2024-08-13 09:15:09
Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer in which the cells of the immune system (plasma cells) proliferate uncontrollably, causing patients to suffer immune changes and thus be prone to infections which are the main cause of death.
Considering this, the authors of a new study, developed at the Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA) of the University of Navarra in Spain, led by Dr. Esperanza Martín-Sánchez and Dr. Bruno Paiva were in charge, analyzing blood samples from young people. 28 patients with multiple myeloma and compared them with those from 96 healthy people.
The results confirmed a change in the composition of immune cells, especially in T and B lymphocytes.
Furthermore, when we compare the data with those of 53 patients with other tumors that affect the production of B lymphocytes, we note that multiple myeloma is associated with more severe immune suppression. “This new atlas of the immune system in patients with multiple myeloma is important to understand how this disease affects the response capacity of the immune system,” explained Dr. Esperanza Martín-Sánchez, lead author of the study.
On the other hand, the team also analyzed how the altered immune system of multiple myeloma patients responded to the vaccine against COVID-19. These data match the results published in 2022 by the same group, which confirmed that the effectiveness of this vaccine can be different in patients with hematological tumors.
“Due to immune changes, administering vaccines to these patients may not be as effective as in the healthy population. Therefore, it is important to know how your immune system is affected in order to develop specific measures that effectively prevent the risks of infections,” said Dr. Martín-Sánchez.
For his part, Dr. Bruno Paiva, executive director of the CIMA Hemato-Oncology Program, hopes that “our findings will allow us to develop personalized and effective vaccination programs and infection prevention programs for these patients, because we will be able to find. the most appropriate time.
A scientific team from CIMA and Clínica Universidad de Navarra conducted the research. (Photo: Manuel Castells)
A less invasive method for the patient
One of the important aspects of this study is that blood samples have been used to analyze its composition. Dr. Martín-Sánchez explains that “the benefit of studying blood tests is twofold. First, they get the necessary information to collect on the patient’s immune status, because they act as a mirror of the spine and, second, they need a less invasive way to get it. Until now, many studies have worked with bone marrow samples, because it is the place where blood cells are made and the normal niche for tumor plasma cells. However, these tests require a marrow aspirate, which is often painful for the patient. “
The research has been developed with the participation of the Basque-Navarra Association of Hematology and Hemotherapy in collaboration with several scientific groups from the Biomedical Research Network (CIBERONC), in Spain.
The study is titled “Vaccine dysfunction before and during vaccination in multiple myeloma: a case study based on COVID-19.” And it’s been published in the academic journal Cancer Journal. (Source: CIMA / University of Navarra)
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