Elucidation of the pathogenesis of the bone marrow microenvironment in multiple myeloma and treatment strategies

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K08841
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 54010:Hematology and medical oncology-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Yao Hisayuki 九州大学, 医学研究院, 助教 (90835282)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 多発性骨髄腫 / 骨髄微小環境

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The bone marrow microenvironment regulates the survival, differentiation, and proliferation of hematopoietic cells. In patients with multiple myeloma, the bone marrow microenvironment is thought to regulate the survival and proliferation of myeloma cells, which leads to minimal residual disease and drug resistance after chemotherapy, making complete cure of myeloma difficult. We hypothesized that aging alters the bone marrow microenvironment to favor the survival and growth of myeloma cells, because myeloma has a high incidence in the elderly. Therefore, we analyzed the age-related changes in mesenchymal stem cells, one of the major components of the bone marrow microenvironment, their effects on myeloma cell survival and proliferation, and their mechanisms.

Free Research Field

血液内科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

多発性骨髄腫は特に高齢者で罹患率が高い疾患であり、わが国でさらに高齢化社会が進むとともに患者数の増加が予想される。また、骨髄腫細胞を標的とした化学療法に対して治療抵抗性を獲得し、再燃・再発を繰り返す症例も少なくない。さらに、骨髄腫は骨病変や腎不全など他の造血器腫瘍と比較して合併症が多く、合併症により日常生活動作が制限され、生活の質が低下する症例も多く見受けられる。このため、骨髄腫の治療抵抗性の分子機構を解明し、メカニズムに基づいた新たな治療法開発は喫緊の課題である。