Myeloma accounts for 15% of blood cancers and affects predominantly the elderly. Sometimes referred to as ‘bone marrow cancer’, it can cause severe bone deterioration which is debilitating and painful for patients. Despite there being a range of drug treatments available, such as Bortezomib, which have been used to great advantage against myeloma by interfering with leukaemic cells, myeloma remains a fatal and incurable disease mainly because resistance to these drugs invariably develops.

At Imperial College London, Dr. Maurits Kleijnen and his research team aim to understand how exactly Bortezomib (recently added to the range of drugs available for patients) interferes with the myeloma cells. This includes discovering why it is much more toxic to myeloma cells than normal cells and how drug resistance develops in these cells. The team then aim to prevent drug resistance from emerging and use this knowledge to improve outcomes and extend survival for patients.