A team of scientists including Rafael Fonseca, MD (Damon Runyon-Lilly Clinical Investigator ‘00-‘05), William C. Hahn, MD, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow ‘98-‘99), Matthew Meyerson, MD, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow ‘95-‘98) and Todd R. Golub, MD (Innovation Award Committee Member, Board Member) reported the first-ever sequencing of genomes from 38 patient samples of multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. The study revealed new and unexpected genetic mutations affecting certain pathways, such as NF-κB signaling and the kinase BRAF, as well as mutations in genes regulating RNA processing, protein folding, and blood coagulation. These findings give further insight into the disease. Identification of the link between BRAF and multiple myeloma will likely lead to clinical studies evaluating existing targeted drugs (BRAF inhibitors) for treatment of myeloma. The study was published in the scientific journal Nature.
