Yael Cohen, MD, on MRD Negativity Following Treatment With Cilta-Cel in Refractory Myeloma

In an interview with CancerNetwork®, Yael Cohen, MD, a senior physician in the Department of Hematology at Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, highlighted the high rate of minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity observed following treatment with ciltacabtagene autoleucel in patients with multiple myeloma that is refractory to lenalidomide (Revlimid).

This was demonstrated in the phase 2 CARTITUDE-2 trial (NCT04133636), the results of which were presented at the 2021 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting & Exposition. Cohen emphasized the high rate of MRD negativity, better outcomes, and longer duration of response may be indicative of an improved overall survival within this patient population.

Transcript:

The thing that stood out was the MRD negativity, and this is actually the primary end point of this trial. It has already previously been reported that group 2 had the highest overall response [at] 95%. Actually, the depth of the responses improved with the further follow up. [The complete response] rate and better was 85% [and] 90% got to a very good partial response. At 1-year, the progression-free survival was 84%. These are really encouraging findings. Although not all the data are available, among the patients who had the MRD-evaluable samples, over 90% were MRD negative. We know that this confers a longer duration of response and better outcomes. Many myeloma physicians also believe [that] this translates into better overall survival.

Reference

Cohen YC, Cohen AD, Delforge M, et al. Efficacy and safety of ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel), a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, in lenalidomide-refractory patients with progressive multiple myeloma after 1-3 prior lines of therapy: updated results from CARTITUDE-2. Presented at: 2021 ASH Annual Meeting; December 11-13, 2021; Atlanta, GA. Poster 3866.