Exploiting translation control vulnerabilities imposed by antibody secretion in multiple myeloma

Description

Our project investigates how malignant plasma cells cope with the stress associated with high antibody production. While current therapies already exploit the fragility of these cells by interfering with protein degradation systems, the mechanisms that sustain this intense protein production remain poorly understood. Our research focuses on a newly emerging layer of regulation that controls protein synthesis at the level of the ribosome, the cellular machinery responsible for translation.

We aim to understand how RNA-modifying enzymes help myeloma cells maintain protein quality and survive under conditions of intense secretory activity. Using advanced genomic, proteomic and RNA-sequencing approaches, we will investigate whether disrupting these adaptive mechanisms can selectively impair myeloma cell fitness and trigger proteotoxic stress.

The long-term goal of this work is to identify new therapeutic opportunities for multiple myeloma by targeting the molecular processes that sustain antibody production and cellular homeostasis. By uncovering vulnerabilities linked to the secretory nature of myeloma cells, this project aims to provide the foundation for future strategies that could complement existing treatments and improve disease control.