ASH Clinical News | Page 33

Despite recent advances, multiple myeloma remains a largely incurable disease, with fewer than half of patients surviving five years after diagnosis.1 Natural killer cells are part of the body’s first line of defense against cancer, but myeloma cells evade and suppress a patient’s natural immune response, making further medical advances challenging.2-11 We need a new approach. Bristol-Myers Squibb is deeply committed to furthering the science behind Immuno-Oncology. Leading the way in Immuno-Oncology research, Bristol-Myers Squibb is investigating the potential of the SLAMF7, KIR, and CD137 pathways to activate the body’s own natural killer cells to target myeloma cells. www.explorenaturalkillercells.com REFERENCES: 1. SEER Stat Fact Sheets: Myeloma, 2004-2010. http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/mulmy.html. Accessed July 17, 2014; 2. Godfrey J and Benson DM Jr. The role of natural killer cells in immunity against multiple myeloma. Leuk Lymphoma. 2012;53:1666-1676; 3. Cheng M, Chen Y, Xiao W et al. NK cell-based immunotherapy for malignant diseases. Cell Molec Immunol. 2013;10:230-252; 4. Bernal M, Garrido P, Jiménez P et al. Changes in activatory and inhibitory natural killer (NK) receptors may induce progression to multiple myeloma : implications for tumor evasion of T and NK cells. Human Immunol. 2009;70:854-857; 5. Jinushi M, Vanneman M, Munshi NC et al. MHC class I chain-related protein A antibodies and shedding are associated with the progression of multiple myeloma. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2008;105:1285-1290; 6. Carbone E, Neri P, Mesuraca M et al. HLA class I, NKG2D, and natural cytotoxicity receptors regulate multiple myeloma cell recognition by natural killer cells. Blood. 2005;105:251-258; 7. von Lilienfeld-Toal M, Frank S, Leyendecker C et al. Reduced immune effector cell NKG2D expression and increased levels of soluble NKG2D ligands in multiple myeloma may not be causally linked. Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2010;59:829-839; 8. Cook G, Campbell JDM, Carr CE et al. Transforming growth