘asleep’.
• The team has also discovered that a new medication called anti-sclerostin, which is being developed for osteoporosis treatment, can also be used in myeloma patients with bone problems.
• Dr Micklethwaite and his team have discovered a way to genetically modify immune cells so they can target and kill cancer cells.
• Their work is already en route to helping leukaemia and lymphoma patients, and the team is now looking for ways to target multiple myeloma with this new technology.