Glossary
Important Words to Know and Understand
A
Anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody
A substance that connects to a protein called CD38. This is found on some types of blood cells and in high levels on some cancer cells, including myeloma cells. Anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies may block the CD38 protein and help the immune system kill cancer cells. Some anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies are being used to treat multiple myeloma. They are also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer.
Apheresis
The process of taking blood out of the body, removing certain parts of it, and then returning the remaining blood back into the body. This process is done in CAR T cell therapy to remove T cells before adding chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) to them. May also be called leukapheresis.
B
B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)
A protein that is found on the outside of nearly all multiple myeloma cells and on some normal plasma cells.
C
CAR T cell therapy
A cell therapy that adds hooks called chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) to your existing T cells. These hooks help your T cells attach to cancer cells and destroy them.
Chemotherapy
In the case of CAR T cell therapy, chemotherapy destroys your immune system’s T cells in order to prepare your body for treatment (sometimes called lymphodepleting chemotherapy).
Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs)
These are “hooks” or receptors that are added to your T cells to help them find and fight specific cells.
Clinical study
A research study that tests the safety and effectiveness of a medicine in people with certain diseases.
Complete response (CR)
All signs of the myeloma have disappeared; it does not mean the cancer has been cured.
Cytokine
A type of protein that is made by certain immune and nonimmune cells and has an effect on the immune system. Some cytokines stimulate the immune system and others slow it down.
D
Duration of response (DOR)
The length of time a person’s cancer responds to treatment without growing or spreading.
I
Immune cell
A cell that is part of the immune system and helps the body fight infections and diseases.
Immune system
A complex network of cells, tissues, organs, and the substances they make that helps the body fight infections and diseases.
Immunomodulatory agent
A substance that influences the body's immune system, either stimulating or suppressing its activity to help the body fight cancer, infection, or other diseases.
Infusion
A method of putting fluids directly into the bloodstream.
K
KarMMa-3
The registrational clinical study that was the basis for the FDA approval of ABECMA® for patients with triple-class exposed relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma who had received at least 2 prior treatments.
M
Median
The middle number in a group of numbers arranged from lowest to highest.
Monitoring period
The time spent regularly watching and checking a person or condition to see if there is any change.
N
Nervous system
The organized network of nerve tissue in the body. This network includes the brain and spinal cord, the nerves, and nerve tissue.
O
Overall response rate
The percentage of people who responded to treatment within a set period of time.
P
Phase 3 (also known as phase III)
A study that tests the safety and how well a new treatment works compared with a standard treatment. In most cases, treatments move into phase 3 clinical trials only after they meet the goals of phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials.
Progression-free survival
The amount of time a person lives without the cancer growing or spreading.
Proteasome inhibitor
A drug that blocks the action of proteasomes. A proteasome is a large protein complex that helps destroy other cellular proteins when they are no longer needed.
Protein
These are the building blocks that make up many different parts of your body, including your skin and hair.
R
Refractory
Describes a disease that does not respond to treatment.
Relapsed
Describes the return of a disease or the signs and symptoms of a disease after a period of improvement.
S
Stem cell transplant
A procedure in which a person receives healthy stem cells (blood-forming cells) to replace their own cells that have been destroyed by radiation or chemotherapy. Sometimes the person’s own stem cells are collected before treatment to be used in the transplant later, and other times the stem cells are from a donor.
T
T cell
A type of cell found in the body’s immune system that plays a role in fighting disease, including cancer.
Triple-class exposed
Exposure to immunomodulatory agent(s), proteasome inhibitor(s), and anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody (antibodies).
