CAR-T cell therapy for multiple myeloma: a consensus statement from The European Myeloma Network

Adoptive cellular therapy using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR-T) is currently evaluated in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. The majority of CAR-T cell programs currently tested in clinical trials are targeting B-cell maturation antigen. Several recent phase 1 / 2 trials show promising preliminary results in patients with multiple myeloma progressing on proteasome inhibitors, IMiDs and monoclonal antibodies targeting CD38. CAR-T cell therapy is a potentially life-threatening strategy that requires administration in experienced centers. Currently, CAR-T cell therapy for multiple myeloma remains experimental, but once this strategy is approved in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, this will become one of the most important indications for this therapy in Europe and world-wide. This manuscript proposes practical considerations for the use of CAR-T cell therapy in multiple myeloma, and discusses several important issues for the future development of this strategy.