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In a groundbreaking discovery that has far-reaching implications for the treatment of multiple myeloma, one of the most common blood cancers, a study by Spanish researchers has unveiled a direct link between Hepatitis B and C viruses and the onset of the fatal disease. The revelation, based on a patient who saw remission in multiple myeloma after being successfully treated for hepatitis C, is offering a new avenue for potential treatment options in the battle against this aggressive form of blood cancer.
Multiple myeloma is characterized by the excessive proliferation of blood cells responsible for producing antibodies, crucial proteins defending the body against infections. While the exact cause of multiple myeloma has long remained elusive, suspicions have lingered regarding a potential association with infectious pathogens. The study from the team at Hospital 12 de Octubre (H12O) and the National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) in Madrid, Spain, brings forth compelling evidence to support this connection.
The Spanish researchers discovered that eliminating the viral infection through antiviral treatment could be an effective strategy in combating multiple myeloma. This groundbreaking insight emerged from the remarkable case of a patient who achieved remission from multiple myeloma after undergoing successful treatment for hepatitis C, leaving the research team astounded.
“The recognition of this association between viral hepatitis and multiple myeloma, as well as the pathologies known to precede the appearance of myeloma, monoclonal gammopathies, has important clinical implications,” noted the team in an editorial published in the journal Haematologica. “Early identification of Hepatitis B or C virus infection in these individuals can lead to appropriate antiviral treatment and consequent improvement in outcomes.”
The prevailing theory behind the onset of multiple myeloma involves chronic exposure to infectious agents, which alters biochemical signals responsible for producing specific antibodies. The study suggests that in the case of the patient who achieved remission after hepatitis C treatment, the elimination of the virus led to a halt in the excessive reproduction of cells producing antibodies against the virus.
To validate this theory, the researchers conducted two studies involving 54 patients with monoclonal gammopathy and hepatitis: 9 patients with Hepatitis C in an initial study, and 45 patients with Hepatitis B in the study published in Haematologica. The majority of these patients consistently produced antibodies targeting the respective hepatitis virus.
Expanding their investigation to a broader cohort of more than 1,300 multiple myeloma patients infected with Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, the researchers found a significantly higher probability of survival in those who received antiviral treatment.
“In patients infected with the Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C virus, multiple myeloma or gammopathy may be caused by these viruses, and the study demonstrates the importance of antiviral treatment in these patients,” the researchers emphasized.
This breakthrough not only sheds light on the intricate connection between viral infections and blood cancer but also opens up promising avenues for more targeted and effective treatments, offering hope to those affected by multiple myeloma.
