Reshaping the definition of high-risk disease in the immune effector therapy era in multiple myeloma

Abstract

Multiple myeloma (MM) outcomes have improved with proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs, anti-CD38 antibodies, and transplantation, yet a subset of patients with high-risk MM (HRMM) continues to relapse early and die prematurely. Immune effector therapies (IET)—B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)- and G protein–coupled receptor class C group 5 member D (GPRC5D)-directed chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T) and bispecific antibodies—have transformed the treatment of relapsed/refractory MM. However, their benefit in HRMM remains incompletely defined. This review describes how HRMM is defined in the IET-era distinguishing baseline biological/genomic risk, clinical high-risk phenotypes, and IET-specific adverse predictors. The International Myeloma Society/International Myeloma Working Group consensus integrates adverse cytogenetics and beta-2 microglobulin, whereas functional high-risk disease, extramedullary disease (EMD), plasma cell leukemia (PCL), high tumor burden, inflammation, and prior BCMA exposure identify aggressive disease in relapsed patients. Across pivotal trials, CAR-T therapy, particularly ciltacabtagene autoleucel, and selected bispecific antibodies retain activity in high-risk cytogenetic subgroups, whereas EMD and PCL remain associated with inferior responses and short progression-free survival. Emerging dual-antigen and trispecific engagers, along with novel targets such as FcRH5 and CD70, aim to overcome antigen escape. Prospective, biology-informed studies are needed to achieve durable disease control in HRMM.