Würzburg Researchers Honoured in Toronto

At the 22nd Annual Congress of the International Myeloma Society (IMS), which took place in Toronto from 17 to 20 September 2025, leading international experts discussed the latest findings on the early detection, risk stratification and treatment of multiple myeloma.

In this malignant disease of the bone marrow, plasma cells, i.e. antibody-producing cells of the immune system, multiply uncontrollably. It leads to bone loss, blood count changes and a weakened immune defence and is one of the second most common blood cancers.

The Medical Clinic II of the University Hospital of Würzburg (UKW) has made multiple myeloma one of its central research focuses. It is one of Europe's leading centres for the treatment of this disease. Two researchers from the centre have been honoured in Toronto for their work in this field of research.

Secondary Leukaemia as a Rare Side Effect of CAR-T Cell Therapies

Max Köppel, a scientist in Dr Johannes Waldschmidt's research group, received the "Young Investigator Award" for his doctoral thesis on the development of secondary leukaemia after CAR-T cell therapies. To explain: CAR stands for chimeric antigen receptor, with which the white blood cells of the immune system, the body's own T cells, are equipped in the laboratory so that they can better detect and attack the tumour cells in the body.

In his project, funded by the José Carreras Leukaemia Foundation, Köppel was able to demonstrate that chemotherapy in earlier lines of treatment can lead to the selection of stem cell clones with oncogenic driver mutations - i.e. gene changes that impair normal cell function. These mutations may be further accelerated in their development by a subsequent CAR-T-mediated inflammatory state. This can subsequently lead to the development of secondary leukaemia.

A report on Max Köppel's doctoral thesis can be found on the UKW website.

A Promising Approach for New Targeted Cancer Therapies

Dr Torsten Steinbrunn is pursuing another treatment approach with specific inhibitors. The oncologist was able to show that myeloma disease is often driven by oncogenic mutations of the RAS protein. These proteins are involved in cell division and tumour development, meaning that mutations in their genes can promote the uncontrolled growth of cancer cells.

Using novel small molecules, it is now possible for the first time to directly switch off these RAS proteins pharmacologically and thus specifically slow down the growth of cancer cells. Steinbrunn's results are promising approaches for a personalised treatment strategy. RAS inhibitors could be used in future clinical trials as a supplement or alternative to immunotherapies. His work on this new targeted cancer therapy was recognised as one of the "Highlights of IMS 2025".

The Honoured Publications

Max Köppel, Johannes Waldschmidt, Umair Munawar, Shilpa Kurian, Manja Meggendorfer, Marietta Truger, Silvia Nerreter, Seungbin Han, Christina Verbruggen, Emma Besant, Nina Rein, Johanna Lehmann, Torsten Steinbrunn, Wing Cheung, Dominic Grün, Konstantin Matjusinski, Mikko Myllymaki, Satu Mustjoki, Michael Hudecek, Hermann Einsele, Leo Rasche, Martin Kortüm. PA-047 - Melphalan-Induced Enrichment of TP53-Mutant CHIP as a Risk Factor for Subsequent CAR-T Related Myeloid Neoplasms in Multiple Myeloma. Clinical Lymphoma Myeloma and Leukemia, Volume 25, Supplement 2, 2025, Pages S71-S72, ISSN 2152-2650, https://doi.org/10.1016/S2152-2650(25)03514-1.

Torsten Steinbrunn, Ryosuke Shirasaki, Olga Dashevsky, Huihui Tang, Brian Glassner, Shizuka Yamano, Oliver Bohorquez, Ricardo de Matos Simoes, Hermann Einsele, Constantine Mitsiades. PA-319 - Preclinical Activity of Pharmacological Inhibitors Targeting KRAS and pan-RAS in Multiple Myeloma. Clinical Lymphoma Myeloma and Leukemia. Volume 25, Supplement 2, 2025, Page S228, ISSN 2152-2650, https://doi.org/10.1016/S2152-2650(25)03782-6.