Myeloma

Myeloma

Myeloma, or multiple myeloma (MM), is a type of blood cancer that occurs when there is a build-up of abnormal plasma cells in the bone marrow. Plasma cells are a type of white blood cell that are responsible for fighting disease and infections.

Every year, about 3,400 Canadians are diagnosed with MM, which remains incurable today.

Donor support has helped BC Cancer pioneer a world-leading MM research program — led by clinician scientist Dr. Florian Kuchenbauer, who is an international expert in the study of blood cancers — to better understand MM and develop new, effective treatments. It is also helping Dr. Christopher Venner, a hematologist and a renowned clinical investigator, lead a provincial research team at BC Cancer that aims to build a database dedicated to advancing MM research and care.

What You Need to Know about Myeloma

Symptoms for MM often only appear once the cancer is at an advanced stage. Common symptoms include bone pain (usually in the back, ribs or hips), fatigue, shortness of breath, anemia, headaches, weight loss or kidney issues. Family history, weight and a weakened immune system all factor into your risk of developing MM. If you have any symptoms or concerns, speak with a health care provider.

Rapid breakthroughs in MM research and treatment are being made by Dr. Kuchenbauer — who was recognized with BC Cancer’s Patient Care Champion Award in 2021 and the Outstanding Academic Performance Award in 2022 — and his team at BC Cancer’s Kuchenbauer Lab. Together, the team has initiated bold new studies and created models that mimic cancer to better understand MM and test new treatments.

How is BC Cancer Advancing Myeloma Research and Care?

Your support is enabling Dr. Kuchenbauer to accelerate MM research to enhance the diagnosis and monitoring of MM and subsequently share BC Cancer’s cutting-edge findings on global academic stages.

A Genomic MM Atlas, Made in B.C.

Dr. Kuchenbauer and his colleagues perfected sampling and storage methods to create a MM atlas, which contains patient samples that are ready for genomic analysis. These samples lay the groundwork for genetic sequencing, helping experts better understand the makeup of MM and identify effective drug combinations.

Clinical Database Enabling Future Treatments

Dr. Venner’s dedicated provincial research team at BC Cancer aims to advance MM care by developing a comprehensive provincial database to support and accelerate MM research. Building on the foundational work of Dr. Kuchenbauer, the provincial database will serve as a critical resource, deepening researchers’ understanding of MM — from disease biology to progression — and informing the development of new, early-phase clinical trials and treatments for patients with MM.

New Treatment Strategies Based on MM Risk Levels

Progression and relapse are the biggest hurdles facing high-risk myeloma patients. Therefore, comprehensive genetic profiling can help experts understand how an enzyme called APOBEC, which generally supports the immune system, can cause MM to evade treatment when it is dysregulated. Dr. Kuchenbauer and his colleagues have developed a predictive scoring tool using this enzyme to help group MM patients based on risk level and guide treatment strategies.

Analysis of Hard-to-Manage MM Complication

MM can cause bone lesions and 90% of people with MM experience back pain due to osteoclasts (cells that eat away at the bone) as a result. The Kuchenbauer Lab is studying the origin and progression of bone lesions caused by MM to develop new, effective treatments for patients. Because osteoclasts can also influence the immune system, further study of them may be useful for understanding other cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia and breast, lung and prostate cancers.

New Cancer Imaging Project

Imaging and diagnosis of MM is challenging, as it can affect bones, bone marrow and soft tissue. To overcome imaging challenges, BC Cancer partnered with scientists at Simon Fraser University and TRIUMF (Canada’s particle accelerator centre) to develop a new, highly sensitive PET/CT tracer. Dr. Kuchenbauer explains, “This new PET/CT tracer will help us pinpoint the location of MM and gain a deeper understanding of how it spreads. We are aiming to test the tracer in a clinical trial for MM patients in B.C.”