A relapse of multiple myeloma is difficult to treat. Myeloma cells that have survived after undergoing rounds and rounds of various treatments to cause relapse typically are the most resistant of the bunch. Fortunately, an exciting new treatment known as CAR T-Cell therapy is being tested in clinical trials and should be available soon for standard use. But does CAR-T therapy work for relapse of the disease? (For more on CAR T therapy)
CAR T-Cell Therapy uses the body's immune system to destroy cancerous cells. The immune system's main soldier in fighting off viruses and bacteria is the T-cell. Unfortunately, the body's T-cells aren't typically strong enough to fight off myeloma cells, but scientists have recently been able to extract T-cells from a patient's body, modify them, and then reinsert them back into the patient. The cells are modified to target BCMA, a protein uniquely expressed on myeloma cells.
Read MoreHe notes, "While it’s preliminary, one thing we’re noticing is that patients whose T-cells, before we start the manufacturing process, if those T-cells seem to have a less exhausted, less dysfunctional phenotype…then that may predict patients who are likely to have good CAR T cell activity in the patient, and maybe a response.”
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