Cancer Center Research

Multiple Myeloma and Bone Research Program
Program Leader: Joshua Epstein, DSc
www.myeloma.uams.edu

Myeloma and Bone Program: Goals and Objectives
The goals of the myeloma and bone program include enhancing the understanding of multiple myeloma causation and manifestation, assessing the consequences of therapy, and improving therapy by gaining comprehensive knowledge of gene and protein expression in this cancer. In addition, expansion of the existing research will determine how interactions between myeloma cells and bone regulate disease progression. Understanding myeloma may shed light on the biology of other tumors
that metastasize to bone, such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, lymphoma and others.

Myeloma and Bone Program: Significance to the Field of Cancer
Multiple myeloma accounts for 10% of all hematologic malignancies and is the second most frequently occurring hematologic cancer in the United States after non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It is the only hematological malignancy that is commonly associated with lytic bone disease. Myeloma cells typically grow in and disseminate through the hematopoietic bone marrow and depend on the bone marrow microenvironment for survival. These characteristics, combined with the relatively easy access to tumor cells, make this tumor an exceptional model for studying the role of the microenvironment in the metastatic process of tumors that metastasize to bone. Thus, understanding myeloma may also shed light on the biology of other tumors that metastasize to bone, such as breast cancer and melanoma. Because myeloma is usually fatal, new treatments that extend the quality and quantity of life for patients are a priority.

In the past 13 years, the myeloma program has enrolled more than 3558 patients on research protocols and performed more than 4265 bone marrow transplants. With support from competitive P01 and R01 grants, the members of this research program have made seminal discoveries in myeloma biology and therapy leading to their worldwide recognition as leaders in myeloma research. The Myeloma Program has two focus groups: Myeloma Growth Control, lead by Bart Barlogie, MD, PhD, and Bone Marrow Microenvironment, lead by Joshua Epstein, DSc. Both focus groups have made important discoveries in myeloma biology and therapy.

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