Yolanda Calle

My research is mainly focused in multiple myeloma, a haematological malignancy characterised by accumulation of plasma cells in the bone marrow. It is becoming increasingly evident that the interaction of the tumour myeloma plasma cells with the bone marrow microenvironment is essential for the development of the disease. The pattern of expression of cell adhesion molecules and the secretion of soluble factors by both myeloma plasma cells and other bone marrow cells (fibroblasts, osteoclasts, osteoblasts, endothelial cells, etc) create a network of signals that promote malignant cells survival. These processes require the recruitment of bone marrow cells and myeloma cells to niches within the bone marrow that allow cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions that trigger these network of signals. In addition, myeloma cells can become resistant to therapeutic treatments targeting cell proliferation and survival by increasing their adhesive properties to extracellular matrix proteins. Our research is focused in increasing our understanding of the adhesion and migratory patterns of both myeloma and other bone cells and the signalling pathways involved in these processes to search for targets to develop new therapeutic agents for multiple myeloma.

Regulation of cell adhesion and the cytoskeleton in haematological malignancies.