Dr. Lonial on the Role of BCMA in Multiple Myeloma

Sagar Lonial, MD, FACP, professor and chair in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology of Emory University School of Medicine and chief medical officer of Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, discusses the role of BCMA ​as a target in multiple myeloma.

Compared with CD38 or SLAMF7, BCMA is expressed more exclusively on plasma cells, says Lonial. As such, ​targeting BCMA will produce less off-target effects.

In addition, ligation of BCMA is ​a main resistance mechanism of multiple myeloma cells​, Lonial explains. As such, BCMA provides an opportunity to target tumor cells and overcome drug resistance in multiple myeloma, Lonial concludes.