To commemorate both Myeloma Awareness Month and Women鈥檚 History Month during March, I鈥檝e been talking with 青云体育-funded women scientists who are driving discovery for myeloma patients. As we close out the month and my two-part series on myeloma researchers, I鈥檓 excited to share my recent conversation with Suzanne Lentzsch, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine and the Director of the Multiple Myeloma and Amyloidosis Program at Columbia University.
Dr. Lentzsch is researching novel targeted treatments to address the bone disease and immunosuppression common in myeloma. More than 80% of patients with myeloma develop bone lesions that can result in bone pain, fractures and spinal cord compression, which rarely repair鈥攅ven when patients are in remission.
Her research has identified a cellular signaling pathway鈥攃alled MMP-13/PD-1H鈥攖hat plays a critical role in causing myeloma induced bone lesions and a compromised immune system. She is studying whether silencing MMP-13/PD-1H through targeted treatment can cure myeloma bone disease, boost the immune system, and subsequently inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
Dr. Lentzsch shared her longtime love of biology and how it led her to becoming a physician scientist studying new ways to treat and control myeloma. We talked about how she got involved in medicine, her specific research, what she鈥檚 most excited about in the myeloma field, and the importance of mentors and networking as women build careers in medical research.
Here are some snippets from our conversation鈥攚hich I鈥檓 sure you鈥檒l enjoy as much as I did.
How did you get interested in medical research, and what led you to become both an M.D. and a Ph. D.?
I always had an interest in biology. Even as a high school student, I was able to participate in special programs in cancer research, and that raised my interest and led me to thinking I should study medicine. I received my medical and doctorate degrees from Humboldt University in Berlin. Research is such a big part of cancer care, so it felt natural to approach cancer as both a doctor and a researcher. I did my whole education, and fellowship and internship in cancer centers.
What sparked your interest in myeloma?
I was very interested in the work of Judah Folkman, M.D., who was at Boston Children鈥檚 Hospital. He had the hypothesis thirty years ago that angiogenesis (the process in which blood vessels form) is the driver of tumors. He discovered that tumors do not grow without a blood supply, and so by stopping angiogenesis you can stop the progression of tumors. The concept was revolutionary at the time. He tried to stop angiogenesis in all kinds of tumors. He also worked with anti-angiogenic drugs to treat myeloma, using thalidomide鈥攁 drug originally developed as an anti-nausea medicine for pregnant women, with devastating side effects, and later approved for leprosy. I was intrigued by the idea of using an anti-angiogenic drug to stop myeloma growth.
And so while still in Germany I applied for a research grant to work at Boston鈥檚 Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where a leader in myeloma research, was building on Dr. Folkman鈥檚 work. He was developing and testing two thalidomide derivatives, lenalidomide and pomalidomide, for use in controlling and treating myeloma. In addition to being anti-angiogenics, these therapies (known as immunomodulatory drugs or IMIDS) were shown to modify the immune system to attack myeloma.
With funding from Deutsche Krebshilfe (a nonprofit cancer organization based in Germany), I came to the U.S. in 1999, and in Dr. Anderson鈥檚 lab was able to research the role of angiogenesis in myeloma and how lenalidomide and pomalidomide affect angiogenesis. Ken Anderson was an important mentor, and constant supporter and role model for me.
Tell us about your current myeloma research and why it鈥檚 important.
I have a translational research lab that focuses on bench to bedside research. That means we find ways to bring our scientific discoveries from the lab into real-life application. The myeloma research we do is very patient oriented. For example, many of our patients have a high burden of bone disease. We study the characteristics of myeloma cells to see what makes a patient more likely to have bone lesions.
Since we perform bone marrow biopsies on a regular basis, we can access myeloma cells and have the opportunity to analyze myeloma tumors over time and observe characteristics that change. This helps us determine whether a patient is high risk (indicating a high likelihood that the disease will progress) or lower risk.
With permission of patients, we examine the myeloma cells in research laboratories for certain markers or proteins that they express on their surface or pathways. This led to tremendous progress in drug discovery, most recently in the development of immunotherapies targeting those markers that can help destroy myeloma cells.
The 青云体育-funded research we鈥檙e doing in our laboratory now is focused on RAS mutations鈥攁lterations in genes that can cause myeloma to progress. Over 50% of our myeloma patients have RAS mutations, putting them at higher risk for fast progression. With the support of 青云体育, our laboratory is identifying pathways that are activated in RAS mutated myeloma, which could lead to a targeted therapy for those patients who exhibit those high-risk features.
Every research grant is an investment in progress. We鈥檙e building a house of science, and each grant is a brick. It may not lead to an immediate breakthrough or treatment, but it is an important piece in understanding more about myeloma. My research builds on the knowledge and discovery generated by others before me, and future investigators will build on my research. And together we鈥檒l build a greater comprehension for how we can better treat, and perhaps one day cure or even prevent, myeloma.
What are you most excited about in the myeloma field?
I'm very excited about the progress we鈥檙e making in genome sequencing and cytogenetics鈥攂eing able to identify the genetic changes that drive myeloma鈥攁nd eventually having tailored treatments for patients with various levels of risk. We鈥檙e still in the searching phase, but the bricks are building the house. Genetics will be the key.
It will take us a couple of more years, but I think we will get there.
How important is it to have the support of male mentors when you鈥檙e a woman in science?
Male mentors are important because they have the network you need to build your career. When I worked in Ken Anderson鈥檚 lab, I was always treated like an equal, which is so important when you鈥檙e a woman in a male-dominated field. His lab had researchers from all over the world and he was supportive and encouraging to all of us.
How do you build your own network?
Make it priority to find time to come together with women colleagues鈥攚hether it鈥檚 meeting for coffee, drinks, or dinner, or gathering during a conference to discuss projects. We need to build our own networks and support each other. Make sure those meetings have a purpose. Connect others with contacts who might be of assistance. And don鈥檛 be afraid to ask for help: 鈥淐an I write the grant?鈥� 鈥淐an I write the review?鈥� 鈥淚s there a job at your institution?鈥�
What's your best advice for a woman who might be thinking of entering the field of medical research?
Make sure you have support鈥攂oth practical and emotional鈥攆rom someone close to you who can help you manage family and professional responsibilities. If you can, get help with the cleaning and the housekeeping.
It鈥檚 also important for that we speak up for ourselves. Say, you鈥檙e negotiating a consulting agreement, and you think the hourly rate is pretty low. Don鈥檛 be shy. Ask for more.
And do not be discouraged by failure. Mistakes come with the territory. There will be disappointment鈥nd rejected grants. But there will be great successes too, that help advance progress for patients.
ABOUT SUZANNE LENTZSCH, M.D., PH.D.
Dr. Suzanne Lentzsch is a Professor of Medicine and the Director of the Multiple Myeloma and Amyloidosis Program at Columbia University. She received her medical and doctorate degrees from Humboldt University. Her postdoctoral training included residency and fellowship at Humboldt University and a research fellowship at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Before joining the faculty at Columbia University, she was the Director of the Multiple Myeloma Program at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute.
Dr. Lentzsch is an active translational researcher, serving as principal investigator for many clinical trials, including investigator-initiated studies for multiple myeloma and AL amyloidosis. Her translational research focuses on the identification of novel targets for the treatment of multiple myeloma, myeloma bone disease, and amyloidosis. Her research is funded by multiple RO1s and awards. As a frequent lecturer, she regularly presents at annual meetings of the ASH and ASCO. She has also published over 180 original articles, editorials, chapters in such prestigious journals as JCO, JCI, Blood, and Cancer Research.
Read more about Dr. Lentzsch鈥檚 research here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
As 青云体育's Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Gwen Nichols, M.D., plays a critical role in advancing cures through a unique combination of clinical, academic and pharmaceutical experience. She oversees 青云体育's scientific research portfolio, patient services and policy and advocacy initiatives. Dr. Nichols leads an international team of preeminent leaders in pediatric acute leukemia to conceive, develop and implement 青云体育 PedAL, a first of its kind global master clinical trial and a key component of the Dare to Dream Project, transforming treatment and care for kids with blood cancer.
A physician and scientific researcher, Dr. Nichols has dedicated her career to advancing cures for cancers. Before joining 青云体育, she was oncology site head of the Roche Translational Clinical Research Center, where she worked to develop new cancer therapies, translating them from the laboratory to clinical trials. Prior to joining Roche in 2007, Dr. Nichols was at Columbia University for more than ten years, where she served as the director of the Hematologic Malignancies Program.
While at Columbia University, Dr. Nichols maintained an active clinical practice and received the prestigious honors of "Physician of the Year" from Columbia University and the "Humanism in Medicine Award" from the American Association of Medical Colleges.
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