CAR T-cell therapy is a promising treatment for patients with multiple myeloma, whose disease has relapsed or is not responding to (refractory) prior treatments. It is a highly-specialized therapy that involves genetically modifying a patient's own T cells to attack their multiple myeloma using a target called B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA). The FDA has approved CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma. Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center is a leader in bringing new CAR T-cell therapies to patients in need and led the clinical trial that led to FDA approval of CAR T for multiple myeloma.
CAR T-cell therapy is approved for multiple myeloma that has relapsed after or is refractory to at least four prior treatments. The clinical trial showed the CAR T-cell therapy to be highly effective for patients whose disease had relapsed after or not responded to multiple prior treatments.
Patients are evaluated carefully to determine if this therapy is appropriate for them. As a new product, there may be limited availability of CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma. Your physician will discuss this with you and whether a clinical trial of another CAR T-cell product may be an option. Learn more about CAR T-cell therapy.
Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center also offers clinical trials of other CAR T-cell therapies for multiple myeloma.
Key Eligibility for CAR T for Multiple Myeloma
Patients who meet the following criteria may be appropriate for CAR T-cell therapy:
- Confirmed diagnosis of multiple myeloma that has either not responded or has relapsed after four or more prior lines of treatment.
- Therapy must have included a proteasome inhibitor, an immunomodulatory drug, and an anti-CD 38 monoclonal antibody.
Patients must have a referral from their oncologist to Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center's Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center to be evaluated for CAR T-cell therapy.
As a new product, there may be limited availability of CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma. Your physician will discuss this with you and whether a clinical trial of another CAR T-cell product may be an option.