News — HOUSTON 鈥� The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s showcases the latest breakthroughs in cancer care, research and prevention. These advances are made possible through seamless collaboration between MD Anderson’s world-leading clinicians and scientists, bringing discoveries from the lab to the clinic and back.
Agents that cause ‘copper overload’ can overcome radiotherapy resistance in preclinical models
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, or radiotherapy, can successfully treat multiple cancers, but some patients develop resistance to this treatment, known as radioresistance, underscoring a need to understand the effects of radiation on various cell death pathways. Researchers led by , and , examined the role of cuproptosis – a newly identified form of copper-induced cell death – in preclinical models of thoracic cancer. The researchers showed that radiotherapy induces cuproptosis independently of other cell death pathways by increasing intracellular copper levels. Additionally, they discovered that radioresistant tumors evade cuproptosis by upregulating certain proteins that reduce copper levels. Adding copper-loaded agents to radiotherapy significantly increased intracellular copper levels and induced cuproptosis, overcoming radioresistance. The copper-loaded agents used are either already approved by the Food and Drug Administration or previously showed favorable profiles in clinical trials, highlighting their quick translational potential as a therapeutic strategy to overcome radioresistance.
Novel blood-based biomarker identified in newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia
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Inflammation in patients with (AML) can impact responses to certain treatments, underscoring a need for better methods to identify inflammation and predict outcomes. To identify novel biomarkers, researchers led by , examined 251 different inflammatory proteins in blood samples from more than 500 patients with AML. Using machine learning on this blood-based platform, they developed a scoring system that incorporates an eight-protein signature – the Leukemia Inflammatory Risk Score (LIRS) – that was highly predictive of treatment responses and survival. One particular protein, OSMR, was identified as the strongest predictor of survival, chemotherapy response and early risk of death. The study suggests that OSMR has prognostic potential and can help identify treatments for the best possible outcomes in patients with AML.
CLL-derived exosomes alter body’s immune and hematopoietic systems in CLL patients
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Immunosuppression, neutropenia and anemia can occur in patients with (CLL) – a type of blood cancer that disrupts the immune system and blood cell production – but their origins remain unknown. Researchers led by Ivo Veletic, M.D., and , discovered that exosomes, which are tiny particles released by CLL cells, might play a significant role in these abnormalities. In this study, the researchers found that exosomes engulfed by healthy blood cells suppressed normal blood cell development and altered gene activity in ways that made immune cells less effective at attacking cancer cells. The researchers also found that CLL-derived exosomes carry RNA that promotes cancer cell growth and survival. The findings suggest that CLL-derived exosomes disrupt the immune and hematopoietic systems and contribute to disease progression, opening the door for researchers to develop therapies that specifically counteract these harmful effects and improve clinical outcomes in CLL.
Triplet regimen is well tolerated by patients with AML but does not improve survival outcomes
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Patients with who have high-risk genetic changes and those with relapsed disease have poor outcomes with available treatment options. Magrolimab is a novel monoclonal antibody drug that targets a protein on leukemia cells that helps them evade immune responses. In a Phase Ib/II clinical trial led by ., and .,magrolimab was studied in combination with azacitidine and venetoclax in patients with newly diagnosed, high-risk AML who were not eligible for intensive therapy and in patients with relapsed or refractory AML. In the newly diagnosed cohort, the study also included patients with a TP53 mutation, which is associated with poor prognoses. The triplet regimen was well tolerated, and responses and survival outcomes were consistent with currently available regimens. Research into genetic factors suggested specific resistance patterns and signs of leukemia regrowth after treatment. While the regimen was safe overall, the results indicate it may not significantly improve survival outcomes.
Gut microbiome impacts CAR T cell therapy responses, side effects in multiple myeloma
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The has been linked to response and related toxicities, but few researchers have looked at the longitudinal effects of treatment. To investigate changes in the gut microbiome from CAR T cell therapy, researchers led by , , and , conducted whole-genome sequencing on 117 stool samples collected from 33 patients with undergoing idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel) CAR T cell therapy. The researchers analyzed bacterial diversity and composition before and after treatment. Bacterial diversity decreased after ide-cel infusion, and certain bacteria were enriched in the stool samples from patients who responded well to therapy. Additionally, major microbiome disruptions were associated with higher toxicity following infusion. Further analyses characterized networks between certain bacterial species and specific metabolic pathways. These findings suggest that gut microbiome composition plays a crucial role in CAR T cell therapy outcomes, highlighting the therapeutic potential of microbiome-based interventions to improve patient outcomes.
Pilot nursing study explores physical activity during and after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
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is a vital treatment for blood cancers, but it is also an intense therapy with lengthy hospital stays that can reduce physical activity and muscle strength. In a pilot study led by Gisele Tlusty, Ph. D., R.N., researchers explored changes in physical activity during and after HSCT and examined the role of nurses in supporting patients. Using accelerometers, researchers tracked physical activity in 26 patients over the first nine HSCT treatment days and seven days post-discharge. Results showed that increased symptom severity was associated with lower step count, and patients with moderate-to-high exercise self-efficacy took more steps during hospitalization and engaged in more light activity after discharge. The study highlights a link between physical activity, symptom severity and exercise self-efficacy, suggesting that oncology nurses can help patients by encouraging physical activity and setting realistic goals during and after hospitalization to improve outcomes.
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