Preclinical Immunomodulatory Strategy for Optimizing Immunotherapy in Myeloma
Posted: Tuesday, August 10, 2021
Preclinical research presented in Blood Cancer Discovery suggests that bispecific antibodies may result in long-lasting antitumor activity in patients with multiple myeloma. Marta Chesi, PhD, of Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, and colleagues found that delivering this treatment in conjunction with cyclophosphamide prevented T-cell exhaustion, an otherwise common side effect, and ultimately may help to prevent resistance and relapse in myeloma.
The study included an immunocompetent, genetically engineered mouse model that was sensitive to immunomodulatory imide therapy and that received bispecific antibody treatment. In that model, immunomodulatory therapy was found to strengthen T-cell activation, resulting in improved short-term efficacy of bispecific antibody treatment but also worsening T-cell exhaustion. The addition of cyclophosphamide to bispecific antibody treatment was observed to prevent T-cell exhaustion by reducing both tumor burden and regulatory T cells. This combination treatment may ultimately promote long-term disease control in patients with multiple myeloma.
The investigators noted that more research is needed to evaluate immunotherapy in preclinical immunocompetent animal models before the treatment is tested in patients.
“Our research may ultimately lead to the development of new and better forms of immunotherapy,” noted Dr. Chesi in a Mayo Clinic press release.
Disclosure: For full disclosures of the study authors, visit bloodcancerdiscov.aacrjournals.org.
