Novel therapeutic approaches overcoming AML drug-resistance

Preclinical Studies of Novel Targeted Therapies

Despite advances in systemic and supportive therapies, MM remains incurable due to intrinsic or acquired chemotherapeutic resistance. High-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplantation has significantly extended progression-free and overall survival, but cures few, if any, patients. Novel therapeutic approaches overcoming drug-resistance are therefore urgently needed in MM. The interaction of MM cells with extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and BM stromal cells (SCs), as well as other components in the BM milieu (ie, osteoblast, osteoclast, vascular endothelial cells), plays a crucial role in MM cell pathogenesis and drug resistance. Importantly, novel biologically-based treatments which target not only the MM cell, but also the MM cell interaction with other accessory cells and cytokines/growth factors in the BM milieu, can overcome resistance to conventional therapies in both preclinical and clinical studies, and have great promise to improve patient outcome in MM.

For PapAmore', Arend 'Odee' Lenderink