Dr. Kazandjian on Novel Therapeutic Targets in Multiple Myeloma

Dickran G. Kazandjian, MD, professor of medicine, Myeloma Program, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses novel therapeutic targets in multiple myeloma.

Bispecific T-cell engagers and CAR T-cell therapies directed toward novel targets, such as GPRC5D, are emerging in multiple myeloma, says Kazandjian.

Additionally, SLAMF7 is emerging as a potential target for CAR T-cell therapy in multiple myeloma, Kazandjian says. The SLAMF7-targeted monoclonal antibody elotuzumab (Empliciti) was approved in 2018 by the FDA for use in combination with pomalidomide (Pomalyst) and dexamethasone in certain patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

In addition to novel targets, CAR T-cell therapies with improved stimulatory and binding domains are emerging in this disease, Kazandjian explains. For example, the phase 1/2 EVOLVE study (NCT03430011) is evaluating a newer CAR T-cell product orvacabtagene autoleucel (JCARH125) in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, Kazandjian says. This therapy appears to have a low affinity for binding soluble BCMA, which could improve the therapy’s ability to bind to cell-surface BCMA on myeloma cells, concludes Kazandjian.