Dr. Stadtmauer on BCMA-Targeting in Multiple Myeloma

Edward A. Stadtmauer, MD, section chief, Hematologic Malignancies, and Roseman, Tart, Harrow, and Shaffer Families’ President’s Distinguished Professor, University of Pennsylvania, discusses what makes BCMA a unique target in multiple myeloma.

Similar to CD19-targeting in lymphoma, BCMA-targeting prevents on-target, off-tumor toxicity, explains Stadtmauer. Most tissue in the body does not express BCMA, continues Stadtmauer. However, mature lymphoid cells such as plasma cells do, which creates an actionable target.

As such, success in targeting BCMA in multiple myeloma has been noted through CAR T-cell therapy and other immunotherapeutic agents that arecurrently in development.