Daratumumab is a targeted cancer drug which treats conditions like multiple myeloma. It works by binding to proteins which promote cancer progression. Moreover, doctors use therapies to boost the immune system to destroy cancer cells. Also, it can increase survival chances and decrease cancer load in the body.
What is multiple myeloma?
Multiple myeloma is a form of blood cancer which is rare and incurable. Furthermore, it starts in plasma cells, and these cells grow rapidly. Therefore, due to an increase of the abnormal cells, the healthy cells get crowded. Thus, it can release harmful proteins which can cause damage to the body internally.
What Is CD38?
CD38 is a glycoprotein which expresses on the surface of multiple myeloma cells. Moreover, it can work as a receptor and an enzyme which aids cancer cells to grow. Also, it can help them with calcium levels and metabolism. These are heavily present on myeloma cells’ surfaces. Thus, doctors use daratumumab as it spares the healthy cells and targets the cancer cells.
What Is Daratumumab?
Daratumumab is a targeted monoclonal antibody medicine. In addition, it can treat a rare type of blood cancer, which is multiple myeloma. Moreover, this can be used together with medicines and taken as an intravenous infusion. On the other hand, the doctor determines the dosage of the medicine according to the condition.
How Does Daratumumab Work?
It works by blocking the CD38 protein, which helps in calcium flow for cancer cells. Moreover, it can stop the growth of cancerous cells. It functions to boost the immune system, which can fight cancer. In addition, the immune system produces complement proteins that physically punch holes in the cancer cell membranes.
Why Is Daratumumab Considered a Major Advancement?
Daratumumab is known as the first targeted monoclonal antibody for multiple myeloma. Furthermore, it can destroy the cancer cells and simultaneously enhance the immune system. This medicine is a major advance due to these reasons:
- Dual Mechanism of Action
- Unprecedented Survival Rates
- Minimal Residual Disease
- Broad Treatment Paradigm
What is the role of daratumumab in multiple myeloma treatment?
Daratumumab treats multiple myeloma by boosting the immune system. In addition, the immune system can attack the cancer cells and cause cell death. Thus, it can decrease cancer load and spread in the body.
Benefits of Daratumumab Therapy
The benefits are as follows:
- Boost the immune system
- Destroy cancer cells
- Decrease cancer progression
- Lowers cancer load
- Shrink the tumor
What are the Possible Side Effects of Daratumumab?
There are side effects, like:
Common side effects
- Chills
- fever
- cough
- shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Fever
- Joint pain
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Upper respiratory tract infections
Serious side effects
- Severe Infections
- Low Blood Cell Counts
- Severe Allergic Reactions
What is the brand?
Interaction with other medicines
Doctors combine the medicine with chemotherapies and targeted drugs. Moreover, it can be combined with bortezomib (Bortenat 2mg injection). This can help with diagnosed patients who are ineligible for stem cell transplants. Furthermore, it interacts with Thalidomide (Thalix 50mg Capsule). Therefore, it can aid in diagnosing transplant-eligible patients. Doctors also suggest using this medicine carefully to avoid severe side effects.
Conclusion
Daratumumab is a targeted therapy which treats blood cancers like multiple myeloma. Also, it can block CD38 proteins which promote cancer growth. Moreover, it can decrease cancer progression and spread inside the body. On the other hand, patients can undergo side effects, but it is doable. However, doctors must regularly monitor patients for severe side effects to enhance survival. Furthermore, it can interact with other medicines to help in cancer therapy.
FAQs
Why does Daratumumab cause stomach issues?
The medicine can damage GI movement and stomach function. Moreover, patients should drink water and eat fiber-filled products. Thus, it can help decrease stomach-related problems.
Can the medicine cause cough-like infections?
This medicine targets the CD38 protein, which can lower white blood cell counts. Furthermore, it can decrease humoral immunity and cause patients to have side effects.
References
- McKeage, K. (2016). Daratumumab: first global approval. Drugs, 76(2), 275-281. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40265-015-0536-1
- Nooka, A. K., Kaufman, J. L., Hofmeister, C. C., Joseph, N. S., Heffner, T. L., Gupta, V. A., … & Lonial, S. (2019). Daratumumab in multiple myeloma. Cancer, 125(14), 2364-2382. https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/cncr.32065
- De Weers, M., Tai, Y. T., van der Veer, M. S., Bakker, J. M., Vink, T., Jacobs, D. C., … & Parren, P. W. (2011). Daratumumab, a novel therapeutic human CD38 monoclonal antibody, induces killing of multiple myeloma and other hematological tumors. The Journal of Immunology, 186(3), 1840-1848. https://academic.oup.com/jimmunol/article-abstract/186/3/1840/7977929
- Mateos, M. V., Dimopoulos, M. A., Cavo, M., Suzuki, K., Jakubowiak, A., Knop, S., … & San-Miguel, J. (2018). Daratumumab plus bortezomib, melphalan, and prednisone for untreated myeloma. New England Journal of Medicine, 378(6), 518-528. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1714678
- Palumbo, A., Chanan-Khan, A., Weisel, K., Nooka, A. K., Masszi, T., Beksac, M., … & Sonneveld, P. (2016). Daratumumab, bortezomib, and dexamethasone for multiple myeloma. New England Journal of Medicine, 375(8), 754-766. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1606038
