Mechanisms of Action of the New Antibodies in Use in Multiple Myeloma

Alessandra Romano; Paola Storti; Valentina Marchica; Grazia Scandura; Laura Notarfranchi; Luisa Craviotto; Francesco Di Raimondo; Nicola Giuliani

doi:10.3389/fonc.2021.684561

Mechanisms of Action of the New Antibodies in Use in Multiple Myeloma

Front Oncol. 2021 Jul 8:11:684561. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.684561. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Alessandra Romano¹, Paola Storti², Valentina Marchica², Grazia Scandura¹, Laura Notarfranchi², Luisa Craviotto^{2

3}, Francesco Di Raimondo^{1

4}, Nicola Giuliani³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Surgery and Medical Specialties, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
² Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
³ Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy.
⁴ U.O.C. Ematologia, A.O.U. Policlinico-San Marco, Catania, Italy.

Abstract

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed against antigen-specific of multiple myeloma (MM) cells have Fc-dependent immune effector mechanisms, such as complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), but the choice of the antigen is crucial for the development of effective immuno-therapy in MM. Recently new immunotherapeutic options in MM patients have been developed against different myeloma-related antigens as drug conjugate-antibody, bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells. In this review, we will highlight the mechanism of action of immuno-therapy currently available in clinical practice to target CD38, SLAMF7, and BCMA, focusing on the biological role of the targets and on mechanisms of actions of the different immunotherapeutic approaches underlying their advantages and disadvantages with critical review of the literature data.

Keywords: BCMA; CD38; SLAMF7; antibody-drug conjugate; bispecific antibodies; monoclonal antibodies; multiple myeloma.

Publication types

Review