Nisha Joseph, MD, Associate Professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at the Emory University School of Medicine, discusses how bispecific antibodies are changing multiple myeloma treatment.
What Is Multiple Myeloma?
Multiple myeloma is a rare cancer of the plasma cells and the most common type of plasma tumor. Plasma cells are white blood cells that make antibodies to protect against infection. In multiple myeloma, these cells multiply rapidly, crowding out normal cells in the bone marrow and affecting the production of red blood cells, platelets, and other white blood cells. Symptoms include bones that break easily, frequent infections, fatigue, bruising, and bleeding. About 36,000 Americans are diagnosed with multiple myeloma each year.
Bispecific Antibodies and Their Role in Multiple Myeloma Treatment
Multiple myeloma is challenging to treat. Between 30% and 50% of patients don’t respond to first-line therapy, and almost everyone who initially achieves remission relapses or develops resistance over time. Because of this, researchers are always looking for new ways to combat the disease.
Dr. Joseph said that bispecific antibodies are especially promising because they help a patient’s T cells recognize and attack the cancer. She described the process in simple terms. “It basically gloms onto the T cell, gloms onto the myeloma cell, and says, ‘Hey, look over here. Kill this guy.’”
Furthermore, Dr. Joseph shared that bispecific antibodies can be combined with other myeloma drugs because they fight cancer in different ways. For example, some drugs, such as immunomodulatory agents and cereblon E3 ligase modulatory drugs (CELMoDs), stimulate the immune cells, while bispecific antibodies direct T cells to attack myeloma directly. Researchers are trying to determine whether combining these treatments can improve patient outcomes.
What Treatment Means for Patients: Initial Hurdles and Longer-Term Burden
Despite their potential benefits, Dr. Joseph said that undergoing bispecific antibody treatment requires short-term and long-term considerations.
In the short term, bispecific antibodies are typically administered via a ramp-up period that takes about a week. Initial doses are small, but they increase over time, and that process requires several doctor visits. Dr. Joseph shared that this approach reduces the risk of cytokine release syndrome (CRS), which can cause fever, low blood pressure, and shortness of breath. Some patients may also experience neurological symptoms, which can require caregiver support.
The good news is that after the initial ramp-up period, Dr. Joseph said these side effects generally become much less of a concern.
In the long term, bispecific antibodies can increase the risk of infection and low blood counts. Dr. Joseph noted that clinicians have learned that when it comes to using these drugs, “less is more.” She then explained that once a patient responds to treatment, doctors typically extend the time between doses to make it easier on the immune system. Preventive measures, such as antibody infusions and antibiotics, can also support these efforts.
Putting Patients First
Next, Dr. Joseph emphasized the importance of putting patients first when using bispecific antibodies. Even though these drugs are effective and typically well-tolerated, treatment is an ongoing process, requiring routine visits, something she described as “a marathon, not a sprint.”
Even so, these drugs make multiple myeloma treatment more accessible. Unlike CAR T-cell therapy, which is primarily offered at larger academic centers with the necessary infrastructure, bispecific antibodies can be administered at smaller facilities, like community treatment centers.
To learn more about multiple myeloma and other rare hematologic disorders, visit: https://checkrare.com/diseases/hematologic-disorders/
To learn more about Dr. Joseph’s background and areas of expertise, visit: https://winshipcancer.emory.edu/profiles/joseph-nisha.php