Michael O'Dwyer, MD National University of Ireland Galway Interview Date: August 25, 2017

Why does multiple myeloma become resistant to current treatments? Research has been done showing that sugar molecules can cover the surface of cancerous cells, hiding them from the immune system. The surface sugars, called sialic acids, can mark the cancer cells as “self” cells, giving the immune system the signal to ignore them. The glycosylation process (or the reaction when carbohydrates is attached to other molecules) is a process that produces DNA, RNA and proteins. This normal process is altered in multiple myeloma and could cause changes in cell signaling, adhesion and drug resistance. Dr. O'Dwyer is both an expert in multiple myeloma and in glycosylation and explains how this works and the steps being taken to overcome sugar's effects.

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