Multiple myeloma, also known as Kahler’s disease, is a cancer of plasma cells that affects the bone marrow. The symptoms of myeloma include bone pain, bone fractures, fatigue, and anemia.

While there is no cure for myeloma, new developments in treatments are giving patients hope for a better quality of life and a longer life expectancy. Here are some of the recent breakthroughs in myeloma treatment:.

: Breakthroughs in myeloma treatment

1. CAR T-cell therapy

Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a personalized treatment that uses a patient’s own T-cells to fight cancer.

In this treatment, T-cells are removed from the patient and engineered in a lab to express a protein on their surface called a CAR. The CAR allows the T-cells to recognize and attack cancer cells. The modified T-cells are then infused back into the patient’s bloodstream, where they circulate and target cancer cells.

CAR T-cell therapy has shown promise in clinical trials for the treatment of myeloma. One study found that 93% of patients who received CAR T-cell therapy had a partial or complete response to the treatment.

Another study found that 72% of patients who received CAR T-cell therapy had a complete response to the treatment. These results are promising and suggest that CAR T-cell therapy may be an effective treatment for myeloma.

2. Monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made molecules that can mimic the immune system’s ability to fight off harmful pathogens. In myeloma, monoclonal antibodies can target specific proteins on the surface of myeloma cells to kill them.

The monoclonal antibody daratumumab has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of myeloma. In clinical trials, daratumumab has been shown to improve progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with myeloma.

Other monoclonal antibodies, such as elotuzumab and isatuximab, are also being studied for their effectiveness in the treatment of myeloma.

3. Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that harnesses the power of the immune system to fight cancer. In myeloma, immunotherapy can activate T-cells to recognize and kill myeloma cells.

One type of immunotherapy being studied for the treatment of myeloma is checkpoint inhibitors. Checkpoint inhibitors are drugs that block immune checkpoints, which are proteins that regulate the immune response.

By blocking immune checkpoints, checkpoint inhibitors can help T-cells recognize and attack cancer cells.

4. Targeted therapies

Targeted therapies are drugs that target specific molecules involved in the growth and survival of cancer cells. In myeloma, targeted therapies can inhibit the activity of proteins that promote myeloma cell growth.

One targeted therapy being studied for the treatment of myeloma is venetoclax. Venetoclax is a drug that targets a protein called BCL-2, which is involved in promoting cell survival.

In clinical trials, venetoclax has shown promise in treating myeloma, particularly in combination with other treatments.

Conclusion

While there is no cure for myeloma, new developments in treatments are giving patients hope for a better quality of life and a longer life expectancy.

CAR T-cell therapy, monoclonal antibodies, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies are all being studied for their effectiveness in the treatment of myeloma. These breakthroughs bring hope for a future where myeloma can be more effectively treated and eventually cured.