Projects & Grants

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Efficacy analysis of modern immunotherapeutic antibodies and characterization of microenvironment in tumors of extramedullary multiple myeloma
Project IdSGS10/LF/2022
Main solverMgr. Veronika Kapustová
Period1/2022 - 12/2022
ProviderSpecifický VŠ výzkum
Statefinished
AnotationExtramedullary disease in multiple myeloma (EMD) represents a less common manifestation of multiple myeloma, where malignant plasma cells become independent of bone marrow microenvironment and infiltrate distal tissues and organs. Development of EMD is a negative prognostic factor with overal survival of up to several months and is characterized by limited efficacy of available treatment options, therefore, research in this area is utterly crucial. Immunotherapy, as one of the key approaches in the treatment of hematological malignancies, depends completely on the immune system, that is usually negatively affected in the presence of these diseases. Characterization of immune cell subpopulations in the extramedullary tumor and expression of modern therapeutic targets on plasma cells could potentially help to evaluate efficacy of available imunotherapeutics and their suitability for EMD treatment. Immunotherapeutic antibodies targeting CD38 receptor on plasma cells are often included in the treatment regimens in EMD. There are new anti-CD38 therapeutic antibodies emerging, although their efficacy has not yet been assessed in EMD. The aim of the project will be to evaluate the expression level of selected immunotherapeutic targets on plasma cell surface, describe the EMD tumor microenvironment and determine the effectivity of modern anti-CD38 immunotherapeutic antibodies. The project is dealing with a very relevant topic and combines the possibility to access very unique samples with a modern well-established method, i.e. flow cytometry.