Immunotherapy in Multiple Myeloma: Accelerating on the Path to the Patient

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell malignancy characterized by impaired immune surveillance mechanisms, such as altered antibody production, dysregulation of T cell and natural killer cell proliferation and activation, disruption of antigen presentation processes, and upregulation of checkpoint and immunosuppressive mediators. New and emerging immunotherapeutic agents, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T-cell therapies, vaccines, antibody-based therapy, and checkpoint inhibitors, have been developed as a means to target evasion tactics of MM. Herein we summarize the proceedings of Immunotherapy in Multiple Myeloma: Accelerating on the Path to the Patient, a workshop held in Havana, Cuba, with contributions from 18 expert hematologic oncologists from the United States, European Union, and Cuba, as well as patient advocacy and industry representatives. The goal of the workshop was to evaluate and discuss key topics and issues regarding development and use of immunotherapies in MM and to collaborate on improving patient outcomes. Clinical significance of recent advances in immunotherapies in MM were discussed, in addition to their current status and therapeutic potential, key issues from various regional perspectives, and opportunities for collaboration to improve MM patient outcomes. In this review we summarize expert presentations on cellular (CAR T cell, allogeneic stem cell transplantation, and vaccine) therapies, antibody-based (daratumumab, elotuzumab, checkpoint inhibitor, anti-cluster of differentiation 28 antibody) therapies, genomics and immunotherapy, and biomarkers of response.