Practice-changing study on bone marrow cancer therapy

A team led by Würzburg hematologist Hermann Einsele has defined a new first-line therapy for bone marrow cancer. The antibody "Daratumumab" is being used. Daratumumab is a therapeutic monoclonal antibody that targets the protein "CD38", which is found in particular on tumour cells, especially myeloma cells. This means that daratumumab targets tumours directly and at the same time supports the immune system in better recognising and killing cancer cells. This monoclonal antibody has already been approved for the standard treatment of multiple myeloma (or "bone marrow cancer"). The international phase 3 study "PERSEUS" investigated the efficacy and safety of daratumumab administered subcutaneously in the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are eligible for stem cell transplantation. A total of 709 people took part in the study, who were randomly divided into two groups: One group received daratumumab in addition to the standard induction, consolidation (VRd + Daratumumab) and maintenance therapy.