IMBCR researchers uncovered a new way that cancers orchestrate the production of their own blood supply. Recent studies have shown that many tumors make a protein called pleiotrophin (PTN). They now show that PTN produced by tumor cells in multiple myeloma, a common form of bone marrow-based cancer, changes white cells in the blood called "monocytes" into cells that form the lining of blood vessels called "vascular endothelial cells" (VEC). These VEC cells then become incorporated into the blood vessels that form within tumors.

"This is exciting news, and we feel this will not only have a tremendous impact on hematological tumors, such as myeloma, but other cancers as well," said James R. Berenson, M.D., Medical and Scientific Director of the IMBCR. "By uncovering this unique mechanism, how PTN produced by cancers actually changes circulating white cells into cells that line blood vessels that feed the tumor, we can direct our efforts to create more targeted approaches to eliminate blood supplies for cancers which should dramatically improve therapies for many types of cancers…