Validating the effectiveness of oncolytic virus-based combination immunotherapy for the treatment of Multiple Myeloma

A2002615

Multiple Myeloma (Myeloma) is a major cause of death worldwide, with the number of affected individuals expected to rise as life expectancy increases. While many myeloma treatments are effective in the short term, the disease often persists at a low levels post-treatment. The aim of this work is to develop a long-lasting cure capable of eradicating all cancer cells to prevent recurrence.

The immune system is naturally designed to eliminate abnormal cancerous cells. However, cancer cells can employ various strategies to resist standard drugs and evade the immune system. Cancer immunotherapies aim to reactivate the immune system and enhance its ability to kill cancerous cells.

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are viruses that selectively kill cancer cells while sparing normal cells. OVs can directly kill cancer cells and also act as immunotherapies by activating the immune system. Although OVs have been tested in myeloma patients and found to be safe and well-tolerated, their full potential is realised when combined with other treatments. My Samuel Heaton and the team have identified a combination treatment that enhances OV killing of myeloma cells and boosts anti-cancer immune responses.

This project supports essential research to test the effectiveness of this combination treatment in patient samples, cultured in the laboratory, and in a representative mouse model of myeloma.

These studies aim to confirm the effectiveness of this new treatment option and generate data to support its transition into early-phase clinical trials. Ultimately, this work seeks to benefit myeloma patients by providing a much-needed, safe, and well-tolerated curative treatment.

Lead Researcher	Dr Samuel Heaton Research Fellow
Co-Researchers	Dr Fiona Errington-Mais Dr Christopher Parish
Host Organisation	University of Leeds
Grant Amount	£9,718.80
Start Date	01/11/23
Estimated Duration	17 months
Impact Areas	Innovation & Health Technologies
Tags/key notes	Early Career Researcher Cancer and Neoplasms