Therapeutic progress in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma

Ann Hematol. 2024 Jun;103(6):1833-1841. doi: 10.1007/s00277-024-05730-y. Epub 2024 Apr 13.

Abstract

Improvement in the therapeutics for multiple myeloma (MM) has been continuously developed owing to the application of novel drugs and technologies in the last 20 years. The standard first-line therapy for MM consists of a three-drug induction regimen based on immunomodulatory drugs and proteasome inhibitors combined with autologous stem cell transplantation. However, MM remains incurable; therefore, therapies for relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM) are emerging and evolving rapidly. This study aimed to summarize and review the results of RRMM trials over the past 5 years to provide a holistic overview and insights for practitioners in related fields and to provide additional ideas for clinical trialists. This study shows that daratumumab and isatuximab continue to significantly advance as treatment options. Additionally, novel antibody drugs, such as elotuzumab and selinexor, as well as bispecific antibodies, teclistamab and talquetamab, are currently undergoing clinical research with promising outcomes. However, chimeric antigen receptor-T cell therapy targeting B-cell maturation antigen remains the optimal approach for MM treatment.

Keywords: Multiple myeloma; Refractory; Relapse; Therapy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Bispecific / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive
  • Multiple Myeloma* / drug therapy
  • Multiple Myeloma* / therapy
  • Recurrence
  • Transplantation, Autologous

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • daratumumab
  • isatuximab
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • elotuzumab
  • Antibodies, Bispecific