MMRF Accelerator Magazine Winter 2015 Edition | Page 14

MMRF Senior Research Awards fund important discoveries Dr. Nizar Bahlis, University of Calgary, Dr. Alan Lichtenstein, Brentwood of these myeloma cells and develop new Calgary, Alberta, Canada Biomedical Research Institute, treatment strategies based on inhibition Dr. Bahlis’s work will investigate how Los Angeles, CA of the function of these novel targets. myeloma cells become resistant to Dr. Lichtenstein will examine the the IMiDs class of drugs (Thalidomid,® sensitivity of cells to inhibitors which Revlimid,® Pomalyst®). He has analyzed target the RNA of the c-myc gene, called the genome of myeloma cells resistant IRES, which is induced in myeloma cells to IMiDs and identified several potential as a survival mechanism when treated mechanisms to explain this resistance. with Velcade® (bortezomib). Inhibition In this proposal he intends to study these of this IRES RNA may offer new mechanisms with the aim to develop novel treatment strategies for patients who therapeutics to overcome them. develop Velcade (bortezomib) resistance. Dr. Esteban Ballestar, Bellvitge Dr. Robert Orlowski, University of of increased tumor cell survival, drug Biomedical Research Institute, Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, resistance, and poor prognosis. This grant Barcelona, Spain Houston, TX will enable a continuation of that work, Dr. Ballestar is interested in under- Dr. Orlowski’s work will focus on wherein he will examine the exact role of standing the epigenetic mechanism of high-risk patients whose myeloma NEK2 in promoting tumor cell survival DNA methylation as it relates to myeloma cells harbor the 17p deletion and p53 and also the impact of NEK2 inhibitors cells and the cells of bone formation loss. Using shRNA technology, he will in preventing relapse. (osteoblasts) and bone resorption identify genes necessary for the survival Dr. Fenghuang Zhan, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA Dr. Zhan has already identified gene NEK2 as upregulated in myeloma cells of patients achieving Complete Remission (CR) and early relapse of multiple myeloma, and found it plays a role in increasing the genomic instability of myeloma cells, which is a hallmark (osteoclasts) during the process of bone destruction that often accompanies myeloma. He will investigate the In 2015, the MMRF funded $1,375,000 in Senior Research and possibility of using methylation as a Research Fellow Awards. The MMRF acknowledges generous marker for myeloma bone disease status and response to drugs. 14 contributions from Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Genentech, Millennium, Onyx, Celgene, and Novartis in support of the awards. T HE MMRF.ORG