The Clinical Research Unit 5001 is delighted to announce yet another distinction achieved by our talented team. At the recently concluded "Jahrestagung der Deutschen, Österreichischen und Schweizerischen Gesellschaften für Hämatologie und Medizinische Onkologie (DGHO) 2023", held from October 13th to 16th, 2023, in Hamburg, Prof. Kortüms team received the prestigious poster award for their outstanding research.
The poster presented at DGHO 2023, authored by the physician scientist Xiang Zhou, MD, and the doctoral student Seungbin Han, under the supervision of Univ.-Prof. Kortüm, MD, whose title was "Bortezomib induced peripheral neuropathy and single nucleotide polymorphisms in PKNOX1" captivated the attention of both peers and experts in the field, earning them the Best Poster Award at the congress.
The study aimed to investigate the intriguing relationship between Bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy (BIPN) during multiple myeloma treatment and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the PKNOX1 gene. BIPN is a potentially debilitating side effect of chemotherapy and is, therefore, a significant concern in cancer treatment. Bortezomib, however, is a well-established chemotherapy drug and remains the drug of first choice for the treatment of multiple myeloma.
Prof. Kortüm and his team investigated genetic factors that may predispose patients with multiple myeloma, treated with Bortezomib, to this side effect. The research findings, also highlighted in our Paper of the Month session, indicate that individuals carrying a homozygous genotypic mutation in PKNOX1 (rs2839629) and/or within the intergenic region between PKNOX1 and CBS (rs915854), have a notably increased risk of developing BIPN. This results indicate that conducting a genetic screening for these specific SNPs before initiating BTZ therapy could offer an improved means of assessing a patient's likelihood of experiencing a painful polyneuropathy, potentially serving as a valuable biomarker for tailoring personalized treatment strategies in the future.
As proof of their exceptional work, Dr. Xiang Zhou and Seungbin Han were honored with an award in recognition of their contributions to the advancement of hematology and medical oncology, as well as pain research. This award reaffirms the commitment of our Clinical Research Unit to excellence in clinical research and to producing high-quality research with real-world implications.
