Dr. Anderson on the Methods Utilized in the KarMMa Trial in Multiple Myeloma

Larry Anderson, MD, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine of the Division of Hematology/Oncology, at Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center of UT Southwestern Medical Center, discusses the methods utilized in the phase 2 KarMMa trial (NCT03361748) in multiple myeloma.

The KarMMa trial, which had updated data presented during the 2021 International Myeloma Workshop, investigated the efficacy and safety of idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel; Abecma) in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Prior to ide-cel administration, peripheral blood autologous T cells are taken via leukapheresis from a patient and modified with a viral vector to express a CAR T-cell receptor that recognizes BCMA, a plasma cell–specific surface protein on myeloma cells that is not expressed on other normal tissue, Anderson explains. In the KarMMa trial, 128 patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma who received at least 3 prior lines of therapy were treated with ide-cel across a target dose range of 150 x 106 to 450 x 106 CAR T cells, Anderson adds. Patients had received a median of 6 prior lines of therapy, with a range from 3 to 16, Anderson concludes.