20 years of making myeloma history

Celebrating a journey fueled by science, compassion and hope

Sept. 16, 2024

Dr. Abonour coasts to the finish line at the completion of a Miles for Myeloma event.

It was 1984 in Syria and a young Rafat Abonour was preparing to graduate from medical school. One of the requirements he needed to complete was writing a book about something exciting happening in medicine. He chose the use of immunotherapy in cancer treatment as his topic. “It seemed like fiction at the time,” Dr. Abonour, who is now the Harry and Edith Gladstein Professor of Cancer Research at Indiana University, said.

Fast forward to 2024, and immunotherapy is being used successfully to treat a wide variety of diseases — including lymphoma and, yes, multiple myeloma. Being unafraid to look at what could be rather than being satisfied with what is has been a defining characteristic of Abonour throughout his entire professional career. “I don’t believe in the status quo,” he said. “You have to always be curious and look for answers.” Finding answers for his patients is what fueled his desire to launch Miles for Myeloma (M4M) in 2005 as an annual event dedicated to increasing awareness of multiple myeloma and raising funds to support research into treatments for the disease at IU.

Celebrating 20 years of progress

At the 20th annual Miles for Myeloma Patient Education Symposium on Sept. 22, patients, families, supporters and physician-scientists came together to celebrate the myeloma program at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center.

A legacy that’s still being created

Ultimately, the goal of M4M is to help fund research that will lead to a cure. But until then, the event will roll on. “I promised patients that as long as multiple myeloma is an incurable disease, Miles for Myeloma will continue,” Abonour said.

“What I want Miles for Myeloma to represent is the resilience of people when they’re faced with adversity,” Abonour said. “This resilience translates to a better quality of life. And, when people join forces to face adversity together, better outcomes can be achieved.”

Although the legacy of M4M is still being built, the first 20 years have shown what’s possible through collaboration and mutual respect. “There are a lot of things we have in common as human beings,” Abonour said. “With Miles for Myeloma, we’ve proven that we can share a common cause or mission and work together so beautifully. I wish this could be translated into how human beings interact with each other no matter where they are or what their differences might be.”

Abonour’s own legacy is also still being written. The impact he has had and continues to have on his team and his patients is irrefutable.

“Dr. Abonour is a joy to work with,” Walker said. “I couldn’t imagine the IU myeloma team without him. He is incredibly supportive of our research and the myeloma team as a whole. He provides important insight into the clinical benefit of our research to his patients, so that we remain focused on what is important.”

Dr. Abonour (center) and his fellow cyclists before the start of Miles for Myeloma in 2018.

For many members of his team, Abonour is both a colleague and a mentor. This has certainly been the case for Suvannasankha. “His passion for both patient care and research is contagious — and he’s created an environment where innovation and collaboration thrive,” she said. “I’ve learned so much from him, and I’m grateful to be part of a team that shares his commitment to making a real difference in the fight against myeloma.”

But perhaps the most important and lasting part of Abonour’s legacy will be the hope, compassion and care he brings to his patients and those they love. “His attitude is so optimistic,” Jan Tamer said. “Greg and I have confidence in his vision — and his approach to treating multiple myeloma is so upbeat. You can’t feel down when you’re around him.”

Greg has been a beneficiary of Abonour’s dedication to patient care. “When I was first diagnosed, I thought of the things I wouldn’t live to see,” he said. “But now I’m seeing those things and loving it.”

Since its inaugural event in 2005, M4M has raised $8.3 million — all of which goes directly to research at IU and enhanced patient care at IU Health. This funding is helping advance the research that’s leading to more effective treatments and that’s giving patients a very real sense of hope. As it enters its third decade, M4M will continue to make myeloma history by playing a key role in pushing the boundaries of multiple myeloma research — bringing us ever closer to a world in which this disease is no longer incurable.

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