On Jan. 30, 2025, the journal Leukemia published a paper co-authored by Professor of Pathology Mikhail Nikiforov, PhD, titled "Targeting ABCD1-ACOX1-MET/IGF1R Axis Suppresses Multiple Myeloma."
Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common blood cancer. It affects the plasma cells in the bone marrow, which are responsible for making antibodies. Nikiforov’s lab found that the growth and survival of MM cells can be slowed down by boosting the levels of a specific type of fatty acids in the cells called very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs). Although VLCFAs make up only a small portion of all fatty acids in a cell, they control many processes by regulating the structure and rigidity of cell membranes.
Nikiforov’s team discovered that a small molecule that blocks the enzyme responsible for breaking down VLCFAs can considerably elevate their levels inside the cell. This boost in VLCFA levels efficiently cooperated with traditional treatments for MM in tissue culture settings and animal models. The team’s findings point to a new metabolic vulnerability of MM and shows promise for developing new treatments for patients.
The first author is Duke Biomedical Engineering Associate in Research Zhannan Han. Duke Professor of Medicine Yubin Kang, MD, worked with Nikiforov as a principal investigator. Learn more about the Kang Lab here.
Nikiforov joined Duke in January 2022 as a professor of Pathology. He has published a considerable number of high-visibility papers in the fields of melanoma and multiple myeloma, 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.