NEW YORK, Nov. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Mount
Sinai researchers have developed a new model that uses DNA and RNA
sequencing data from hundreds of patients to identify specific
genes and genetic alterations responsible for never-before-defined
subtypes of a blood cancer called multiple myeloma. They also
identified potential targeted treatments based on the findings, as
reported in Science Advances in November.
This is the first study using multi-omics, the integration and
analysis of multiple data types, to create a computational model of
multiple myeloma, which the scientists named the Multiple Myeloma
Patient Similarity Network (MM-PSN). The genes identified in the
analysis included some associated with a high risk of relapse.
"Our findings have immediate implications for the development of
novel precision medicine tools and clinical trials, as different
subgroups of patients may respond to different targeted and immuno-
oncology therapies based on their genomic and transcriptomic
profiles," said lead author Alessandro
Lagana, PhD, Assistant Professor of Oncological Sciences at
The Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount
Sinai. "These studies are fundamental to advancing our
understanding of myeloma pathology and pave the way for future
research into drug repurposing approaches aimed at novel therapies
tailored to specific patient subgroups."
Researchers believe that MM-PSN captures the complexity of
multiple myeloma by associating patients with highly similar DNA
and RNA profiles to form more granular and homogeneous classes than
achieved by previous classifications. Within the MM-PSN model,
researchers represented patients as nodes, much as in a social
network, that are connected with one another based on how similar
their DNA and RNA profiles are.
To create MM-PSN, researchers analyzed five different types of
data obtained from DNA and RNA sequencing of 655 newly diagnosed
multiple myeloma patients. The analysis of MM-PSN identified three
main groups and 12 subgroups enriched for distinct genetic and
molecular features, revealing remarkable diversity within
previously defined disease subtypes —such as hyperdiploid and
MMSET-translocated, which are chromosome abnormalities—and novel
insights into the occurrence of primary and secondary genomic
alterations within each patient's cancer.
One of the biggest findings of the MM-PSN is the an abnormality
within an area of chromosome 1 being the most important single
genetic variant associated with a high risk of relapse; the study
suggests that it should now be incorporated into international
myeloma staging systems. Researchers also identified new classes of
high-risk patients beyond current classifications in multiple
myeloma, including one of patients at highest risk of relapse and
shortest overall survival, and another that is often associated
with more favorable outcomes.
This work was supported by grants from the National Cancer
Institute (NCI) (R21-CA209875-01A1; R01-1R01CA244899-01A1), The
Tisch Cancer Institute NCI Support Grant (P30 CA196521) and the
Multiple Myeloma philanthropic fund. This work was also supported
in part through the computational resources and staff expertise
provided by Scientific Computing at the Icahn School of Medicine at
Mount Sinai.
About the Mount Sinai Health System
The Mount Sinai Health System is New
York City's largest academic medical system, encompassing
eight hospitals, a leading medical school, and a vast network of
ambulatory practices throughout the greater New York region. Mount Sinai advances medicine and health
through unrivaled education and translational research and
discovery to deliver care that is the safest, highest-quality, most
accessible and equitable, and the best value of any health system
in the nation. The Health System includes approximately 7,300
primary and specialty care physicians; 13 joint-venture ambulatory
surgery centers; more than 415 ambulatory practices throughout the
five boroughs of New York City,
Westchester, Long Island, and Florida; and more than 30 affiliated community
health centers. The Mount Sinai Hospital is ranked on U.S. News
& World Report's "Honor Roll" of the top 20 U.S. hospitals and
is top in the nation by specialty: No. 1 in Geriatrics and top 20
in Cardiology/Heart Surgery, Diabetes/Endocrinology,
Gastroenterology/GI Surgery, Neurology/Neurosurgery, Orthopedics,
Pulmonology/Lung Surgery, Rehabilitation, and Urology. New York Eye
and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai
is ranked No. 12 in Ophthalmology. Mount Sinai Kravis Children's
Hospital is ranked in U.S. News & World Report's "Best
Children's Hospitals" among the country's best in four out of 10
pediatric specialties. The Icahn School of Medicine is one of three
medical schools that have earned distinction by multiple
indicators: ranked in the top 20 by U.S. News & World Report's
"Best Medical Schools," aligned with a U.S. News & World Report
"Honor Roll" Hospital, and No. 14 in the nation for National
Institutes of Health funding. Newsweek's "The World's Best Smart
Hospitals" ranks The Mount Sinai Hospital as No. 1 in New York and in the top five globally, and
Mount Sinai Morningside in the top 20 globally.
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Media Contact
Marlene Naanes, Mount Sinai
Health System, 212-241-9200, NewsMedia@mssm.edu
SOURCE Mount Sinai Health System
