Research

Life Sciences & Biotechnology

Title :

Targeting the tumor Microenvironment for novel therapeutic approaches in Multiple Myeloma (MM)

Area of research :

Life Sciences & Biotechnology

Principal Investigator :

Dr. Ritu Gupta, All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi

Timeline Start Year :

2022

Timeline End Year :

2025

Contact info :

Details

Executive Summary :

Multiple myeloma is a hematopoietic malignancy affecting bone marrow and its microenvironment. It is treated with immune modulators, unlike cytotoxic chemotherapy, which is used for other cancers. However, multiple myeloma remains incurable, and most patients eventually relapse and die. The focus of cancer therapy has shifted to monoclonal antibodies and CAR-T cells, with anti-CD38 and CAR-T cell therapy being the most promising. However, drug resistance to immunotherapy has been observed. Multiple myeloma has distinct stages of progression, from a premalignant state of MGUS to smouldering multiple myeloma, and finally to a relapsed refractory progressive disease state. Researchers propose studying the cancer-immune microenvironment of these evolving disease states at a single cell level using advanced technologies like single cell sequencing and multiparametric flow cytometry. This research could provide insights into how the immune microenvironment impacts cancer development, disease progression, and resistance to therapy, potentially opening new avenues for novel immunotherapeutic/modulatory approaches in managing multiple myeloma.

Co-PI:

Dr. G Smeeta, All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi-110029, Dr. Lalit Kumar, All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi-110029, Dr. Atul Sharma, All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi-110029, Dr. Deepshi Thakral, All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi-110029

Total Budget (INR):

59,78,368

Organizations involved