Newly published data from a phase II study involving patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) indicate that the anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) antibody pembrolizumab can enhance the efficacy of pomalidomide plus dexamethasone. A total of 48 patients were included in this study, of whom 73% were refractory to both an immunomodulatory agent and a proteasome inhibitor, and 70% had undergone prior autologous stem-cell transplantation. An objective response was observed in 60% of patients, with a median response duration of 14.7 months, and a progression-free survival duration of 17.4 months. Grade 3–4 adverse events were reported in 40% of patients, of which haematological toxicities, hyperglycaemia and pneumonia were the most abundant. These findings indicate that pembrolizumab, in combination with dexamethasone and pomalidomide, is safe and effective in patients with RRMM.
References
Badros, A. et al. Pembrolizumab, pomalidomide and low dose dexamethasone for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Blood http://dx.doi.org/10.1182/blood-2017-03-775122 (2017)
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Sidaway, P. Pembrolizumab is effective in multiple myeloma. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 14, 393 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrclinonc.2017.76
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrclinonc.2017.76