BCMA CAR-T therapy combined with pomalidomide is a safe and effective treatment for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma

Abstract Background B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeted chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T-cell) therapy has exhibited remarkable efficacy in refractory or relapsed multiple myeloma (R/R MM), but recurrence and rapid progression of disease are still observed within a short time after trea...

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Main Authors: Yuhan Yan, Yixuan Tu, Qian Cheng, Jian Zhang, Erhua Wang, Zuqun Deng, Yan Yu, Liwen Wang, Rui Liu, Ling Chu, Liqing Kang, Jing Liu, Xin Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-11-01
Series:Journal of Translational Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-024-05772-w
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author Yuhan Yan
Yixuan Tu
Qian Cheng
Jian Zhang
Erhua Wang
Zuqun Deng
Yan Yu
Liwen Wang
Rui Liu
Ling Chu
Liqing Kang
Jing Liu
Xin Li
author_facet Yuhan Yan
Yixuan Tu
Qian Cheng
Jian Zhang
Erhua Wang
Zuqun Deng
Yan Yu
Liwen Wang
Rui Liu
Ling Chu
Liqing Kang
Jing Liu
Xin Li
author_sort Yuhan Yan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeted chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T-cell) therapy has exhibited remarkable efficacy in refractory or relapsed multiple myeloma (R/R MM), but recurrence and rapid progression of disease are still observed within a short time after treatment. Long-term pomalidomide therapy, which potentiates T-cell functionality, might enhance the efficacy of BCMA CAR T-cell therapy. Methods We performed a single-center retrospective clinical study. Patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who received BCMA CAR T-cell infusion were enrolled in our study, and were followed by long-term pomalidomide treatment (4 mg/day) or not one month after infusion. The response and adverse events were assessed after infusion. The effect of pomalidomide on BCMA CAR T-cells was assessed in vitro. Results The objective response rate (ORR) of BCMA-CART was 100%. Three months following CAR T-cell infusion, of the 8 patients receiving pomalidomide, except for 2 patients who stopped maintenance therapy and were lost to follow-up, all patients (6/6) achieved VGPR (very good partial response) or CR (complete response), while only 5 patients (5/8) who did not receive pomalidomide treatment achieved VGPR or better. At a median follow-up of 27 months, for the 8 patients who did not receive pomalidomide administration, the median TTP (time to progression) was 5.85 (1–14) months, while the OS (overall survival) was 10.7 (1.2–16) months. Of the 8 patients who received pomalidomide therapy after CAR T-cell infusion, the median TTP was 13 (7–13) months, while the OS was not reached. Moreover, neither long-term hematological toxicity nor drug-induced liver damage was observed during the follow-up period. Mechanistically, pomalidomide promotes antimyeloma efficacy of BCMA CAR T-cells by inhibiting cell apoptosis and enhancing cytoxicity. Conclusions Our results confirmed that BCMA CAR T-cell therapy combined with long-term pomalidomide had a low recurrence rate and manageable therapy-related side effects, providing a promising option for treating R/R MM. Graphical Abstract
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spelling doaj-art-a60950bfb0a443be87c9a362b63aaf602025-08-20T02:49:09ZengBMCJournal of Translational Medicine1479-58762024-11-0122111310.1186/s12967-024-05772-wBCMA CAR-T therapy combined with pomalidomide is a safe and effective treatment for relapsed/refractory multiple myelomaYuhan Yan0Yixuan Tu1Qian Cheng2Jian Zhang3Erhua Wang4Zuqun Deng5Yan Yu6Liwen Wang7Rui Liu8Ling Chu9Liqing Kang10Jing Liu11Xin Li12Department of Hematology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityDepartment of Hematology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityDepartment of Hematology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityDepartment of Hematology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityDepartment of Hematology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityDepartment of Hematology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityDepartment of Hematology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityDepartment of Hematology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityDepartment of Hematology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityDepartment of Pathology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityShanghai Unicar-Therapy Bio-Medicine Technology CoDepartment of Hematology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityDepartment of Hematology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityAbstract Background B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeted chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T-cell) therapy has exhibited remarkable efficacy in refractory or relapsed multiple myeloma (R/R MM), but recurrence and rapid progression of disease are still observed within a short time after treatment. Long-term pomalidomide therapy, which potentiates T-cell functionality, might enhance the efficacy of BCMA CAR T-cell therapy. Methods We performed a single-center retrospective clinical study. Patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who received BCMA CAR T-cell infusion were enrolled in our study, and were followed by long-term pomalidomide treatment (4 mg/day) or not one month after infusion. The response and adverse events were assessed after infusion. The effect of pomalidomide on BCMA CAR T-cells was assessed in vitro. Results The objective response rate (ORR) of BCMA-CART was 100%. Three months following CAR T-cell infusion, of the 8 patients receiving pomalidomide, except for 2 patients who stopped maintenance therapy and were lost to follow-up, all patients (6/6) achieved VGPR (very good partial response) or CR (complete response), while only 5 patients (5/8) who did not receive pomalidomide treatment achieved VGPR or better. At a median follow-up of 27 months, for the 8 patients who did not receive pomalidomide administration, the median TTP (time to progression) was 5.85 (1–14) months, while the OS (overall survival) was 10.7 (1.2–16) months. Of the 8 patients who received pomalidomide therapy after CAR T-cell infusion, the median TTP was 13 (7–13) months, while the OS was not reached. Moreover, neither long-term hematological toxicity nor drug-induced liver damage was observed during the follow-up period. Mechanistically, pomalidomide promotes antimyeloma efficacy of BCMA CAR T-cells by inhibiting cell apoptosis and enhancing cytoxicity. Conclusions Our results confirmed that BCMA CAR T-cell therapy combined with long-term pomalidomide had a low recurrence rate and manageable therapy-related side effects, providing a promising option for treating R/R MM. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-024-05772-wRelapsed/Refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM)BCMA CAR T-cell therapyPomalidomideCombination therapy
spellingShingle Yuhan Yan
Yixuan Tu
Qian Cheng
Jian Zhang
Erhua Wang
Zuqun Deng
Yan Yu
Liwen Wang
Rui Liu
Ling Chu
Liqing Kang
Jing Liu
Xin Li
BCMA CAR-T therapy combined with pomalidomide is a safe and effective treatment for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma
Journal of Translational Medicine
Relapsed/Refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM)
BCMA CAR T-cell therapy
Pomalidomide
Combination therapy
title BCMA CAR-T therapy combined with pomalidomide is a safe and effective treatment for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma
title_full BCMA CAR-T therapy combined with pomalidomide is a safe and effective treatment for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma
title_fullStr BCMA CAR-T therapy combined with pomalidomide is a safe and effective treatment for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma
title_full_unstemmed BCMA CAR-T therapy combined with pomalidomide is a safe and effective treatment for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma
title_short BCMA CAR-T therapy combined with pomalidomide is a safe and effective treatment for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma
title_sort bcma car t therapy combined with pomalidomide is a safe and effective treatment for relapsed refractory multiple myeloma
topic Relapsed/Refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM)
BCMA CAR T-cell therapy
Pomalidomide
Combination therapy
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-024-05772-w
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