B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) in multiple myeloma: the new frontier of targeted therapies. (January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sanchez, Larysa; Dardac, Alexandra; Madduri, Deepu; Richard, Shambavi; Richter, Joshua
• Is Part Of: Therapeutic advances in hematology. Volume 12(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-01
• Subjects: ADC -- antibody–drug conjugate -- BCMA -- bifunctional antibodies -- BITE -- CAR T-cell -- chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy -- monoclonal antibody -- multiple myeloma -- myeloma -- relapsed refractory multiple myeloma; Hematology -- Periodicals; Hematologic Diseases -- therapy -- Periodicals; Hematology -- Periodicals; 616.15005
• DOI: 10.1177/2040620721989585
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2040-6207

Abstract

Outcomes of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who become refractory to standard therapies are particularly poor and novel agents are greatly needed to improve outcomes in such patients. B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) has become an important therapeutic target in MM with three modalities of treatment in development including antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs), bispecific T-cell engagers (BITEs), and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies. Early clinical trials of anti-BCMA immunotherapeutics have demonstrated extremely promising results in heavily pretreated patients with relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM). Recently, belantamab mafodotin was the first anti-BCMA therapy to obtain approval in relapsed/refractory MM. This review summarizes the most updated efficacy and safety data from clinical studies of BCMA-targeted therapies with a focus on ADCs and BITEs. Additionally, important differences among the BCMA-targeted treatment modalities and their clinical implications are discussed.