The International Multiple Myeloma Research (IMMEnSE) Consortium: Genetics of Multiple Myeloma Risk and Prognosis
Authors: Canzian Federico , Beider Katia , Buda Gabriele , de Arriba de la Fuente Felipe , Dudzinski Marek , Dumontet Charles , Garcia-Sanz Ramon , Handa Hiroshi , Jamroziak Krzysztof , Jurado Manuel , Jurczyszyn Artur J. , Landi Stefano , Lesueur Fabienne , Marques Herlander , Martínez-López Joaquín , Moreno Victor , Murakami Hirokazu , Nagler Arnon , Petrini Mario , Reis Rui Manuel , Rios Rafael , Sainz Juan , Szemraj-Rogucka Zofia , Vangsted Annette Juul , Varkonyi Judit , Vogel Ulla , Watek Marzena , Campa Daniele 
Published: October 2019

We established the IMMEnSE (International Multiple Myeloma rESEarch) consortium, to increase our understanding of the genetic determinants of multiple myeloma (MM) risk, response to therapy and survival. At present we have DNA samples of over 3200 MM cases and 3000 healthy controls from 10 countries, mainly in Europe. For the majority of the cases clinical data on known prognostic factors, therapy outcome and survival have been also collected.

We already performed several association studies in the context of the IMMEnSE consortium. In particular, associations were found between MM risk and SNPs in the ABCB1 gene, which encodes for an efflux pump that has a key role in protecting cells from chemical damage (rs10264990: odds ratio (OR) =0.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.68-0.91; p=0.001, and rs17327442: OR=1.99; 95%CI 1.32-3.02; p=0.001). We also investigated the 8q24 region, which has been shown to harbor multiple loci of susceptibility to various cancers, and found an association between a SNP mapping in this region and MM risk (rs2456449: OR=1.37; 95%CI 1.12-1.68; p=0.0022). In addition, IMMEnSE cases and controls were also genotyped for three MM risk SNPs from the first genome-wide association study (GWAS), and the association of two of them (rs4487645 on chromosome 7p15.3 and rs6746082 on chromosome 2p23.3) was confirmed. Finally, SNPs of key telomere-related genes were genotyped and telomere length was measured in MM cases and controls, and a pleiotropic and functional variant of the TERT gene was found to be associated with reduced MM risk (rs2242652: OR=0.81; 95%CI 0.72-0.92; p=0.001). A suggestive association between longer telomeres and increased MM risk was also found (ptrend=0.01).

We will study new SNPs emerging as promising candidates from ongoing GWAS on MM risk and survival, as well as SNPs of key genes involved in the pathogenesis of MM. Finally, we plan to study methylation status of key genes involved in MM etiology, and mitochondrial copy number. The role of all these factors will be investigated in relation to MM risk and prognosis.

Collection of samples and data of MM cases and controls is ongoing, as well as of subjects with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS).

Table 1. MM cases and healthy controls collected in the IMMEnSE consortium Country Cases Median age(5th-95th percentile) Controls Median age(5th-95th percentile) Control type Italy 232 63 (46-78) 237 59 (42-76) General population Poland 1,286 63 (42-82) 200 68 (43-79) Blood donors Spain 322 64 (46-82) 1,131 66 (43-84) Hospitalized subjects France 642 57 (37-68) 191 48 (18-63) Blood donors Portugal 70 68 (45-82) 100 58 (53-79) Blood donors Hungary 148 68 (34-90) 105 74 (55-87) Hospitalized subjects Denmark 348 56 (43-65) 1,000 63 (52-73) Blood donors Israel 109 60 (41-77) 95 - Blood donors Canada 62 58 (42-70) - - - Japan 51 66 (47-84) - - - Total 3,270 63 (37-84) 3,059 63 (18-92)

Figure 1 Centers involved in IMMEnSE Figure 1. Centers involved in IMMEnSE

Disclosures

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.