Researchers at ETH Zurich have introduced a novel screening platform known as pharmacoscopy, aimed at personalized treatment for multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer characterized by the abnormal proliferation of plasma cells. Despite advances in drug therapies, including immunotherapy, multiple myeloma remains incurable, with an average life expectancy of five years post-diagnosis and a significant challenge being the cancer’s recurrence and resistance to treatment.
Pharmacoscopy enables the simultaneous testing of hundreds of drug combinations on individual patient biopsies, providing insights into the most effective therapies for each patient. The method involves placing bone marrow cells in a 384-well plate, with each well containing different drug combinations. Following a 24-hour incubation, cells are stained and analyzed using automated microscopy and deep-learning algorithms to classify their reactions.
The researchers analyzed 138 bone marrow biopsies from 89 patients at varying disease stages, uncovering personalized treatment options tailored to individual cancer responses. While similar applications of pharmacoscopy have been used for other blood cancers, this adaptation holds promise for more successful treatments in myeloma. The current goal includes expanding this technology to solid tumors, with ongoing efforts to refine the screening process for brain tumors and beyond. The method’s validation through clinical trials is the next crucial step.
