Key predictors of long-term outcomes in BCMA-targeted CAR-T therapy for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma

Abstract Background B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy exhibits high response rates in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (r/r MM). However, the specific factors that influence the response duration remain poorly understood. Met...

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Main Authors: Ning An, Juan Li, Pan Luo, Di Wang, Peiling Zhang, Chang Shu, Songbai Cai, Qiuxia Yu, Xinyu Wen, Xinran Wang, Wei Mu, Jianlin Hu, Chunrui Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Translational Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-025-06543-x
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author Ning An
Juan Li
Pan Luo
Di Wang
Peiling Zhang
Chang Shu
Songbai Cai
Qiuxia Yu
Xinyu Wen
Xinran Wang
Wei Mu
Jianlin Hu
Chunrui Li
author_facet Ning An
Juan Li
Pan Luo
Di Wang
Peiling Zhang
Chang Shu
Songbai Cai
Qiuxia Yu
Xinyu Wen
Xinran Wang
Wei Mu
Jianlin Hu
Chunrui Li
author_sort Ning An
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy exhibits high response rates in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (r/r MM). However, the specific factors that influence the response duration remain poorly understood. Methods This single-centre, retrospective observational study included 56 patients with r/r MM who received BCMA CAR-T therapy (equecabtagene autoleucel) at Tongji Hospital, China. We analysed response rates and long-term clinical outcomes and identified key factors contributing to the long-term efficacy of BCMA CAR-T therapy. Results At a median follow-up of 39.6 months, the overall response rate (ORR) was 96.4%. Among the patients, 96.4% (54 of 56) achieved minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity, whereas 80.4% (45 of 56) achieved complete response (CR) or stringent complete response (sCR). Poorer outcomes were observed in patients with triple exposure, high cytogenetic risk, or failure to achieve CR. Better outcomes were associated with a CAR-T cell persistence of at least six months and sustained MRD negativity. Prolonged MRD negativity was strongly correlated with longer progression-free survival (PFS), with median PFS durations of 58 months, 64 months, and not reached (NR) for patients who maintained MRD negativity for 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively. Patients who remained MRD-negative and progression-free exhibited higher CAR-T cell expansion peaks. Additionally, CAR-T cell persistence was positively correlated with the duration of MRD negativity duration, PFS, and overall survival (OS). Conclusions BCMA CAR-T therapy provides durable responses in a subset of patients with r/r MM. Early intervention may improve patient prognosis by promoting sustained MRD negativity, thus improving overall treatment outcomes. Trial registration Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2000033946 ( https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=53503 ), Registered June 18, 2020. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1800018137 ( https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=30653 ), Registered August 31, 2018.
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spelling doaj-art-45afbaf422af4dfda56bcc251d8b5cbc2025-08-20T02:25:12ZengBMCJournal of Translational Medicine1479-58762025-05-0123111310.1186/s12967-025-06543-xKey predictors of long-term outcomes in BCMA-targeted CAR-T therapy for relapsed/refractory multiple myelomaNing An0Juan Li1Pan Luo2Di Wang3Peiling Zhang4Chang Shu5Songbai Cai6Qiuxia Yu7Xinyu Wen8Xinran Wang9Wei Mu10Jianlin Hu11Chunrui Li12Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Pharmacy, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Pharmacy, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyOffice of Drug Clinical Trial, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyNanjing IASO Biotherapeutics LtdDepartment of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyAbstract Background B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy exhibits high response rates in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (r/r MM). However, the specific factors that influence the response duration remain poorly understood. Methods This single-centre, retrospective observational study included 56 patients with r/r MM who received BCMA CAR-T therapy (equecabtagene autoleucel) at Tongji Hospital, China. We analysed response rates and long-term clinical outcomes and identified key factors contributing to the long-term efficacy of BCMA CAR-T therapy. Results At a median follow-up of 39.6 months, the overall response rate (ORR) was 96.4%. Among the patients, 96.4% (54 of 56) achieved minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity, whereas 80.4% (45 of 56) achieved complete response (CR) or stringent complete response (sCR). Poorer outcomes were observed in patients with triple exposure, high cytogenetic risk, or failure to achieve CR. Better outcomes were associated with a CAR-T cell persistence of at least six months and sustained MRD negativity. Prolonged MRD negativity was strongly correlated with longer progression-free survival (PFS), with median PFS durations of 58 months, 64 months, and not reached (NR) for patients who maintained MRD negativity for 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively. Patients who remained MRD-negative and progression-free exhibited higher CAR-T cell expansion peaks. Additionally, CAR-T cell persistence was positively correlated with the duration of MRD negativity duration, PFS, and overall survival (OS). Conclusions BCMA CAR-T therapy provides durable responses in a subset of patients with r/r MM. Early intervention may improve patient prognosis by promoting sustained MRD negativity, thus improving overall treatment outcomes. Trial registration Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2000033946 ( https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=53503 ), Registered June 18, 2020. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1800018137 ( https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=30653 ), Registered August 31, 2018.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-025-06543-xR/R multiple myelomaBCMA CAR-TMRDCAR-T cell
spellingShingle Ning An
Juan Li
Pan Luo
Di Wang
Peiling Zhang
Chang Shu
Songbai Cai
Qiuxia Yu
Xinyu Wen
Xinran Wang
Wei Mu
Jianlin Hu
Chunrui Li
Key predictors of long-term outcomes in BCMA-targeted CAR-T therapy for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma
Journal of Translational Medicine
R/R multiple myeloma
BCMA CAR-T
MRD
CAR-T cell
title Key predictors of long-term outcomes in BCMA-targeted CAR-T therapy for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma
title_full Key predictors of long-term outcomes in BCMA-targeted CAR-T therapy for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma
title_fullStr Key predictors of long-term outcomes in BCMA-targeted CAR-T therapy for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma
title_full_unstemmed Key predictors of long-term outcomes in BCMA-targeted CAR-T therapy for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma
title_short Key predictors of long-term outcomes in BCMA-targeted CAR-T therapy for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma
title_sort key predictors of long term outcomes in bcma targeted car t therapy for relapsed refractory multiple myeloma
topic R/R multiple myeloma
BCMA CAR-T
MRD
CAR-T cell
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-025-06543-x
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