Clinical scores to predict toxicities and outcomes in patients with multiple myeloma undergoing bispecific T-cell engager therapy.

Blood cancer discovery
Authors
Abstract

The significant clinical benefit of bispecific T-cell engagers (TCEs) for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) may be offset by serious toxicities and treatment failure. Risk scores such as the CAR-HEMATOTOX (HTX), Endothelial Activation and Stress Index (EASIX) and modified EASIX (m-EASIX) can identify patients at risk for complications before CAR T-cell therapy, but their utility prior to TCE therapy remains elusive. We analyzed associations with outcomes and toxicities in independent discovery (n=123) and validation (n=155) cohorts treated with TCEs. Patients with HTX ≥ 3 or m-EASIX > median (> 0.86) had a significantly increased risk of prolonged hospitalization, antibiotic treatment and fever during step-up dosing. We also observed associations with cytopenias requiring therapeutic intervention, higher severe infection and intervention densities, as well as inferior response rates and reduced progression-free and overall survival. Our findings highlight the potential of these clinical scores to improve risk stratification before TCE therapy.

Year of Publication
2026
Journal
Blood cancer discovery
Date Published
02/2026
ISSN
2643-3249
DOI
10.1158/2643-3230.BCD-25-0062
PubMed ID
41687033
Links