Single- And double-hit events in genes encoding immune targets before and after T cell–engaging antibody therapy in MM

Truger MS, Duell J, Zhou X, Heimeshoff L, Ruckdeschel A, John M, Riedel A, Hueper S, Peter J, Walter W, Haertle L, Meggendorfer M, Topp MS, Rosenwald A, Da Via MC, Bolli N, Weinhold N, Einsele H, Haferlach C, Kortuem KM, Rasche L (2021)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Blood Advances American Society of Hematology

Book Volume: 5

Pages Range: 3794-3798

Journal Issue: 19

DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2021004418

Abstract

T cell–engaging immunotherapies exert unprecedented single-agent activity in multiple myeloma (MM), thereby putting a yet unexplored selective pressure on the clonal architecture. In this study, we report on homozygous BCMA (TNFRSF17) gene deletion after BCMA-targeting T cell–redirecting bispecific antibody therapy in a heavily pretreated MM patient. Loss of BCMA protein expression persisted over subsequent relapses, with no response to treatment with anti-BCMA antibody drug conjugate. In light of the multiple alternative targets that are emerging in addition to BCMA, we extended our analyses to delineate a more complete picture of genetic alterations that may have an impact on immunotherapy targets in MM. We performed whole-genome sequencing and RNA sequencing in 100 MM patients (50 were newly diagnosed; 50 were relapsed/refractory) and identified a significant proportion of patients with aberrations in genes encoding immunotherapy targets; GPRC5D ranked first with 15% heterozygous deletions, followed by CD38 (10%), SDC1 (5%), and TNFRSF17 (4%). Notably, these heterozygous deletions did not lower the expression levels of respective genes, but they may represent a first hit that drives the acquisition of homozygous deletions and subsequent antigen-loss relapse upon targeted immunotherapy. In summary, we show preexisting vulnerability in genes encoding immunotargets before and homozygous deletions after T cell–engaging immunotherapy.

Involved external institutions

Universitätsklinikum Würzburg DE Germany (DE) MLL Münchner Leukämielabor GmbH DE Germany (DE) Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg DE Germany (DE) Università degli studi di Milano IT Italy (IT) Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Truger, M.S., Duell, J., Zhou, X., Heimeshoff, L., Ruckdeschel, A., John, M.,... Rasche, L. (2021). Single- And double-hit events in genes encoding immune targets before and after T cell–engaging antibody therapy in MM. Blood Advances, 5(19), 3794-3798. https://doi.org/10.1182/bloodadvances.2021004418

MLA:

Truger, Marietta S., et al. "Single- And double-hit events in genes encoding immune targets before and after T cell–engaging antibody therapy in MM." Blood Advances 5.19 (2021): 3794-3798.

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