Immunotherapy in multiple myeloma: when, where, and for who?

CAR T therapies in multiple myeloma: unleashing the future

In recent years, the field of cancer treatment has witnessed remarkable breakthroughs that have revolutionized the landscape of care for cancer patients. While traditional pillars such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy have long been available, a cutting-edge therapeutic approach called CAR T-cell therapy has emerged as a game-changer in treating multiple myeloma (MM). This novel treatment method complements options like autologous stem cell transplants and immunomodulatory medications, such as proteasome inhibitors, by utilizing protein complexes or anti-CD38 antibodies with potent complement-dependent cytotoxic effects. Despite the challenges and obstacles associated with these treatments, the recent approval of the second FDA multiple myeloma CAR T-cell therapy has sparked immense promise in the field. Thus far, the results indicate its potential as a highly effective therapeutic solution. Moreover, ongoing preclinical and clinical trials are exploring the capabilities of CAR T-cells in targeting specific antigens on myeloma cells, offering hope for patients with relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM). These advancements have shown the potential for CAR T cell-based medicines or combination therapies to elicit greater treatment responses and minimize side effects. In this context, it is crucial to delve into the history and functions of CAR T-cells while acknowledging their limitations. We can strategize and develop innovative approaches to overcome these barriers by understanding their challenges. This article aims to provide insights into the application of CAR T-cells in treating MM, shedding light on their potential, limitations, and strategies employed to enhance their efficacy.

Advances in the application of Raman spectroscopy in haematological tumours

Hematologic malignancies are a diverse collection of cancers that affect the blood, bone marrow, and organs. They have a very unpredictable prognosis and recur after treatment. Leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma are the most prevalent symptoms. Despite advancements in chemotherapy and supportive care, the incidence rate and mortality of patients with hematological malignancies remain high. Additionally, there are issues with the clinical diagnosis because several hematological malignancies lack defined, systematic diagnostic criteria. This work provided an overview of the fundamentals, benefits, and limitations of Raman spectroscopy and its use in hematological cancers. The alterations of trace substances can be recognized using Raman spectroscopy. High sensitivity, non-destructive, quick, real-time, and other attributes define it. Clinicians must promptly identify disorders and keep track of analytes in biological fluids. For instance, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy is employed in diagnosing gene mutations in myelodysplastic syndromes due to its high sensitivity and multiple detection benefits. Serum indicators for multiple myeloma have been routinely used for detection. The simultaneous observation of DNA strand modifications and the production of new molecular bonds by tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy is of tremendous significance for diagnosing lymphoma and multiple myeloma with unidentified diagnostic criteria.

NK cell therapy in relapsed refractory multiple myeloma

Recent advances in adoptive cell therapy have considerably changed the paradigm of cancer immunotherapy. Although current immunotherapies could cure many patients with multiple myeloma (MM), relapsed/refractory MM (RR/MM) is still challenging in some cases. Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune cells that exert effective cytotoxic activity against malignant cells like myeloma cells. In addition to their antitumor properties, NK cells do not induce graft versus host disease following transplantation. Therefore, they provide a promising approach to treating RR/MM patients. Currently, attempts have been made to produce large-scale and good manufacturing practices (GMP) of NK cells. Ex vivo expanded/activated NK cells derived from the own patient or allogenic donors are potential options for NK cell therapy in MM. Besides, novel cell-based products such as NK cell lines and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-NK cells may provide an off-the-shelf source for NK cell therapy. Here, we summarized NK cell activity in the MM microenvironment and focused on different NK cell therapy methods for MM patients.

Immunotherapy with Antibodies in Multiple Myeloma: Monoclonals, Bispecifics, and Immunoconjugates

In the 2010s, immunotherapy revolutionized the treatment landscape of multiple myeloma. CD38-targeting antibodies were initially applied as monotherapy in end-stage patients, but are now also approved by EMA/FDA in combination with standards-of-care in newly diagnosed disease or in patients with early relapse. The approved SLAMF7-targeting antibody can also be successfully combined with lenalidomide or pomalidomide in relapsed/refractory myeloma. Although this has resulted in improved clinical outcomes, there remains a high unmet need in patients who become refractory to immunomodulatory drugs, proteasome inhibitors and CD38-targeting antibodies. Several new antibody formats, such as antibody–drug conjugates (e.g., belantamab mafodotin, which was approved in 2020 and targets BCMA) and T cell redirecting bispecific antibodies (e.g., teclistamab, talquetamab, cevostamab, AMG-420, and CC-93269) are active in these triple-class refractory patients. Based on their promising efficacy, it is expected that these new antibody formats will also be combined with other agents in earlier disease settings.

T-cell redirecting bispecific antibodies targeting BCMA for the treatment of multiple myeloma

B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeting bispecific antibodies and bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs) redirect T-cells to BCMA-expressing multiple myeloma (MM) cells. These MM cells are subsequently eliminated via various mechanisms of action including the release of granzymes and perforins. Several phase 1, dose-escalation studies show pronounced activity of BCMA-targeting bispecific antibodies, including teclistamab, AMG420 and CC-93269, in heavily pretreated MM patients. Cytokine release syndrome is the most common adverse event, which can be adequately managed with tocilizumab or steroids. Several clinical trials are currently evaluating combination therapy with a BCMA-specific bispecific antibody, based on preclinical findings showing that immunomodulatory drugs or CD38-targeting antibodies enhance the activity of bispecific antibodies. In addition, bispecific antibodies, targeting other MM cell surface antigens (i. e. GPRC5D, CD38 and FcRH5), are also evaluated in early phase clinical trials. Such bispecific antibodies, targeting other antigens, may be given to patients with low baseline BCMA expression, disease with substantial heterogeneity in BCMA expression, following prior BCMA-targeted therapy, or combined with BCMA bispecific antibodies to prevent development of antigen escape.