At the 2026 Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA), innovative research from Chinese investigators in the field of multiple myeloma attracted significant attention. The team led by Prof. Wenming Chen from Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, presented a series of studies evaluating aponermin (Aponermin)-based combination therapies for multiple myeloma, plasmacytoma, and plasma cell leukemia.

From encouraging clinical outcomes to in-depth mechanistic investigations, these studies not only demonstrated the therapeutic potential of aponermin in patients with relapsed or refractory disease, but also provided a scientific rationale for combining aponermin with BCL-2 inhibitors.

Oncology Frontier – Hematology Frontier invited Prof. Wenming Chen and members of his research team to discuss these findings and share their perspectives on the future of plasma cell disease management.

Advancing Clinical and Translational Research

Key Highlights from the Team’s EHA Presentations

At this year’s EHA Congress, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital showcased both clinical and laboratory research evaluating aponermin-based combination strategies for the treatment of multiple myeloma, plasmacytoma, and plasma cell leukemia.

According to Prof. Wenming Chen, the clinical studies demonstrated impressive efficacy of aponermin combined with chemotherapy in patients with plasmacytoma. These findings provide a promising new treatment option and further highlight the growing contributions of Chinese investigators to the field of multiple myeloma research.

At the same time, the team achieved important progress in translational research, exploring the therapeutic potential of combining aponermin with BCL-2 inhibitors in multiple myeloma and plasma cell leukemia.

Focusing on Highly Aggressive Disease Subtypes

Translational Research Reveals Synergistic Potential

Yiwen Jiang, a member of Prof. Chen’s team, discussed the rationale and key findings of the study investigating the combination of aponermin and BCL-2 inhibition.

The research focused primarily on two specific patient populations:

  • Patients with multiple myeloma harboring the t(11;14) translocation, a subgroup known to derive substantial benefit from BCL-2 inhibition.
  • Patients with plasma cell leukemia, an extremely aggressive plasma cell malignancy in which the prevalence of t(11;14) exceeds 50%.

Based on these biological characteristics, the investigators hypothesized that combining aponermin with a BCL-2 inhibitor could provide enhanced therapeutic activity in these high-risk plasma cell disorders.

Importantly, the combination also demonstrated significant activity in cell-line models resistant to both bortezomib and dexamethasone.

The precise molecular mechanisms underlying this synergistic effect remain under active investigation, and additional findings are expected to be reported in future studies.

Prof. Chen highly praised the significance of these results, noting that they provide a strong scientific foundation for the future clinical development of aponermin-BCL-2 inhibitor combinations.

Looking ahead, this strategy may have broad potential in:

  • Multiple myeloma with t(11;14) translocation
  • Plasma cell leukemia, where t(11;14) is highly prevalent
  • Waldenström macroglobulinemia
  • Other hematologic malignancies characterized by BCL-2 dependence

EHA 2026 Research Highlights

Abstract PF794

Title: Aponermin Combined with the KT-DECP Regimen Rapidly Reduces Plasmacytomas in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma (RRMM)

First Author: Menghan Liu

Corresponding Authors: Wenming Chen, Aijun Liu

Key Findings:

This study demonstrated that in patients with RRMM accompanied by extramedullary disease (EMD), the Aponermin-KT-DECP regimen produced rapid shrinkage of extramedullary lesions, significantly prolonged progression-free survival (PFS), and maintained a favorable safety profile.

After two months of treatment:

  • Overall response rate (ORR): 78.6%
  • 12-month progression-free rate: 58.1%

Given the substantial unmet clinical need in this high-risk patient population, the findings support further clinical evaluation of this combination regimen.

Abstract PS1893

Title: A Phase II Prospective Single-Arm Study of Aponermin Combined with Bispecific Antibodies in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma

First Author: Lefu Huang

Corresponding Authors: Wenming Chen, Aijun Liu

Key Findings:

The combination of aponermin, bispecific antibodies, and immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) demonstrated rapid and clinically meaningful activity in heavily pretreated, high-risk patients with RRMM.

The study population included patients with:

  • Extramedullary disease
  • Triple-class exposure
  • High-risk cytogenetic abnormalities
  • Severe renal impairment

The regimen showed encouraging efficacy while maintaining a manageable safety profile.

Abstract PS1844

Title: DR4/DR5 Agonists Synergize with the BCL-2 Inhibitor Venetoclax to Promote Apoptosis in Multiple Myeloma Cells

First Author: Yiwen Jiang

Corresponding Author: Wenming Chen

Key Findings:

Circularly permuted TRAIL (CPT; Aponermin) and venetoclax synergistically induced caspase-dependent apoptosis in multiple myeloma cells.

Importantly, expression levels of DR4 and DR5 correlated with the magnitude of the synergistic effect, highlighting their potential as predictive biomarkers for guiding combination therapy.

Expert Profile

Prof. Wenming Chen

Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University

  • Chief Physician, Professor, and Doctoral Supervisor, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University
  • Member, International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG)
  • Executive Committee Member, Asian Myeloma Network (AMN)
  • Chair, Hematology Committee, Chinese Medical Education Association
  • Vice President, Beijing Public Health Promotion Association
  • Vice Chair, Myeloma Committee, Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO)
  • Vice Chair, Myeloma Committee, Hematology Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association
  • Deputy Leader, China Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation Working Group
  • Standing Committee Member, Hematology Immunology Branch, Chinese Society for Immunology
  • Standing Committee Member, Hematologic Oncology Committee, Chinese Anti-Cancer Association
  • Standing Committee Member, Hematology Branch, Chinese Geriatrics Society
  • Member, Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Group, Hematology Society of the Chinese Medical Association
  • Standing Committee Member, Hematology Institutions Branch, Chinese Hospital Association
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