# Case Report: autologous stem cell boost enables hematopoietic recovery after severe cytopenia induced by BCMA-targeted bispecific antibody therapy in multiple myeloma

**Authors:** Hiroaki Akiyama, Seiji Kakiuchi, Akimasa Sakamoto, Naru Tomigaki, Shutaro Fujioka, Isamu Harima, Ryotaro Niwa, Ikumi Takagi, Yoko Kozuki, Yoshiharu Miyata, Kyoko Yoshihara, Satoshi Yoshihara, Nobuko Iwata

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2025.1705843 · Frontiers in Oncology · 2026-01-05

## TL;DR

A patient with multiple myeloma recovered from severe blood cell loss after receiving a stem cell boost following bispecific antibody therapy.

## Contribution

This case report is the first to demonstrate successful use of autologous stem cell boost after BCMA-targeted bispecific antibody therapy.

## Key findings

- Autologous stem cell boost enabled rapid hematopoietic recovery after severe cytopenia.
- The patient achieved transfusion independence and resumed bispecific antibody therapy without recurrence of cytopenia.

## Abstract

Elranatamab, a bispecific antibody targeting B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) and CD3, has shown significant efficacy in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). However, elranatamab therapy also carries a risk of hematologic toxicity. Stem cell boost (SCB), involving reinfusion of previously collected autologous CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells, has been explored as a salvage strategy after Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR T-cell) therapy-related cytopenias. To date, its role following bispecific antibody treatment remains unclear. We report the case of a 59-year-old man with RRMM who developed prolonged pancytopenia after elranatamab therapy, successfully rescued with autologous SCB. Neutrophil recovery occurred by day +10, transfusion independence by day +19, and hematologic recovery allowed elranatamab resumption without recurrence of severe cytopenia. This case demonstrates the potential utility of SCB for managing persistent cytopenias after T-cell–redirecting therapies and supports the importance of early stem cell collection.

## Linked entities

- **Proteins:** TNFRSF17 (TNF receptor superfamily member 17), cd.3 (Cd.3 conserved hypothetical protein)
- **Diseases:** multiple myeloma (MONDO:0009693), pancytopenia (MONDO:0001529)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** TNFRSF17 (TNF receptor superfamily member 17) [NCBI Gene 608] {aka BCM, BCMA, CD269, TNFRSF13A}, CD34 (CD34 molecule) [NCBI Gene 947]
- **Diseases:** RRMM (MESH:D009101), cytopenia (MESH:D006402), pancytopenia (MESH:D010198)
- **Chemicals:** Chimeric Antigen (-)

## Full text

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## Figures

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## References

20 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12812612/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12812612