Targeting Myeloma with CAR T-Cells

CAR T-cell therapies targeting B-lymphocyte antigen CD19 have been approved for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Now, investigators have conducted an industry-funded, multicenter, phase I trial to evaluate the use of CAR T-cell therapy targeting the B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) in patients with relapsed myeloma. All patients had been treated with a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory agent. Patients received lympho-depletion with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide, with doses ranging from 50 to 800 million CAR T-cells/kg. Doses of 150 to 450 million CAR T-cells/kg were used for expansion study cohorts.

Of 33 patients receiving cell infusions…