Browsing by Author "Trigo, Fernanda"
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- Diagnosis and laboratory follow-up of patients with multiple myeloma: guidelines from the Portuguese multiple myeloma groupPublication . Pires, Ana Marta; Barreto, João Pedro; Caetano, Joana; Soares, Maria José; Geraldes, Catarina; Fernandes, Bruno; Coucelo, Margarida; Chacim, Sérgio; Coelho, Henrique; Correia, Cecília; Cruz, Ana Paula; Cunha, Manuel; Cunha, Maria Rosário; Cunha, Nuno; Ferraz, Patrícia; Freitas, José Guilherme; Henrique, Rui; Lisboa, Susana; Lúcio, Paulo; Paiva, Artur; Pedrosa, Cláudia; Ramos, Inês; Sarmento, Ana Bela; Seabra, Patrícia; Sevilha, Joana; Sousa, Maria José Rego de; Sousa, Sara; Sousa, Teresa; Tavares, Márcio; Trigo, Fernanda; Bergantim, Rui; Roque, Adriana; João, CristinaMultiple myeloma is a neoplasm of plasma cells that in most cases is associated with the secretion of monoclonal immunoglobulins and can involve multiple organs. Its timely diagnosis is essential to limit or avoid irreversible damage and dysfunction of target organs. Appropriate initial stratification of patients allows for optimization in the selection and sequence of therapy, as well as proper follow-up during treatment and monitoring, impacting survival. These laboratory guidelines from the Portuguese Multiple Myeloma Group provide recommendations for the diagnosis and laboratory follow-up of patients with multiple myeloma. The follow-up and diagnosis of patients with other clinically significant monoclonal gammopathies were not included in this text. This article was based on international guidelines, scientific publications, and the experience of a panel of specialists in clinical and laboratory fields dedicated to the study and treatment of multiple myeloma.
- MicroRNA-665 and its potential role in drug response and survival outcomes in multiple myeloma: a preliminary studyPublication . Bergantim, Rui; Silva, Sara Peixoto da; Pinto, Vanessa; Pereira, Joana M.; Sousa, Diana; Trigo, Fernanda; Matthiesen, Rune; Guimarães, José E.; Vasconcelos, M. HelenaBackground: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a complex hematological malignancy with heterogeneous clinical and pathophysiological backgrounds that influence treatment responses and outcomes. Identifying biomarkers to predict drug response and guide treatment decisions, particularly regarding drug combinations, is essential to improve therapeutic efficacy and patient outcomes. This study explores the role of microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) derived from bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB) in responses to treatment and survival outcomes in newly diagnosed MM (ndMM) patients. Methods: This study included twenty patients with ndMM undergoing first-line treatment with bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone. The miRNAs were isolated from BM and PB, and their profiles were analyzed using Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), followed by validation of differentially expressed miRNAs by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Clinical and response data were collected to assess correlations between miRNA levels, clinical characteristics, and patient outcomes. In silico analysis for target-prediction and gene ontology (GO) enrichment was performed to explore the potential biological and functional role of the identified miRNAs. Results: NGS profiling revealed several miRNAs differently expressed between treatment-refractory and sensitive patients, as well as between PB and BM. Among these, miR-665, miR-483-5p, miR-143-3p and miR-145-5p were selected for further validation by qPCR. It was observed that miR-665 was significantly elevated in treatment-refractory patients compared to treatment-sensitive patients. Additionally, miR-665 levels were higher in PB than in BM. Elevated miR-665 levels were associated with more aggressive disease characteristics and poorer clinical outcomes, including reduced overall survival. Discussion: Our preliminary findings suggest that miR-665 could potentially serve as a non-invasive tool for predicting drug resistance and guiding treatment decisions in MM. These findings also highlight the potential utility of miRNAs in liquid biopsies as a predictive tool of drug response in MM and could pave the way for personalized treatment strategies, improving patient outcomes. Future research is needed to validate these results in larger cohorts and explore the underlying mechanisms of miR-665 in MM pathogenesis and drug resistance.