Researchers Identify New Target for AML Immunotherapy

Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health researchers have identified a promising novel immunotherapy target for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Pediatric hematologist-oncologist Ashley Varkey, D.O., and her research team at the Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) are exploring whether B cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeted immunotherapy treatments that have been developed for multiple myeloma (MM) can also be used to treat AML.

Dr. Varkey and colleague Manpreet Bariana, Ph.D., are the lead authors on a paper published in the Journal of Hematology & Oncology detailing the results of their BCMA research.

“Our research showed that BCMA-directed treatment with bispecific T-cell engagers (TCE) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) transduced T-cells improved killing of AML cells,” said Dr. Varkey. “Although additional research is needed, our hope is that we can create a new immunotherapy treatment option for people with AML by expanding indications for a currently available MM immunotherapy treatment.”

According to Dr. Varkey, the next step in the team’s research is to develop protocols to incorporate BCMA testing into the standard of care for every patient with AML.

“We are looking at AML cell samples to assess them for BCMA and hope to develop a protocol to test every patient with an AML diagnosis for the presence of BCMA cells,” said Dr. Varkey. “After this protocol is in place, we hope to launch a clinical trial to study the safety and efficacy of BCMA-targeted immunotherapy for AML.”