The bone marrow NK-cell profile predicts MRD negativity in patients with multiple myeloma treated with daratumumab-based therapy

C Charlotte L. B. M. Korst (1Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) S Sabrin Tahri (1Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands) C Carolien Duetz (1Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) W Wassilis S. C. Bruins (1Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) A A. Vera de Jonge (1Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) M Madelon E. de Jong (3Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands) C Cathelijne Fokkema (1Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands) F Febe Smits (6Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) K Kaz Groen (1Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) C Christie P. M. Verkleij (1Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) K Kristine A. Frerichs (1Department of Hematology, Amsterdam Universitair Medische Centra, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) N Natalie Papazian (1Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands) M Mark van Duin (1Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands) G Gregory van Beek (1Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands) R Remco Hoogenboezem (1Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands) T Thomas Baardemans (1Department of Hematology, Amsterdam Universitair Medische Centra, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) G Giada Dal Collo (1Department of Hematology, Amsterdam Universitair Medische Centra, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) E Elodie C. G. Stoetman (1Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands) M Meliha Cosovic (1Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) I Inoka Twickler (1Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) R Rosa Rentenaar (1Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) M Merve Eken (1Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) P Paola M. Homan-Weert (1Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) E Elona Saraci (4Division of Hematology 1, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Citta della salute e della Scienza, Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Science, University of Torino, Turin, Italy) M Mattia D’Agostino (4Division of Hematology, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, University of Turin, Turin, Italy) V Vincent H. J. van der Velden (2Department of Immunology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands) M Mathijs A. Sanders (Cancer, Ageing and Somatic Mutation, Wellcome Sanger Institute) F Francesca Gay A Annemiek Broijl (1Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands) P Philippe Moreau P Pieter Sonneveld S Sonja Zweegman T Tuna Mutis (6Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) T Tom Cupedo (Erasmus MC Cancer Institute) N Niels W. C. J. van de Donk

Abstract

Abstract Natural killer (NK) cells are important effector cells in antibody-based immune therapies for multiple myeloma (MM) through antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Here, we used single-cell transcriptomics, flow cytometry, and functional assays to investigate the bone marrow NK-cell compartment of patients with MM at diagnosis and during treatment. We show reduced proportion of CD16+ cytotoxic NK cells in a subset of patients at diagnosis, which correlated with decreased cytokine production and NK-cell degranulation against MM cells in the presence of the anti-CD38 antibody daratumumab. In line with these findings, a low proportion of CD16+ bone marrow NK cells at diagnosis was associated with a reduced likelihood of achieving measurable (or minimal) residual disease (MRD) negativity after consolidation in patients treated with daratumumab, bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone in conjunction with autologous stem cell transplantation in the CASSIOPEIA trial. In contrast, NK-cell distribution did not predict MRD negativity in patients treated in the control arm without daratumumab. These findings highlight the impact of the bone marrow NK-cell compartment on therapeutic outcomes in patients with MM receiving immunotherapy with CD38-targeting antibodies.

Article Details

Journal Blood
Volume / Issue Vol. 145, Issue 25
Published June 19, 2025
Pages 3007-3014
ISSN 0006-4971
Publisher Elsevier BV

Journal Info

Blood

Elsevier BV

ISSN: 0006-4971 Health Sciences

Authors (35)

C

Charlotte L. B. M. Korst

1Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

S

Sabrin Tahri

1Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

C

Carolien Duetz

1Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

W

Wassilis S. C. Bruins

1Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

A

A. Vera de Jonge

1Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

M

Madelon E. de Jong

3Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

C

Cathelijne Fokkema

1Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

F

Febe Smits

6Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

K

Kaz Groen

1Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

C

Christie P. M. Verkleij

1Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

K

Kristine A. Frerichs

1Department of Hematology, Amsterdam Universitair Medische Centra, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

N

Natalie Papazian

1Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

M

Mark van Duin

1Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

G

Gregory van Beek

1Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

R

Remco Hoogenboezem

1Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

T

Thomas Baardemans

1Department of Hematology, Amsterdam Universitair Medische Centra, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

G

Giada Dal Collo

1Department of Hematology, Amsterdam Universitair Medische Centra, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

E

Elodie C. G. Stoetman

1Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

M

Meliha Cosovic

1Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

I

Inoka Twickler

1Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

R

Rosa Rentenaar

1Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

M

Merve Eken

1Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

P

Paola M. Homan-Weert

1Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

E

Elona Saraci

4Division of Hematology 1, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Citta della salute e della Scienza, Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Science, University of Torino, Turin, Italy

M

Mattia D’Agostino

4Division of Hematology, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

V

Vincent H. J. van der Velden

2Department of Immunology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

M

Mathijs A. Sanders

Cancer, Ageing and Somatic Mutation, Wellcome Sanger Institute

F

Francesca Gay

A

Annemiek Broijl

1Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

P

Philippe Moreau

P

Pieter Sonneveld

S

Sonja Zweegman

T

Tuna Mutis

6Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

T

Tom Cupedo

Erasmus MC Cancer Institute

N

Niels W. C. J. van de Donk