dr. Bert Luyckx (PhD)

Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a malignancy characterized by an uncontrolled proliferation of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow. The treatment of newly diagnosed MM patients typically consists of a multimodal approach, with glucocorticoids (GC) as a crucial treatment pillar in the diagnosis and relapsed settings. Despite a rapidly changing therapeutic armamentarium, the disease remains incurable as patients become therapy resistant to (a component of) the combination treatment. In my research, we use different in cellulo models of GC resistance to gain insights into the processes of emerging GC therapy resistance. From our analyses, we validated a biomarker, CCR1, expressed on the myeloma cells, to have a pivotal role in determining the GC sensitivity of MM cells. We demonstrate that blocking CCR1 signaling enhances the cytotoxic effects of dexamethasone in MM cell lines, primary patient material and a myeloma mouse model, where also observed indications of improved MM bone disease with CCR1 inhibition. Further research will focus on a deeper understanding of the underlying, mechanistic processes of GC resistance and the role of CCR1 therein. We will furthermore focus on how CCR1 targeting can be used in the current standard of care, as this enhances therapy efficacy and simultaneously tackles myeloma bone disease, a debilitating clinical problem. 
 

• “CCR1 Inhibition Sensitizes Multiple Myeloma Cells to Glucocorticoid Therapy.” PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH, vol. 215, 2025, doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2025.107709
• “Modeling of Glucocorticoid Resistance in Multiple Myeloma Reveals Mechanisms and Markers of Glucocorticoid Resistance.” BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY, vol. 192, 2025, doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2025.118656
   

• Lab address: VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology- UGent Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75 - 9052 Gent – BELGIUM
• VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology
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• Bert Luyckx is interested to receive invitations for presentations or talks