Nursing Considerations for the Clinical Management of Adverse Events Associated with Talquetamab in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma

Objectives

Talquetamab is a newly approved bispecific antibody targeting the CD3 receptor on T cells and a receptor, G protein–coupled receptor family C group 5 member D (GPRC5D), highly expressed on multiple myeloma (MM) cells. In addition to immune therapy-related adverse events (AEs) associated with bispecific antibody therapies, talquetamab is associated with unique skin/nail and oral GPRC5D-related side effects that require additional supportive care. This review provides clinical management strategies for talquetamab based on oncology nurses’ experience during the MonumenTAL-1 (NCT03399799/NCT04634552) clinical trial. The objective of this review is to raise awareness among nurses and patients to better understand and manage the side effects associated with talquetamab treatment in order to optimize patient outcomes.

Data Sources

MonumenTAL-1 is a phase 1/2 clinical trial of talquetamab in patients with relapsed/refractory MM who are triple-class exposed. Details on overall response, safety, and AE incidence and occurrence were previously published. Management strategies for the T-cell–related and unique GPRC5D-related AEs were collected from oncology nurses from different study sites.

Conclusion

Talquetamab has shown overall response rates of >71% in patients with relapsed/refractory MM in the MonumenTAL-1 study. AEs were low grade and predictable; few led to study discontinuation.

Implications for Nursing Practice

Oncology nurses have specialized knowledge of treatment administration monitoring based on their participation in the MonumenTAL-1 trial. This review provides information for nurses in both the academic and community settings on how to monitor, counsel, and support patients, which will in turn improve patients’ quality of life and overall survival.