NCCN Guidelines Position CAR T Cells in Early Relapsed Multiple Myeloma

In the first episode of this CancerNetwork video podcast series, Matthew J. Frigault, MD, clinical director of the Cellular Immunotherapy Program at Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute, and Adam D. Cohen, MD, director of Myeloma Immunotherapy and professor of medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, introduced a conversation on the current landscape of CAR T-cell therapy in multiple myeloma.

Cohen asked how recent updates to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology for multiple myeloma position CAR T-cell therapy in early relapse. Frigault explained that, as clinical trial data have matured, the guidelines now support referral for CAR T-cell therapy as early as the second line in patients with lenalidomide (Revlimid)-refractory disease, with products such as ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel; Carvykti). He noted that patients treated in earlier lines appear to experience fewer toxicities and progression-free survival that is comparable to, if not better than, that seen in later lines. Frigault also highlighted guideline language on therapy sequencing, an area where the optimal order of treatments is not yet known.