Professor of Pathology Mikhail A. Nikiforov, PhD, has discovered a potential therapy to treat multiple myeloma (MM), the second-most common blood cancer. His study, “Targeting STK17B Kinase Activates Ferroptosis and Suppresses Drug Resistance in Multiple Myeloma,” was published in Blood, the flagship journal of the American Society of Hematology, on Sept. 12, 2025. Moreover, Duke’s Intellectual Property office has filed a provisional patent based on the findings in the paper.
MM is an incurable cancer of plasma cells in bone marrow, and relapse after treatment remains a frequent and often deadly challenge. One of the major features of myeloma cells is their reliance on iron to sustain rapid growth. This iron dependence, however, comes at a cost: excess iron can trigger ferroptosis, a form of cell death driven by iron-mediated damage to cell membranes.
To escape this threat, myeloma cells exploit the kinase STK17B, which acts to prevent iron overload and thereby suppress ferroptosis. Elevated STK17B levels correlate with poor prognosis and are especially high in relapsed cases, underscoring its role in treatment resistance.
Blocking STK17B with a newly developed oral inhibitor undermined this protective mechanism, driving iron accumulation, reactivating ferroptosis, and enhancing the effectiveness of standard therapies. In animal models, the inhibitor also led to significant tumor suppression. Together, these findings position STK17B as a key molecular safeguard that shields myeloma cells from their own iron dependence and identify its inhibition as a compelling new therapeutic strategy. Duke’s provisional patent is for this orally available small molecule STK17B/DRAK2 inhibitor that activates ferroptosis and suppresses drug resistance in multiple myeloma.
Nikiforov joined Duke in January 2022. He has published a considerable number of high-visibility papers in the fields of melanoma and MM, and his research focuses on identifying the metabolic vulnerabilities in these malignancies. Read more about the Nikiforov Lab’s work here.
In addition, he serves as vice chair of the department’s Appointment, Promotions, and Tenure (APT) Committee, providing support for the department’s basic science faculty.