Research advances of immunotherapies targeting CD38 in multiple myeloma

Abstract

CD38 is a single-chain transmembrane type Ⅱ glycoprotein that can be expressed in malignant plasma cell tumor cells such as monoclonal immunoglobulin disease (MGUS) and multiple myeloma (MM). The anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody is an antibody against the CD38 molecule on the surface of myeloma cells. It is effective for the treatment of recurrent/refractory MM and the efficacy can be further improved by combining it with proteasome inhibitor or immunomodulator. Based on its good tolerability and proven efficacy, daratumumab was approved for the treatment of the patients with recurrent/refractory MM in 2015. In addition to being a target for monoclonal antibodies, the surface molecule CD38 can also serve as a target for other immunotherapies, such as anti-CD38 immunotoxins and bispecific antibodies, CD38-specific chimeric antigen receptor T cells(CAR-T), and the like. The authors introduce the expression pattern of CD38 in normal tissues and different types of plasma cell tumors, describe the physiological action of CD38 and its role in the pathophysiology of MM, and summarise the recent research progress of MM treatment with CD38 as a target. Key words: Antigens, CD38; Antibodies, monoclonal; Multiple myeloma; Immunotherapy; Immunotoxins