Study Reveals Hepatitis B & C Viruses Linked to Common Blood Cancer
In a groundbreaking study, researchers from Hospital 12 de
Octubre (H12O) and the National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) in Madrid, Spain,
have uncovered a surprising link between Hepatitis B and C viruses and multiple
myeloma, a prevalent form of blood cancer. This discovery not only sheds light
on a previously unknown cause of multiple myeloma but also paves the way for
new treatment options for this often fatal disease.
The breakthrough stemmed from the remarkable case of a
patient who, a few years ago, achieved remission from multiple myeloma after
undergoing treatment for Hepatitis C. The unexpected success of this treatment
left the Spanish research team astounded and prompted them to delve deeper into
the relationship between viral infections and multiple myeloma.
Multiple myeloma is characterized by the excessive
proliferation of blood cells responsible for producing antibodies, the proteins
that defend the body against infections. In individuals with myeloma, a
particular antibody, specific to the infectious agent, is produced excessively
and continuously. While the cause of this anomaly has long been suspected to be
linked to infectious pathogens, this connection had never been conclusively
verified.
The team's findings suggest that eliminating the viral
infection through antiviral treatment may be a key strategy in combating
multiple myeloma. "The recognition of this association between viral
hepatitis and multiple myeloma... has important clinical implications,"
the researchers emphasized in an editorial published in the journal
Haematologica.
The team proposed a theory explaining the correlation:
chronic exposure to the infectious agent may disrupt the biochemical signals
involved in producing specific antibodies against that agent, leading to the abnormal
proliferation of blood cells seen in multiple myeloma.
To validate their theory, the researchers conducted two
studies involving patients with monoclonal gammopathy, a precursor to multiple
myeloma, and hepatitis. The results, spanning over 1,300 multiple myeloma
patients infected with Hepatitis B and over 1,200 with Hepatitis C,
consistently showed that antiviral treatment significantly increased the
probability of survival.
"In patients infected with the Hepatitis B or Hepatitis
C virus, multiple myeloma or gammopathy may be caused by these viruses, and the
study demonstrates the importance of antiviral treatment in these
patients," the researchers concluded.
This groundbreaking research not only unveils a new
understanding of the origins of multiple myeloma but also emphasizes the
potential effectiveness of antiviral treatment in improving outcomes for
individuals with this form of blood cancer.