Results from the CAR-PRISM phase 2 trial show that the CAR T-cell therapy ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel) produced remarkable outcomes in patients with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma, a precursor to active cancer.
All 20 patients in the study responded to treatment, with most achieving deep remissions. Every patient became minimal residual disease (MRD) negative within two months, and after more than a year of follow-up, no cases of disease progression or death were reported.
Side effects were common but manageable. Mild cytokine release syndrome occurred in all patients, and some experienced low-grade neurological symptoms, but no severe cases were seen.
This study is the first to use CAR T-cell therapy as an early treatment approach, aiming to stop the disease before it becomes active multiple myeloma. Researchers say longer follow-up is needed to confirm how durable these responses are.