CARTITUDE-4 Supports Earlier CAR-T Use in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma

Dr. Cesar Rodriguez presents findings from the phase 3 CARTITUDE-4 trial, which compared ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel) with standard-of-care regimens in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM) who were refractory to lenalidomide after one to three prior lines of therapy. He reviews the study design and demonstrates that cilta-cel significantly improved progression-free survival, overall response rates, complete response rates, and minimal residual disease negativity compared with standard therapy, supporting earlier integration of BCMA-directed CAR-T cell therapy. Dr. Rodriguez also discusses the safety profile, including cytokine release syndrome, immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome, infections, and cranial nerve palsy, emphasizing that most toxicities were manageable. The segment concludes by highlighting the clinical implications of CARTITUDE-4, including earlier referral for CAR-T therapy, the potential benefits of deeper and more durable responses, and the expanding role of cellular therapy in the treatment paradigm for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.