Abstract
Background/Objectives: Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T) has become a key treatment option for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM), but factors impairing T-cell fitness may diminish efficacy. Our exploratory analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of prior treatment with a selinexor-containing regimen on CAR-T outcomes for RRMM patients. Methods: Data for this retrospective cohort study were sourced from electronic medical records at two US academic centers. Kaplan-Meier estimates assessed duration of response (DOR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS), reported as medians with interquartile ranges (IQRs). Cox proportional hazards regression analyzed factors potentially associated with PFS and OS, reported as hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Among 45 patients exposed to selinexor before undergoing BCMA-directed CAR-T, median therapy line numbers for selinexor use and CAR-T were 7 and 9, respectively, with 24.4% receiving selinexor as part of bridging. At median follow-up of 68 months, median PFS and OS post CAR-T were 8.0 (IQR 3.1-39.5) and 35.9 (IQR 14.2-NR) months, respectively. Overall response rate to CAR-T was 89%, with a median DOR of 8.1 months (IQR 2.9-39.0). In our multivariable model, patients who received a selinexor-based regimen in the line of therapy preceding CAR-T showed a trend toward reduced risk of death (HR = 0.08; 95% CI 0.02-0.46) and/or disease progression (HR = 0.40; 95% CI 0.14-1.09). Conclusions: Prior selinexor exposure does not appear to compromise CAR-T outcomes in heavily pretreated RRMM, suggesting potential T-cell sparing. Our findings warrant larger, prospective studies to determine whether preemptive selinexor treatment can optimize CAR-T efficacy.