Experts Identify New Therapeutic Targets in Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) a cancer of the plasma cells acquires resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. In addition, many patients experience disease relapse. Scientists have found new therapeutic targets that are found to be effective at treating relapsed, treatment-resistant MM. In this issue of JCI Insight, Yoichi Imai and colleagues at Tokyo Women's Medical University in Tokyo, Japan, demonstrate that MM cells express high levels of the protein phosphatase PPP3CA, a subunit of the signaling protein calcineurin, which can be targeted by the drug FK506.

Using a MM mouse model, Imai and colleagues showed that calcineurin is required for multiple myeloma cell growth and that inhibition of calcineurin with FK506 promoted MM cell death.

Moreover, treatment of MM mice with panobinostat, which is currently FDA-approved for treatment of MM, and FK506 reduced MM growth in mice. These findings indicate that PPP3CA and calcineurin may be suitable therapeutic targets for the treatment of MM.

Source-Eurekalert