Thesis supervisor: Gergely Varga
Location of studies (in Hungarian): SE Abbreviation of location of studies: SE
Description of the research topic:
Multiple myeloma is the second most common hematologic cancer with approximately 400 new cases in Hungary each year. There is a tremendous progress with its treatment, still most patients eventually succumb to relapsed disease. Problems as late diagnosis, suboptimal follow up markers and lack of individualized therapies make its treatment more difficult.
Every myeloma is preceded by an MGUS and a subsequent smouldering myeloma phase. There are still many open questions regarding the factors driving its progression and others keeping the developing myeloma clone under control. Another related disease is the light chain amyloidosis, where the symptoms are caused by the organ deposition of the aberrant proteins produced by the plasma cell clone. The treatment approach however is similar to that of multiple myeloma.
Our aim here is to find prognostic and follow up markers which can help the more accurate diagnosis and treatment of this condition, including the measuring of depths of treatment responses.
We are building a clinical database with the detailed characteristics of smouldering myeloma and multiple myeloma cases presented at the Semmelweis University 3rd Department of Internal Medicine. And we collect peripheral blood and bone marrow samples. The analysis is to be done on cooperation with the Semmelweis University 1st Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, where many of the most cutting edge genetic research tools are available.
The BCMA (B-cell maturation antigen) is a surface protein expressed on B-cells, also expressed by aberrant plasma cells with some shredding into the serum of myeloma patients. Recent published and unpublished data suggest that its level has prognostic implications as well as can have a role as a follow up marker. We plan to test this marker and validate its applicability on our cohort of patients.
With the collection of selected and frozen plasma cells we are developing a biobank which – together with the well maintained clinical data – can be the source of scientific work answering some of the most pressing questions of the myeloma field.
Number of students who can be accepted: 3
Deadline for application: 2024-05-31
2024. IV. 17. ODT ülés Az ODT következő ülésére 2024. június 14-én, pénteken 10.00 órakor kerül sor a Semmelweis Egyetem Szenátusi termében (Bp. Üllői út 26. I. emelet).
Login
