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eMAP – electronic EHA Medical HemAtology Program

SELECT ABSTRACTS ON CELLULAR THERAPY IN RRMM
Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma Patients. A Multicenter Retrospective
Analysis of Eligibility Criteria for CAR T cell Therapy

Fazio F, et al. Presented at EHA 2022 Congress. Abstract P902.
The introduction of novel drugs, such as proteosome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs, and anti- CD38 monoclonal
antibodies, has improved the OS of patients with multiple myeloma over the years. Despite the availability of these
treatments, many patients continue to relapse and become triple-refractory, having poor outcomes. B-cell maturation
antigen (BCMA)-directed CAR T cells, including idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel) and ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel),
is a promising new treatment approach for this patient population. The objective of this observational and retrospective
multicentre study was to define the clinical characteristics and outcome of a cohort of RRMM patients (managed between
2018-2021 at 10 Italian centres) who were potentially eligible to CAR T cell treatment.
The cohort consisted of 108 RRMM patients who underwent at least three prior lines of treatment, and were considered
refractory to the last regimen. Based on the KarMMa trial criteria, 52% of patients were defined as eligible and 48% were
defined as not eligible for CAR T cell therapy (see Figure). The most common reasons for ineligibility were bone marrow
dysfunction, organ dysfunction (including impaired renal function, anemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, and breathing
difficulties), as well as a higher performance status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group [ECOG] >1).

After a median follow up of 27 months, the median OS in After a median follow up of 27 months, the median OS in eligible vs.
non-eligible patients was 33 months and 7.8 months, respectively. The median PFS in eligible vs. non-eligible patients was 12.3
months vs. 5.3 months, respectively (see Figure).

OS, overall survival; PFS, progression-free survival. 8

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