Targeting BCMA in Multiple Myeloma

Despite considerable advances in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) in the last decade, a significant number of patients still progress on current available therapies. Here, we review treatment modalities used to target BCMA in the treatment of MM, specifically antibody-drug conjugates (ADC), bispecific antibody constructs, and chimeric antibody receptor (CAR) modified T-cell therapies. We will provide an overview of therapies from these classes that have presented or published clinical data, as well as data on mechanisms of resistance to these novel agents.

Clinical trials exploring different BCMA-targeting modalities to treat multiple myeloma are underway and demonstrate promising results. In relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, anti-BCMA ADCs and bispecific antibody constructs are showing impressive efficacy with manageable side effect profiles. In parallel, adoptive cellular therapy has induced dramatic durable responses in multiply relapsed and refractory myeloma patients. Therapeutic approaches targeting BCMA hold significant potential in the management of multiple myeloma and will soon be incorporated in combination with current standard therapies to improve outcomes for patients with multiple myeloma. In addition, novel approaches are being evaluated to overcome resistance mechanisms to anti-BCMA therapies.