The Cottini Lab
The Cottini Lab team at the OSUCCC – James, led by cancer research specialist and Principal Investigator Francesca Cottini, MD, focuses on developing translational therapeutics for patients with multiple myeloma, also known as myeloma.
Specifically, the world-renowned research specialists in the Cottini Lab work to integrate concepts of myeloma biology, genomics and immunotherapy — and personalizing therapeutic approaches — to improve patient outcomes.
Treating the complete patient involves understanding the individual’s entire health background, their tumor biology and any relevant health factors so the nationally and internationally recognized cancer specialists and subspecialists at the OSUCCC – James can customize a sophisticated, targeted treatment regimen that is specific for each patient.
Mission
At the OSUCCC – James, the Cottini Lab team’s research mission is to improve outcomes and quality of life for patients with multiple myeloma. With support from grants and foundation efforts to fund much-needed cancer research, the Cottini Lab team will be able to do just that.
Foundations and agencies that have supported the team include:
- Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
- International Myeloma Society, from which the team earned the Translational Award
- Pelotonia
- National Cancer Institute, from which Dr. Cottini earned the K08 Award
- Ohio State College of Medicine, from which Dr. Cottini earned the Research Innovation Career Development Award
How We Do It
The Cottini Lab research experts creatively and effectively use every resource available to reach their ultimate goal: to improve the lives of multiple myeloma patients everywhere.
Multiple myeloma is a disease of clonal plasma cells that accumulate in the bone marrow and can present acutely with renal failure, fractures or cord compression. More than 30,000 Americans are diagnosed with multiple myeloma every year, and they report a poor quality of life.
The initiation and progression of multiple myeloma is linked to several factors:
- Intrinsic genomic changes of the plasma cells with introduction of structural and numerical aberrations, gene mutations, altered protein expression and signaling pathways
- Aberrant immune system with reduced anti-tumoral immunity
- Patient characteristics and possible environmental factors
Every patient with multiple myeloma is unique and has a combination of the above factors. Despite more than 20 drugs approved to treat the disease, every patient receives similar regimens without accounting for genetic or immune-related heterogeneity.
Therefore, identifying strategies to treat specific subsets of multiple myeloma patients will improve outcomes and reduce acute events caused by disease progression.