Gene Mapping Reveals Mutation in Myeloma Patients Linked to High Risk of Treatment Failure

APOBEC, also known as apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme, encodes a member of the AID/APOBEC family of polynucleotide (deoxy) cytidine deaminases, which convert cytidine to uridine. Other AID/APOBEC family members are involved in mRNA editing, somatic hypermutation, recombination of immunoglobulin genes, and innate immunity to retroviral infection.

Patients with a genetic signature that included the APOBEC mutation had an increased mutational load and a poor prognosis for recovery.

Senior author Dr. Gareth Morgan, professor of hematology at the Institute of Cancer Research, said, “The treatment of myeloma has improved in recent years, but there are still a significant number of patients who succumb to the disease. Our research has identified, for the first time, several genetic features that indicate which patients are at high risk of developing more advanced cancer. In the future we hope to be able to use this information to test for patients most at risk, and be able to target specific treatment to their individual needs, bolstering their chance of survival.”

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Institute of Cancer Research