Scientists in Australia have discovered a protein that could help doctors identify people with the most dangerous forms of multiple myeloma much earlier than before.
The research, led by the University of Adelaide and SA Pathology, was published in the British Journal of Haematology.
The discovery may help doctors choose the best treatment sooner for patients who need it most.
Multiple myeloma is a cancer that starts in plasma cells, a type of white blood cell found in the bone marrow.
Plasma cells normally make antibodies that help the body fight infections. When they become cancerous, they grow out of control, damage the bones and bone marrow, and weaken the immune system.
It is the second most common blood cancer in the world, with more than 188,000 new cases diagnosed each year.
Although treatments have improved greatly over the past 20 years, the disease is still considered incurable. Most patients eventually relapse after treatment, and some develop very aggressive disease that is difficult to control.
Doctors already use genetic testing and other laboratory tests to estimate how aggressive a patient’s cancer may be. However, these methods are not perfect. Some patients who appear to have lower-risk disease unexpectedly become much sicker, making it difficult for doctors to choose the most effective treatment from the beginning.
In the new study, researchers focused on a protein called Desmoglein-2, also known as DSG2. They analyzed clinical information and genetic data from 678 people who had recently been diagnosed with multiple myeloma. The goal was to see whether the amount of this protein could predict how patients would do over time.
The results showed that patients with the highest levels of DSG2 had much poorer outcomes than those with lower levels. They were more likely to experience faster disease progression and had shorter overall survival. Importantly, DSG2 remained a strong predictor even after the researchers considered age, disease stage, treatment received, and stem cell transplantation.
The researchers believe DSG2 could fill an important gap in current risk testing. Some patients who appear to have standard-risk myeloma may actually have aggressive disease, and high DSG2 levels may help identify them before their condition worsens.
Lead researchers Professor Claudine Bonder, Dr. Barbara McClure, and Associate Professor Chung Hoow Kok said adding DSG2 testing to current assessments could help doctors personalize treatment. Patients with higher-risk disease might benefit from closer monitoring or more intensive therapy earlier in their treatment journey.
The team also hopes to investigate whether DSG2 itself could become a target for future medicines. If scientists can understand exactly how this protein helps cancer grow or spread, they may be able to develop new treatments that block its harmful effects.
This study provides promising evidence that DSG2 could become a valuable biomarker for multiple myeloma. However, the findings still need to be confirmed in additional studies before the test becomes part of routine medical care.
If future research supports these results, DSG2 testing could improve precision medicine by helping doctors match each patient with the most appropriate treatment from the time of diagnosis.
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Source: University of Adelaide.
