Overview
- A Nature Cancer study mapped nearly 1.4 million bone marrow cells from 337 newly diagnosed patients, defining immune signatures linked to rapid relapse and poorer survival.
- Investigators identified inflammatory signaling between tumor and immune cells and a dysfunctional, suppressive T cell subset associated with aggressive disease.
- Adding immune features to existing genomic and clinical risk models improved stratification, with authors calling for development of practical immune-based tests.
- Separately, a Berlin-led team reported bispecific BAFF-R/BCMA CAR T cells that killed myeloma cells in lines and patient-derived marrow even when BCMA was absent.
- Researchers estimate roughly 5–30% of patients could benefit from the dual-target approach, which remains preclinical and will require initial safety and efficacy trials.