Assay and screens
A microfluidics-based method for measuring mass accumulation rates (MARs) in single cells could help predict therapeutic responses in MM patients. The method involves introducing patient-derived sample cells into a suspended microchannel resonator (SMR) -- a microfluidics-based device -- to repeatedly measure the individual cell masses over 15-20 minute intervals and thereby determine single-cell MARs (growth rates). When applied to myeloma cells from nine MM patients receiving Velcade bortezomib, Revlimid lenalidomide or dexamethasone as monotherapy or in combination, the method correctly predicted therapeutic sensitivity or resistance to therapy in all patients, based on a low or high MARs, respectively. Next steps by Travera LLC include testing the method in a larger cohort of MM patients.
Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and Johnson & Johnson market Velcade, a proteasome inhibitor, to treat mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and MM...