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International audience; The differentiation of B cells into plasmablasts (PBs) and then plasma cells (PCs) is associated with extensive cell reprogramming and new cell functions. By using specific inhibition strategies (including a novel morpholino RNA antisense approach), we found that early, sustained upregulation of the proviral integrations of Moloney virus 2 (PIM2) kinase is a pivotal event during human B cell in vitro differentiation and then continues in mature normal and malignant PCs in the bone marrow. In particular, PIM2 sustained the G1/S transition by acting on CDC25A and p27Kip1 and hindering caspase 3-driven apoptosis through BAD phosphorylation and cytoplasmic stabilization of p21Cip1. In PCs, interleukin-6 triggered PIM2 expression, resulting in anti-apoptotic effects on which malignant PCs were particularly dependent. In multiple myeloma, pan-PIM and MCL1 inhibitors displayed synergistic activity. Our results highlight a cell-autonomous function that links kinase activity to the PBs’ newly acquired secretion ability and the adaptability observed in both normal and malignant PCs, and finally should prompt the reconsideration of PIM2 as a therapeutic target in multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a B cell neoplasia characterized by clonal plasma cell (PC) proliferation. Minimal residual disease monitoring by multi-parameter flow cytometry is a powerful tool for predicting treatment efficacy and MM outcome. In this study, we compared CD antigens expression between normal and malignant plasma cells to identify new potential markers to discriminate normal from malignant plasma cells, new potential therapeutic targets for monoclonal-based treatments and new prognostic factors. Nine genes were significantly overexpressed and 16 were significantly downregulated in MMC compared with BMPC (ratio ≥2; FDR CD24, CD27, CD36 and CD302) was associated with a prognostic value in two independent cohorts of patients with MM (HM cohort and TT2 cohort, n=345). The expression level of these four genes was then used to develop a CD gene risk score that classified patients in two groups with different survival (P = 2.06E-6) in the HM training cohort. The prognostic value of the CD gene risk score was validated in two independent cohorts of patients with MM (TT2 cohort and HOVON65/GMMGHD4 cohort, n=282 patients). The CD gene risk score remained a prognostic factor that separated patients in two groups with significantly different overall survival also when using publicly available data from a cohort of relapsing patients treated with bortezomib (n=188). In conclusion, the CD gene risk score allows identifying high risk patients with MM based on CD24, CD27, CD36 and CD302 expression and could represent a powerful tool for simple outcome prediction in MM.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological malignancy characterized by clonal plasma cell proliferation in bone marrow and abnormal monoclonal immunoglobulin accumulation in the serum and/or urine. The heterogeneity of the disease is partly due to the cytogenetic abnormalities diversity making the disease more or less aggressive. MM is incurable in the majority of cases with a median survival between 5 and 7 years. The persistence of abnormal plasma cells in bone marrow after treatment is called minimal residual disease (MRD) and leads to the patient relapse. Multiparametric flow cytometry (MFC) is a sensitive, simple and fast technique to identify and characterize cells of interest in biological samples. In order to simplify MRD follow-up we have developed a complete solution based on MFC. This solution includes (i) the 5-color panel design, composed of anti-CD38, anti-kappa and anti-lambda antibodies (Ab) to identify total plasma cell population and two pools of Ab paired to the same fluorophore (anti-CD19/anti-CD27, negative pool and anti-CD56/anti-CD117/anti-CD200, positive pool) to detect abnormal plasma cells; (ii) the development of a device used to automatically prepare biological samples before MFC; and (iii) the analysis automation of MFC results using a homemade software. This fully automated solution increases reproducibility and productivity, decreases processing and analyzing time as well as test cost, without affecting sensibility and specificity. In parallel, we have built a simple risk score based on gene expression encoding surface proteins (CD24, CD27, CD36 and CD302) providing MM patient outcome at diagnostic and MRD follow-up.; Le myélome multiple (MM) est une hémopathie maligne caractérisée par la prolifération d’un clone plasmocytaire tumoral dans la moelle osseuse et d’une accumulation d’une immunoglobuline monoclonale dans le sérum et/ou les urines. La diversité des anomalies cytogénétiques, rendant la maladie plus ou moins agressive, et la variabilité de la réponse au traitement font du MM une maladie hétérogène. Le MM reste incurable dans la majorité des cas avec une médiane de survie de 5 à 7 ans. La rechute après traitement est due à la persistance de cellules tumorales au sein de la moelle osseuse, appelée maladie résiduelle ou en anglais « Minimal Residual Disease » (MRD). La cytométrie en flux multiparamétrique (CFM) est une technique sensible, simple et rapide qui permet d’identifier et de caractériser des cellules d’intérêt dans un échantillon biologique. C’est dans le but de simplifier le suivi de la MRD du MM que nous avons développé une solution complète basée sur la CFM. Cette solution comprend (i) la conception d’un panel à 5 couleurs, composés des anticorps (Ac) anti-CD38, anti-kappa et anti-lambda pour identifier les plasmocytes totaux et de deux pools d’Ac couplés au même fluorochrome (anti-CD19/anti-CD27, pool négatif et anti-CD56/anti-CD117/anti-CD200, pool positif) pour détecter les plasmocytes tumoraux ; (ii) le développement d’un préparateur afin d’automatiser l’ensemble des étapes de préparation de l’échantillon ; et (iii) l’automatisation de l’analyse des résultats de CFM grâce à un logiciel que nous avons créé. Cette solution simple et entièrement automatisée permet d’augmenter la reproductibilité et la productivité, de diminuer le coût du test, sans altérer la sensibilité ou la spécificité. En parallèle de ces travaux, nous avons construit un score de risque simple basé sur l’expression de gènes codant pour des protéines de surface (CD24, CD27, CD36 et CD302) permettant de prédire la survie des patients atteints de MM au diagnostic ainsi qu’à la rechute.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable disease characterized by clonal plasma cell (PC) proliferation within the bone marrow (BM). Next-generation flow cytometry has become the reference tool to follow minimal residual disease (MRD). We developed a new simpler and cheaper flow cytometry method to analyze bone marrow samples in patients with MM.To identify and characterize abnormal PCs, we designed a simple panel composed of anti-CD38, antikappa, and antilambda light chain antibodies, combined with two antibody pools with the same fluorophore (anti-CD19 and anti-CD27 for the negative pool and anti-CD56, anti-CD117, and anti-CD200 antibodies for the positive pool). We also developed dedicated software for the automated identification of malignant PCs and MRD assessment. We then compared PC identification with our simple antibody panel and with the larger antibody panel routinely used at Montpellier University Hospital Center in 52 patients with MM (M-CHU cohort).Results for total PC detection (rOur simple and automated strategy for MRD assessment in MM could help increasing reproducibility and productivity without compromising sensitivity and specificity, while decreasing the test cost. © 2017 International Clinical Cytometry Society.