Vnitr Lek 2018, 64(10):939-948 | DOI: 10.36290/vnl.2018.131

CD38 targeted treatment for multiple myeloma

Tomáš Jelínek^1,2,3,*, Jana Mihályová^1,2, Roman Hájek^1,2

¹ Klinika hematoonkologie LF OU a FN Ostrava

² LF OU

³ Přírodovědecká fakulta OU Ostrava

CD38 antigen is highly and uniformly expressed on plasma cells and thus represents an ideal target for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) with anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Daratumumab is the most advanced anti-CD38 mAb in the clinical development with approval in several indications, nevertheless isatuximab that targets completely different epitope of CD38 molecule is also very promising drug. Anti-CD38 possess pleiotropic mechanism of action that have been described also in other mAbs, but quite specific, novel and very important seems to be the immunomodulatory effect provided by depletion of several CD38⁺ immunosuppressive immune cell populations. CD38-targeted mAbs induce partial response or better in approximately 30 % of heavily pre-treated myeloma patients as monotherapy. Based on their favourable toxicity profile and distinct mechanism of action, anti-CD38 mAbs represents very attractive partner to back-bone anti-myeloma drugs. Indeed, daratumumab is already approved as a part of three distinct combination regimens in relapsed setting. The combination of daratumumab with lenalidomide and dexamethasone is considered to be the best treatment option in relapsed myeloma with unprecedented prolongation of median PFS, including high rate of good quality responses. CD38 targeted therapy is rapidly moving toward the first line treatment. Anti-CD38 mAbs have been also successfully tested in other plasma cell dyscrasias (such as AL amyloidosis), and they are examined in other hematological malignancies (such as CLL, ALL, AML, etc.) and even in solid oncology as well as in autoimmune disorders. Implementation of CD38 targeted mAbs have been significant milestone in the treatment of MM, similar to that of CD20 targeted mAbs in CLL or non-Hodgkin lymphomas. We believe that this drug may eventually help to reach the cure at least in a subset of MM patients in the near future.

Keywords: acute myeloid leukemia; CD38; daratumumab; isatuximab; multiple myeloma

Received: April 10, 2018; Accepted: May 12, 2018; Published: October 1, 2018  Show citation