--- title: "International Journal Publication | Dr. Xiaoyan KE and Dr. Kai HU's Team: BCMA CAR-T Brings Short-Term Remission and Survival Benefit in R/R PCL" url: "https://www.yyhmedical.com/en/news/bcma-car-t-plasma-cell-leukemia-survival-benefit" type: Article inLanguage: en-US category: Medical Advances datePublished: 2026-03-06 --- # International Journal Publication | Dr. Xiaoyan KE and Dr. Kai HU's Team: BCMA CAR-T Brings Short-Term Remission and Survival Benefit in R/R PCL > A study from the teams of Dr. Xiaoyan KE and Dr. Kai HU, published in Frontiers in Immunology, reported a 75% overall response rate with BCMA CAR-T therapy in patients with triple-class refractory relapsed/refractory plasma cell leukemia. Summary: Relapsed/refractory primary plasma cell leukemia (R/R PCL) is rare, highly aggressive, and associated with poor outcomes after conventional treatment. A retrospective cohort study from the teams of Dr. Xiaoyan KE and Dr. Kai HU at Beijing GoBroad Hospital analyzed outcomes in 12 patients with triple-class refractory R/R PCL treated with BCMA CAR-T therapy. The overall response rate was 75%, with a median progression-free survival of 8.9 months and a median overall survival of 15.5 months. Among patients who subsequently underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) as consolidation, some achieved deep remission and long-term disease-free survival. The findings provide early evidence for a potential treatment strategy in this very high-risk patient population. Relapsed/refractory primary plasma cell leukemia (R/R PCL) is a rare but highly aggressive hematologic malignancy. Response rates with conventional treatment are low, and long-term outcomes remain poor, making it one of the most challenging conditions managed by lymphoma and myeloma specialists. In recent years, CAR-T cell therapy targeting B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) has shown activity in R/R PCL, but data on long-term outcomes and the best treatment strategy after CAR-T remain limited. Recently, the lymphoma and myeloma team at Beijing GoBroad Hospital, led by Dr. Xiaoyan KE and Dr. Kai HU, published a study in Frontiers in Immunology titled "Efficacy of BCMA CAR-T cell therapy and subsequent strategies in refractory and relapsed plasma cell leukemia: a retrospective cohort study." The first author was Dr. Yuelu GUO. The study summarizes the team's recent clinical experience with BCMA CAR-T in R/R PCL and explores possible strategies after CAR-T treatment. **Study Background** Dr. Kai HU noted that primary plasma cell leukemia (PCL), although rare, is highly aggressive. Even with newer therapies, newly diagnosed PCL has been reported to have a median progression-free survival (PFS) of only 5.5 months. Outcomes become especially poor after relapse, particularly in patients with triple-class refractory disease - meaning resistance to proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs, and anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies. To further evaluate the efficacy and safety of BCMA CAR-T in R/R PCL, the team retrospectively analyzed 12 patients with triple-class refractory R/R PCL who received BCMA CAR-T therapy. **Key Findings** **1\. BCMA CAR-T Achieved a 75% Response Rate in Triple-Class Refractory PCL, with Mostly Low-Grade CRS** The overall response rate (ORR) after BCMA CAR-T therapy was 75% (9/12). One patient achieved complete response (CR), four achieved partial response (PR), and four achieved very good partial response (VGPR). Grade 1-2 cytokine release syndrome (CRS) occurred in 83.3% of patients (10/12). At the same time, grade 3-4 cytopenias were common, highlighting the need for careful infection prevention, monitoring, and supportive care after BCMA CAR-T therapy in patients with R/R PCL. **2\. BCMA CAR-T Provided Survival Benefit in R/R PCL, with Encouraging Outcomes in Patients Who Bridged to Allogeneic Transplant** Further analysis showed a median PFS of 8.9 months (95% CI, 4.6 months to not reached). The 1-year and 2-year PFS rates were 33.3% (95% CI, 7.8%-62.3%) and 22.2% (95% CI, 3.4%-51.3%), respectively. Median overall survival (OS) was 15.5 months (95% CI, 5.7 months to not reached). The 1-year OS rate was 55.6% (95% CI, 20.4%-80.5%), and the 2-year OS rate was 22.2% (95% CI, 3.4%-51.3%). Notably, among the four patients who underwent allogeneic transplantation as consolidation, two remained in stringent complete response (sCR) and achieved disease-free survival. These preliminary findings may help inform treatment planning. For patients with R/R PCL who respond to BCMA CAR-T therapy, consolidation with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation may deepen the response and could support longer disease-free survival in selected patients. Larger prospective studies are still needed to clarify which patients are most likely to benefit. **Summary and Outlook** Dr. Xiaoyan KE noted that the Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma at Beijing GoBroad Hospital has accumulated extensive clinical experience with CAR-T therapy. As more patients receive CAR-T in real-world practice, the clinical questions are becoming increasingly complex. Current experience suggests that BCMA CAR-T can produce short-term remission in highly aggressive R/R PCL, but additional consolidation may be needed to improve the depth and durability of response. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation may be one strategy for selected patients who respond to CAR-T. At the same time, identifying the right timing for CAR-T and developing more individualized, precise, and longitudinal management strategies remain important clinical priorities. Going forward, integrated clinical, pathologic, molecular, and imaging assessment may help identify R/R PCL patients who are unlikely to benefit from conventional therapy but may benefit from precision CAR-T approaches. Monitoring tools such as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) may also help detect signs of relapse earlier and support more timely intervention. --- Original (HTML):https://www.yyhmedical.com/en/news/bcma-car-t-plasma-cell-leukemia-survival-benefit This is a clean Markdown mirror for large language models; the original page is authoritative.