Harnessing Immunotherapy to Combat Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma is a severe blood cancer originating in plasma cells within the bone marrow. Over time, abnormal myeloma cells accumulate, causing damage to bones and kidneys. Also known as plasma cell myeloma, it remains incurable but can be managed. As the second most common cancer in the United States, it presents significant treatment challenges. Diagnosis involves detecting abnormal plasma cells, with therapies aimed at limiting organ damage. Immunotherapy encompasses various innovative approaches to fight this disease:

Chemotherapy

Stem cell transplants

Radiation therapy

Targeted medications

Immunotherapy specifically enhances treatment by targeting three main strategies:

Restoring immune function: Utilizing immunomodulatory drugs and blocking inhibitory pathways to overcome tumor-mediated immune suppression.

Stimulating tumor-specific immune responses: Using vaccines to activate the immune system against myeloma-associated antigens.

Targeted cell eradication: Extracting T-cells, modifying them genetically, and reintroducing to seek and destroy cancer cells.

Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved two new drugs for relapsed multiple myeloma. One is a novel monoclonal antibody aimed at resistant or rapidly progressing cases, while the other boosts the immune response against cancer cells in patients previously treated with one to three therapies.

Treatment side effects can include:

Infusion reactions

Fatigue and breathing issues

Back pain

Fever and nausea

Persistent cough

Low blood cell counts

Immunotherapy and precision medicine offer hope for multiple myeloma patients. Advancing understanding of relapse mechanisms and developing new treatments are essential to overcoming therapy resistance.