Auner Lab

Contact


Dr Holger Auner

  • CRUK Advanced Clinician Scientist
  • Clinical Reader in Molecular Haemato-Oncology

+44 (0)20 3313 4017
holger.auner04@imperial.ac.uk

Areas of research


Proteotoxic stress and metabolism

Myeloma cells are characterised by a unique sensitivity to inhibitors of the proteasome, which is responsible for the controlled degradation of most cellular proteins that have become damaged or are otherwise unwanted. Nevertheless, resistance to proteasome inhibitors occurs in essentially all patients to varying degrees. Accumulation of misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which triggers proteotoxic ‘ER stress’, is widely believed to be the main mechanism of action of proteasome inhibitors. However, data from our lab and other research groups suggest complex interactions between proteasomal protein degradation and multiple metabolic processes. Our aim is to find metabolic and proteostatic vulnerabilities that we can exploit therapeutically.


Tissue biophysics in myeloma biology

Several important aspects of cancer cell biology are influenced by mechanical cues from the surrounding tissue. In particular, mechanical interactions and matrix remodelling have been shown to govern cancer cell metabolism. Tissue stiffness also impacts on normal haematopoiesis, and mechanical cues are known to modulate therapeutic responses. Moreover, we have shown that proteostasis-targeting drugs can alter tissue physical properties. We aim to understand how tissue stiffness and nutrient availability act together to rewire metabolic networks and regulate drug responses in myeloma.


Citation

BibTex format

@article{Gay:2017:10.3324/haematol.2017.174573,
author = {Gay, F and Engelhardt, M and Terpos, E and Wäsch, R and Giaccone, L and Auner, HW and Caers, J and Gramatzki, M and van, de Donk N and Oliva, S and Zamagni, E and Garderet, L and Straka, C and Hajek, R and Ludwig, H and Einsele, H and Dimopoulos, M and Boccadoro, M and Kröger, N and Cavo, M and Goldschmidt, H and Bruno, B and Sonneveld, P},
doi = {10.3324/haematol.2017.174573},
journal = {Haematologica},
pages = {197--211},
title = {From transplant to novel cellular therapies in multiple myeloma: EMN guidelines and future perspectives.},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.3324/haematol.2017.174573},
volume = {103},
year = {2017}
}

RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - JOUR
AB - Survival of myeloma patients has greatly improved with the use of autologous stem cell transplantation and novel agents, such as proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs and monoclonal antibodies. Compared to bortezomib- and lenalidomide-based regimens alone, the addition of high-dose melphalan followed by autologous transplantation significantly improves progression-free survival; although an overall survival benefit was not observed in all trials. Moreover, follow-up of recent trials is still too short to show any difference in survival. In the light of these findings, novel agent-based induction followed by autologous transplantation is considered the standard upfront treatment for eligible patients (level of evidence: 1A). Post-transplant consolidation and maintenance treatment can further improve patient outcome (1A). The availability of several novel agents has led to the development of multiple combination regimens as salvage treatment options. In this context, the role of salvage autologous transplantation and allotransplant have not been extensively evaluated. In case of prolonged remission after upfront autologous transplantation, another autologous transplantation at relapse can be considered (2B). Patients who experience early relapse and/or have high-risk features have a poor prognosis and may be considered as candidates for clinical trials that - in young and fit patients - may also include an allograft in combination with novel agents (2B). Ongoing studies are evaluating the role of novel cellular therapies, such as inclusion of antibody-based triplets and quadruplets and Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T cells: despite preliminary encouraging results, longer follow-up and larger patient numbers are needed before their clinical use can be widely recommended.
AU - Gay,F
AU - Engelhardt,M
AU - Terpos,E
AU - Wäsch,R
AU - Giaccone,L
AU - Auner,HW
AU - Caers,J
AU - Gramatzki,M
AU - van,de Donk N
AU - Oliva,S
AU - Zamagni,E
AU - Garderet,L
AU - Straka,C
AU - Hajek,R
AU - Ludwig,H
AU - Einsele,H
AU - Dimopoulos,M
AU - Boccadoro,M
AU - Kröger,N
AU - Cavo,M
AU - Goldschmidt,H
AU - Bruno,B
AU - Sonneveld,P
DO - 10.3324/haematol.2017.174573
EP - 211
PY - 2017///
SN - 0390-6078
SP - 197
TI - From transplant to novel cellular therapies in multiple myeloma: EMN guidelines and future perspectives.
T2 - Haematologica
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.3324/haematol.2017.174573
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/55587
VL - 103
ER -

Hugh and Josseline Langmuir Myeloma Centre