Does CAR-T Therapy Work for Relapse?
Multiple Myeloma
Does CAR-T Therapy Work for Relapse?
A relapse of multiple myeloma is difficult to treat. Myeloma cells that have survived after undergoing rounds and rounds of various treatments to cause relapse typically are the most resistant of the bunch. Fortunately, an exciting new treatment known as CAR T-Cell therapy is being tested in clinical trials and should be available soon for standard use. But does CAR-T therapy work for relapse of the disease? (For more on CAR T therapy)
CAR T-Cell Therapy uses the body’s immune system to destroy cancerous cells. The immune system’s main soldier in fighting off viruses and bacteria is the T-cell. Unfortunately, the body’s T-cells aren’t typically strong enough to fight off myeloma cells, but scientists have recently been able to extract T-cells from a patient’s body, modify them, and then reinsert them back into the patient. The cells are modified to target BCMA, a protein uniquely expressed on myeloma cells.
Dr. Adam Cohen, hematologist-oncologist at the University of Pennsylvania, explains,”There have been a couple of studies now demonstrating proof of principle, that CAR T-cells targeting this BCMA molecule can induce responses, even in very refractory patients who have really progressed through almost any treatment.” Cohen himself is responsible for several clinical trials at the University of Pennsylvania studying the effectiveness of CAR T therapy. Despite the promising evidence, he has noticed the difficulty with treating patients who have relapsed. He says that patients with relapsed myeloma have already undergone several treatments, so their immune system is at risk of “T-cell exhaustion” where your T-cells don’t function properly because of overuse. In myeloma patients, CAR T-cell therapy typically works best when the cells don’t exhibit fatigue.
He notes, “While it’s preliminary, one thing we’re noticing is that patients whose T-cells, before we start the manufacturing process, if those T-cells seem to have a less exhausted, less dysfunctional phenotype…then that may predict patients who are likely to have good CAR T cell activity in the patient, and maybe a response.”
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A relapse of multiple myeloma is difficult to treat. Myeloma cells that have survived after undergoing rounds and rounds of various treatments to cause relapse typically are the most resistant of the bunch. Fortunately, an exciting new treatment known as CAR T-Cell therapy is being tested in clinical trials and should be available soon for standard use. But does CAR-T therapy work for relapse of the disease? (For more on CAR T therapy)
CAR T-Cell Therapy uses the body’s immune system to destroy cancerous cells. The immune system’s main soldier in fighting off viruses and bacteria is the T-cell. Unfortunately, the body’s T-cells aren’t typically strong enough to fight off myeloma cells, but scientists have recently been able to extract T-cells from a patient’s body, modify them, and then reinsert them back into the patient. The cells are modified to target BCMA, a protein uniquely expressed on myeloma cells.
Dr. Adam Cohen, hematologist-oncologist at the University of Pennsylvania, explains,”There have been a couple of studies now demonstrating proof of principle, that CAR T-cells targeting this BCMA molecule can induce responses, even in very refractory patients who have really progressed through almost any treatment.” Cohen himself is responsible for several clinical trials at the University of Pennsylvania studying the effectiveness of CAR T therapy. Despite the promising evidence, he has noticed the difficulty with treating patients who have relapsed. He says that patients with relapsed myeloma have already undergone several treatments, so their immune system is at risk of “T-cell exhaustion” where your T-cells don’t function properly because of overuse. In myeloma patients, CAR T-cell therapy typically works best when the cells don’t exhibit fatigue.
He notes, “While it’s preliminary, one thing we’re noticing is that patients whose T-cells, before we start the manufacturing process, if those T-cells seem to have a less exhausted, less dysfunctional phenotype…then that may predict patients who are likely to have good CAR T cell activity in the patient, and maybe a response.”
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Relapsed multiple myeloma is challenging to treat, but an increasing number of extremely effective options exist including different varying combinations and novel therapies.
Relapse: You Have Options
Relapsed multiple myeloma is challenging to treat, but an increasing number of extremely effective options exist including different varying combinations and novel therapies.