directs the patient’s immune system to kill multiple myeloma cells
A new treatment that forces the immune system to kill bone marrow cancer cells has been successful in 73% of patients in two clinical trials, according to researchers at the Tissue Cancer Institute at Icahn School of Medicine in Mount Sinai.
Known as a bispecific antibody, this therapy binds to both T cells and multiple myeloma cells and directs T cells (white blood cells that can join to fight the disease) to kill multiple myeloma cells. instruct. Researchers described this strategy as “turning troops on the enemy.”
Success with a commercially available immunotherapy called talquetamab has also been seen in cancer patients who were refractory to all approved multiple myeloma treatments. It uses a different target than other approved therapies. A receptor expressed on the surface of cancer cells known as GPRC5D.
Tarquetamab was tested in Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials.A phase 1 trial reported in New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), We established two recommended doses that were tested in phase 2 trials. Results from the Phase 2 trial were presented at the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting on Saturday, December 10. All study participants had been treated with at least three different therapies, but had not achieved durable remission. This suggests that tarquetamab can provide new hope for patients. I have multiple myeloma which is difficult to treat.
“This means that nearly three-quarters of these patients are expecting a new lease on life,” said Dr. Ajai Chari, MD, lead author of both studies, said. “Talketamab produced substantial responses in patients with severely pretreated, relapsed, or refractory multiple myeloma, the second most common hematologic malignancy. It is the first bispecific drug to target GPRC5d.”
Nearly all myeloma patients receiving standard therapy experience repeated relapses. Patients who relapse or become refractory to all approved multiple myeloma therapies have a poor prognosis, and additional therapy is urgently needed. This study is an early-stage trial designed to detect tolerability and find safe doses, but it is an important step towards meeting that need.
This Phase 1 clinical trial enrolled 232 patients at several cancer centers around the world between January 2018 and November 2021.Future studies will focus on doses administered only under the skin weekly or biweekly
The efficacy and safety results obtained in the Phase 1 trial were validated in a Phase 2 trial presented at ASH. The Phase 2 trial included 143 patients treated with the weekly dose and 145 patients treated with the higher biweekly dose.
The overall response rate for these two groups was about 73%, Dr. Chari said. Response rates were maintained across the various subgroups investigated, with the exception of patients with a rare form of multiple myeloma that also involved organs and soft tissues. More than 30% of patients in both groups had a complete response (no detectable myeloma-specific markers) or better, and nearly 60% had a “very good partial response” or better decreased to , but not necessarily decreased). To zero).
The median time to measurable response was approximately 1.2 months in both treatment groups, and the median duration of response to date is 9.3 months with weekly dosing. The researchers continue to collect data on the duration of response in the group where he received 0.8 mg/kg every other week and in patients who had a complete response or better in both dose groups.
Side effects were relatively frequent and usually mild. Approximately three-quarters of patients experienced cytokine release syndrome. Cytokine release syndrome is a constellation of symptoms, including fever, common in immunotherapy. About 60% experienced skin-related side effects such as rashes, about half reported changes in taste, and about half reported nail problems. said to be very small (5-6%).
Dr. Chari explained that the response rate observed in this study is higher than most currently available treatments. This suggests that talquetamab could offer a viable option for myeloma patients who have failed to respond to most available therapies, offering an opportunity for survival and benefit. From other new or future treatments that have been developed.
Original: Experimental cancer treatment shows success in over 70% of patients in global clinical trials
Than: Icahn College of Medicine at Mount Sinai
