How to Train your T cells: Overcoming Immune Dysfunction in Multiple Myeloma.

How to Train your T cells: Overcoming Immune Dysfunction in Multiple Myeloma. Clin Cancer Res. 2019 Oct 31;: Authors: Cohen AD, Raje N, Fowler JA, Mezzi K, Scott EC, Dhodapkar MV Abstract The progression of multiple myeloma (MM), a hematologic malignancy characterized by unregulated plasma cell growth, is associated with increasing innate and adaptive immune system dysfunction, notably in the T-cell repertoire. Although treatment advances in MM have led to deeper and more durable clinical responses, the disease remains incurable for most patients. Therapeutic strategies aimed at overcoming the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and activating the host immune system have recently shown promise in MM, particularly in the relapsed and/or refractory disease setting. As the efficacy of T-cell-dependent immuno-oncology therapy is likely affected by the health of the endogenous T-cell repertoire, these therapies may also provide benefit in alternate treatment settings (e.g., precursor disease; after stem cell transplantation). This review describes T-cell-associated changes during the evolution of MM and provides an overview of T-cell-dependent immuno-oncology approaches under investigation. Vaccine and checkpoint inhibitor interventions are being explored across the MM disease continuum; treatment modalities that redirect patient T cells to elicit an anti-MM response, namely chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells and bispecific anti...
Source: Clinical Cancer Research - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: Clin Cancer Res Source Type: research