CD38 as an immunotherapeutic target in multiple myeloma.

INTRODUCTION

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a currently incurable hematologic tumor with heterogeneous clinical behavior and prognosis. During the last years, survival improved due to a better understanding of MM biology and the development of novel drugs, although it still remains unsatisfactory in many cases: new drugs and treatment strategies are needed. CD38 is uniformly expressed at high levels on MM cells and, to a lesser extent, on the surface of normal hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic cells, making this molecule an interesting target for immunotherapeutic approaches.

AREAS COVERED

This review discusses the preclinical and clinical experience on different immunotherapeutic agents targeting CD38 in MM.

EXPERT OPINION

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting CD38 are currently changing the treatment scenario in MM, allowing physicians to reach unprecedented results, especially when anti-CD38 mAbs are used in combination with consolidated MM treatments. Other immunotherapies targeting CD38 - such as conjugated anti-CD38 mAbs, bispecific antibodies stimulating T cells to eliminate CD38+ MM cells, and CD38-specific chimeric antigen receptor T cells - are interesting strategies, currently at earlier developmental stages.