A recent study in mice reveals that treatment using an antibody, called anti-CD137, enhances the immune system’s response against multiple myeloma tumors. The positive results of this preclinical study suggest that anti-CD137, a type of cancer immunotherapy, may be suitable for use in human multiple myeloma patients.

Cancer immunotherapy helps the immune system fight cancer.  It has emerged in recent years as an alternative to high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation treatments.

Following a dose of chemotherapy, immunotherapy is used to stimulate the immune system to defend against residual myeloma cells – thus preventing relapse.

Scientists examined the effects of anti-CD137, compared with three other antibodies, in a specific mouse myeloma tumor cell.  They also tested anti-CD137 in mouse tumors distributed across several organs, thus mimicking the cases faced in human multiple myeloma.

In both situations, anti-CD137 stimulated immunity against the tumors by activating the immune system.  In mice with specific tumor cell-types, anti-CD137 extended overall survival.

Anti-CD137 is currently in Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials for other cancer types. With the positive results of this study, the authors propose using anti-CD137 in clinical trials for multiple myeloma.

The entire article can be found in the November 2008 issue of Clinical Cancer Research.