Dr. Castaneda Puglianini on Next Steps With CAR T-Cell Therapy in Multiple Myeloma

Omar Castaneda Puglianini, MD, hematologist and medical oncologist, Moffitt Cancer Center, discusses next steps with CAR T-cell therapy in penta-refractory multiple myeloma.

The FDA-approved CAR T-cell therapy idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel; Abecma) and the investigational product ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel)have demonstrated utility in the treatment of patients with heavily pretreated multiple myeloma. However, it is important to improve upon the duration of response (DOR) observed with these regimens, Castaneda Puglianini says. Moreover, novel strategies are being examined, as is the role of maintenance therapy patients who progress on CAR T-cell therapy in terms of prolonging DOR, Castaneda Puglianini notes.

Also, developments are being made regarding how to sequence therapies, such as bispecific antibodies or antibody-drug conjugates targeting antigens beyond BCMA, in the post–CAR T-cell therapy space, Castaneda Puglianini continues. These are all areas in need of further examination to improve patient responses, especially in individuals with penta-refractory or triple-class refractory disease who currently have poor overall survival, Castaneda Puglianini concludes.