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Shaji K. Kumar, MD
Prashant Kapoor, MD, FACP
Shaji K. Kumar, MD
Prashant Kapoor, MD, FACP
Posted: Friday, June 30, 2023
A subset of results from the KarMMa-3 trial were presented at the European Hematology Association (EHA) 2023 Hybrid Congress (Abstract S195). The presentation addressed the efficacy of idecabtagene vicleucel in patients with high-risk, triple class–exposed, relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Krina Patel, MD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, and colleagues reported that the use of this cellular immunotherapy resulted in a lower risk of disease progression or death as well as a better chance of achieving an overall response compared with standard regimens.
“Despite improvements in the treatment landscape of refractory [or] relapsed multiple myeloma with the use of combination therapy, with immunomodulatory agents, proteasome inhibitors, and anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies in front-line and early relapse, patients are becoming triple-class–exposed earlier in their treatment course,” the investigators noted.
High-risk characteristics such as cytogenetic abnormalities, stage III disease, high tumor burden, extramedullary plasmacytomas, and triple-class–refractory status were identified in patients from this trial. Patients with refractory or relapsed multiple myeloma were defined as triple-class–exposed when they had received regimens of an immunomodulatory agent, proteasome inhibitors, and anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies. Patients from KarMMa-3 who were triple-class–exposed were randomly assigned on a 2:1 basis to receive idecabtagene vicleucel or a standard regimen based on prior treatment.
The researchers reported that the median time to disease progression was “short” in patients treated with both idecabtagene vicleucel and standard regimens across all high-risk subgroups. However, at a median follow-up of 18.6 months, the median progression-free survival was longer with idecabtagene vicleucel in all high-risk subgroups. Overall response rates were improved when patients were treated with idecabtagene vicleucel, regardless of high-risk disease characteristics. Furthermore, complete response rates were also better with idecabtagene vicleucel across all high-risk subgroups.
Disclosure: Full disclosure information for the study authors was not provided.
