Recent therapeutic advances have seen substantial improvements in the overall survival of patients with multiple myeloma (MM). However, these treatments are associated with significant side-effects, making treatment-related quality of life an increasingly important factor for patients. Peripheral neuropathy, defined as damage and inflammation to nerves in the hands and feet, is a frequent complication in myeloma patients undergoing treatment with the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib. Peripheral neuropathy leads to debilitating pain that often necessitates dose reduction or treatment withdrawal, negatively impacting treatment outcomes.

Dr Vandyke has recently found that a novel N-cadherin inhibitor, LCRF-0006, can dramatically increase the antitumor efficacy of low-dose bortezomib treatment. The proposed research will examine whether LCRF-0006 can be used to prime the tumour vasculature for the delivery of bortezomib and other myeloma therapies, thereby increasing their efficacy and potentially decreasing their systemic toxicity.

About Kate

Kate is currently the co-lead of the Myeloma Research Laboratory, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, based at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Precision Medicine Theme. Kate’s current research interests involve elucidating the molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for the disease progression in the bone marrow cancer multiple myeloma.