Options Explored for MM That Relapses After BCMA CAR T Therapy

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 9, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with multiple myeloma that relapses after B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T) therapy can potentially be treated with multiple lines of salvage therapy, according to a study published online Nov. 4 in Blood.

Oliver Van Oekelen, M.D., Ph.D., from Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York City, and colleagues analyzed the salvage treatments and outcomes of 79 multiple myeloma patients who had disease progression after treatment with BCMA-directed CAR T.

The researchers found that 237 post-CAR T salvage treatment lines were used, with patients receiving a median of two treatment lines. From the date of relapse post-CAR T, median overall survival was 17.9 months. The overall response rate was 43.4 percent to the first salvage regimen, with median progression-free survival of 3.5 months. Of the patients, 44.3 percent received salvage treatment of T cell-engaging therapy (bispecific antibody or subsequent CAR T). In patients who received a subsequent T cell-engaging therapy, overall survival was not reached after median follow-up of 21.3 months.

"We're encouraged that subsequent use of other novel immune therapies like a second CAR T cell therapy or a bispecific antibody was feasible and led to durable responses in patients," a coauthor said in a statement. "We look forward to continuing this work and unlocking the full potential of immune therapies for patients with multiple myeloma."

Several authors disclosed financial ties to the biopharmaceutical industry.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)