The immune system of our body protects us from infections. The different cells in the immune system work in coordination to form security guards, in which the role of lymphocytes predominate, such as T-cells and B-cells. The B-cell responds to an infection by transforming itself into a mature cell, known as a plasma cell. These plasma cells act as a barrier, producing antibodies or immunoglobulins to fight against infectious agents.

Lymphocytes are found in all organs of the human body, but the plasma cells are mainly found in the bone marrow, the soft tissue present inside the long hollow bones of our body. Additionally, a protective process works in our body, to check the additional growth of plasma cells. When this protective process is disrupted, an unchecked growth of plasma cell occurs, giving rise to a dangerous form of cancer, called multiple myeloma. Fall in blood counts, increased risk of infection, kidney damage, and dissolution of bone, are some of the clinical features of multiple myeloma.

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the mainstays of treatment for multiple myeloma. Rapidly progressing tumors require a high dose of chemo-radiation therapy, which is not well tolerated by older adults. Moreover, there are numerous side effects observed during the treatment process; hence, the treatment of multiple myeloma remains a challenge for healthcare professionals.

In a pathbreaking study, researchers have found a promising treatment modality for multiple myeloma, called the CAR T-cell therapy. In this procedure, the patient’s lymphocytes (the T-cells) are collected, genetically modified, and injected back into the patient. Essentially, it is a customized treatment, where genetically modified T-cells destroy the cancer cells and keep in check B-cell maturation.

The study was conducted in 35 patients with treatment-resistant refractory multiple myeloma. Following the CAR T-cell therapy, all patients responded positively to treatment, and 94% of them had clinical remission, within just two months of treatment. 14 out of 19 patients, followed up for more than four months, showed complete remission, while four patients showed very good partial remission, and 1 had a partial response, according to criteria laid down by the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG). Five patients, who were followed up for more than one year, showed no detectable cancer cells in the bone marrow. Also, although 85% of the patients experienced some side effects, these are transient and manageable.

It is very early to say that a cure has been found for multiple myeloma, but new treatment modalities, such as CAR T-cell therapy, shows immense promise in curing cancer. In this regard, one of the lead authors of the study said that “it appears that with this novel immunotherapy, there may be a chance for cure in multiple myeloma, but we will need to follow patients much longer to confirm that.”

References: 

1. CAR T-Cell Therapy Sends Multiple Myeloma Into Lasting Remission [Internet]. ASCO. 2017 [cited 2017 Jun 8]. Available from: https://www.asco.org/about-asco/press-center/news-releases/car-t-cell-therapy-sends-multiple-myeloma-lasting-remission
2. What Is Multiple Myeloma? [Internet]. [cited 2017 Jun 8]. Available from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/multiple-myeloma/about/what-is-multiple-myeloma.html
3. Kasper, D. L., & Fauci АS, H. S. (2016). Harrison’s manual of medicine. Harrison’s principles of internal medicine 19th ed.