Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 8, 2026
Advances in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Expressing Natural Killer Cells
Published on: February 14, 2025
No BCMA? No Problem: A CD70-Targeting CAR-NK Cell Shows Promise in High-risk Myeloma
Don M Benson1, Michael A Caligiuri2
1Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio.
Abstract:
Despite recent advances, multiple myeloma remains essentially incurable for most patients, particularly those with high-risk cytogenetics and those whose disease relapses after BCMA-targeting therapies. A novel CD27 CAR_sIL15 NK cell targeting CD70 may offer new hope in this area of urgent, unmet medical need. See related article by Lin et al., p. 234.
Insights
Multiple myeloma is largely incurable, especially for high-risk patients. A new CD70-targeting CD27 CAR-IL15 NK cell therapy shows promise for treating relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Cell Therapy
Background:
- Multiple myeloma remains a significant challenge in hematologic oncology, with limited curative options for many patients.
- High-risk cytogenetics and relapse after B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeting therapies represent critical unmet needs.
- Existing treatments often fail to achieve durable remissions in advanced or relapsed multiple myeloma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) engineered Natural Killer (NK) cell therapy.
- To evaluate the potential of a CD27 CAR-IL15 NK cell therapy targeting CD70 for multiple myeloma treatment.
- To address the urgent need for new therapeutic strategies in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.
Main Methods:
- Development of a novel CAR construct incorporating IL-15 signaling.
- Engineering of NK cells to express the CD27 CAR targeting the CD70 antigen.
- Preclinical evaluation of the CD70-directed CAR-IL15 NK cell therapy in multiple myeloma models.
Main Results:
- The novel CD27 CAR-IL15 NK cell therapy demonstrates potent anti-myeloma activity.
- Targeting CD70 on multiple myeloma cells with engineered NK cells shows efficacy.
- This approach offers a potential new avenue for patients resistant to current therapies.
Conclusions:
- CD70-targeting CD27 CAR-IL15 NK cells represent a promising novel therapeutic strategy.
- This innovative cell therapy may overcome limitations of current BCMA-targeted treatments.
- Further investigation is warranted to explore the clinical utility of this approach in multiple myeloma.
