Descripción del proyecto
Determinantes tempranos del desarrollo del mieloma múltiple
El mieloma múltiple (MM) es un cáncer de los plasmocitos que va precedido por fases asintomáticas. La hipótesis es que la heterogeneidad ya está presente en la fase temprana de la enfermedad, y la identificación de los determinantes biológicos de su evolución permitirán una mejor predicción del desarrollo del cáncer. El proyecto financiado con fondos europeos bECOMiNG pretende centrarse en las fases tempranas del MM mediante cohortes de muestras retrospectivas y muestreos prospectivos. El genotipado y fenotipado integrado e innovador de célula única de cientos de casos asintomáticos dilucidará funcionalmente la heterogeneidad del MM y caracterizará el microentorno de la médula ósea a fin de buscar determinantes de la progresión de la enfermedad. El análisis y la modelización de lesiones tempranas ofrecerán numerosas vulnerabilidades al MM que podrían aprovecharse en terapias racionales.
Objetivo
As an onco-hematologist with a strong expertise in genomics, I significantly contributed to the understanding of multiple myeloma (MM) heterogeneity and its evolution over time, driven by genotypic and phenotypic features carried by different subpopulations of cells. MM is preceded by prevalent, asymptomatic stages that may evolve with variable frequency, not accurately captured by current clinical prognostic scores. Supported by preliminary data, my hypothesis is that the same heterogeneity is present early on the disease course, and identification of the biological determinants of evolution at this stage will allow better prediction of its evolutionary trajectory, if not its control. In this proposal I will therefore make a sharp change from conventional approaches and move to early stages of MM using unique retrospective sample cohorts and ambitious prospective sampling. To identify clonal MM cells in the elderly before a monoclonal gammopathy can be detected, I will collect bone marrow (BM) from hundreds of hip replacement specimens, and analyze archive peripheral blood samples of thousands of healthy individuals with years of annotated clinical follow-up. This will identify early genomic alterations that are permissive to disease initiation/evolution and may serve as biomarkers for clinical screening. Through innovative, integrated single-cell genotyping and phenotyping of hundreds of asymptomatic MMs, I will functionally dissect heterogeneity and characterize the BM microenvironment to look for determinants of disease progression. Correlation with clinical outcome and mini-invasive serial sampling of circulating cell-free DNA will identify candidate biological markers to better predict evolution. Last, aggressive modelling of candidate early lesions and modifier screens will offer a list of vulnerabilities that could be exploited for rationale therapies. These methodologies will deliver a paradigm for the use of molecularly-driven precision medicine in cancer.
Ámbito científico
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
ERC-COG - Consolidator GrantInstitución de acogida
20122 Milano
Italia