Bone marrow map reveals hidden complexity of blood cancer

Researchers have created the first detailed molecular map of the human bone marrow, revealing new insights that could reshape our thinking about how an incurable blood cancer grows and spreads.

The WEHI team used state-of-the-art spatial technology to produce a molecular “Google map” of the bone marrow by imaging more than 5,000 genes within individual cells.

The study, published in Blood, challenges established theories about the development and progression of myeloma, and paves the way for developing more effective treatments for patients.

Myeloma is a type of blood cancer that affects plasma cells in the bone marrow. It is often called multiple myeloma because 90% of people have multiple bone lesions when they are diagnosed. Existing treatments can slow its progress and manage symptoms but myeloma remains incurable, with more than 2,500 Australians diagnosed each year.

Scientists have long believed that myeloma cells shape the bone marrow in similar ways and that universal treatments could be developed to target those common features. But the new research reveals that each cancer cell can form their own unique microenvironment within the bone marrow.

Co-first author Dr. Raymond Yip said the extraordinary level of detail in the molecular map offered fresh ways of thinking about how myeloma behaves.

“We found that each group of cancerous plasma cells creates its own distinct space, with different supporting cells and gene activity,” said Dr. Yip, a postdoctoral researcher in the Hawkins Lab at WEHI. “It’s like discovering that each tumor has its own postcode.

“Our findings challenge current thinking on myeloma and could redefine how we understand and treat the disease. Ultimately, this research lays the foundation for more effective treatment strategies for myeloma and potentially for other blood cancers.”

The study analyzed bone marrow samples from healthy individuals, patients with early signs of disease, and those with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

The findings show that malignant plasma cells are not always evenly spread, but instead can cluster in spatially restricted areas, each with its own biological signature.

Clinician Ph.D. researcher and study co-first author Jeremy Er said the research could help explain why people with myeloma respond differently to current treatments and suggests that a one-size-fits-all treatment strategy may not work. “We hope this work is the first step in developing more tailored strategies and new ways to detect, monitor and treat myeloma,” he said.

The study harnessed the latest spatial technologies at WEHI that allow researchers to see what each cell is doing and precisely where it is located within tissue.

These powerful tools are transforming how scientists study complex diseases like cancer, by revealing how cells behave in their natural environment.

The WEHI team combined spatial transcriptomics with an optimized biobanking method for bone marrow samples, enabling them to profile 5,001 genes at single-cell resolution and analyze the full cellular landscape in unprecedented detail.

Provided by
WEHI

Researchers have created the first detailed molecular map of the human bone marrow, revealing new insights that could reshape our thinking about how an incurable blood cancer grows and spreads.

The WEHI team used state-of-the-art spatial technology to produce a molecular “Google map” of the bone marrow by imaging more than 5,000 genes within individual cells.

The study, published in Blood, challenges established theories about the development and progression of myeloma, and paves the way for developing more effective treatments for patients.

Myeloma is a type of blood cancer that affects plasma cells in the bone marrow. It is often called multiple myeloma because 90% of people have multiple bone lesions when they are diagnosed. Existing treatments can slow its progress and manage symptoms but myeloma remains incurable, with more than 2,500 Australians diagnosed each year.

Scientists have long believed that myeloma cells shape the bone marrow in similar ways and that universal treatments could be developed to target those common features. But the new research reveals that each cancer cell can form their own unique microenvironment within the bone marrow.

Co-first author Dr. Raymond Yip said the extraordinary level of detail in the molecular map offered fresh ways of thinking about how myeloma behaves.

“We found that each group of cancerous plasma cells creates its own distinct space, with different supporting cells and gene activity,” said Dr. Yip, a postdoctoral researcher in the Hawkins Lab at WEHI. “It’s like discovering that each tumor has its own postcode.

“Our findings challenge current thinking on myeloma and could redefine how we understand and treat the disease. Ultimately, this research lays the foundation for more effective treatment strategies for myeloma and potentially for other blood cancers.”

The study analyzed bone marrow samples from healthy individuals, patients with early signs of disease, and those with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

The findings show that malignant plasma cells are not always evenly spread, but instead can cluster in spatially restricted areas, each with its own biological signature.

Clinician Ph.D. researcher and study co-first author Jeremy Er said the research could help explain why people with myeloma respond differently to current treatments and suggests that a one-size-fits-all treatment strategy may not work. “We hope this work is the first step in developing more tailored strategies and new ways to detect, monitor and treat myeloma,” he said.

The study harnessed the latest spatial technologies at WEHI that allow researchers to see what each cell is doing and precisely where it is located within tissue.

These powerful tools are transforming how scientists study complex diseases like cancer, by revealing how cells behave in their natural environment.

The WEHI team combined spatial transcriptomics with an optimized biobanking method for bone marrow samples, enabling them to profile 5,001 genes at single-cell resolution and analyze the full cellular landscape in unprecedented detail.

Provided by
WEHI