Development of innovative NANObody-based therapies to eradicate REsidual disease in Multiple Myeloma (acronym: NANOREMM)
Description: Multiple Myeloma (MM) is the second most common hematological cancer, characterized by clonal proliferation of plasma cells in the bone marrow. Despite significant therapeutic advances the past years, the majority of patients relapse due to the presence of residual, dormant cancers cells that escape current cancer therapies. Using an in vivo dormancy myeloma model, specific genes were identified that potentially contribute to the induction and/or retention of dormant myeloma cells in the bone marrow niche. With this project, we aim to specifically target this residual cell population by various nanobody-based strategies. Compared to conventional antibodies, nanobodies (Nbs) are very stable, easy to manufacture and have an excellent tissue penetration in vivo. I already developed Nbs towards CS1 and AXL, antigens highly expressed on the dormant cell population. The project comprises 3 specific approaches to combat myeloma cell dormancy: 1) Reactivate dormant cells by AXL-targeting Nbs in order to improve chemosensitivity, 2) Eradicate dormant cells by radionuclide labeled CS1 Nbs (focusing on alpha therapy), 3) Develop Nb-based CART cells or NanoCARs to eliminate the dormant cell population. The proposed project promises to yield further insights in the use of nanobodies as therapeutics for MM, in order to prevent cancer recurrence by eliminating residual disease.
Funder: Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
Funding type: fellowship
Funder scheme: FWO senior postdoctoral fellowship
Start date: 2020-10-01
End date: 2023-09-30
Investigators: Kim De Veirman, Karin Vanderkerken
Institution: FWO
Funded outputs count: 20
Funder award ID: 12I0921N
OpenAlex ID: G7519253582