Al-Ola Abdallah, Associate Professor and Plasma Cell Disorder Program Director of the Division of HMCT at the University of Kansas Medical Center, shared a post on X:
“5/10 ASH abstracts in myeloma ASH25.
This one must make the list!!
Promising new real-world data from China !
Equecabtagene autoleucel (eque-cel) after ASCT shows strong safety & efficacy in ultra–high-risk multiple myeloma (UHR-MM) patients.
Why it matters: UHR-MM patients still face poor outcomes despite advances in MM therapy. New strategies are urgently needed. Eque-cel, a BCMA-CAR-T therapy, is being explored earlier in treatment.
Study design: Retrospective review of 12 UHR-MM patients treated with ASCT ➜ eque-cel (Day 2–4).
UHR defined by:
- High-risk cytogenetics (del17p ≥60%, TP53, t(4;14), etc.)
- Primary refractory disease
- Early relapse
- Primary PCL history
Who were the patients?
• Median age: 53
• 92% male
• 73% had genetic UHR features
• 17% had extramedullary disease
• Median prior lines: 2
• Most previously received daratumumab-based therapies
Treatment details:
• ASCT conditioning primarily melphalan
• Eque-cel infused at 1×10⁶ cells/kg
• Robust CAR-T expansion: median Tmax 11 days, median Cmax 665 cells/µL
Safety:
• CRS: Grade 1 (58%), Grade 2 (25%) — all recovered
• No ICANS • Expected hematologic toxicities
• 100% hematopoietic recovery within ~1 month
Efficacy (as of July 1, 2025):
- ORR 100%
- CR 100%
- All patients MRD-negative
Median DOR, PFS & OS not yet reached. Only 1 early-progression patient relapsed (Day 55).
Notable case: Two pts had eque-cel before ASCT with only VGPR → After ASCT + second eque-cel:
- Achieved sCR & MRD-negativity
- As early as Day 23 post-ASCT in one case!
Conclusion:
Eque-cel after ASCT delivers deep, rapid & durable responses with a manageable safety profile in UHR-MM. A promising strategy deserving further clinical exploration.
Presentation ID 2299: Promising safety and efficacy of equecabtagene autoleucel (eque-cel) followed ASCT in ultra high-risk multiple Myeloma (UHR-MM) patients: primary real world data from a single center.”
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