CD38
CD38 is a myeloma surface enzyme and the target of daratumumab, which is now given as a quick under-the-skin injection.
CD38 antibodies daratumumab and isatuximab are backbone myeloma therapy from first line onward. Subcutaneous formulations (Darzalex Faspro, Sarclisa Escena) dominate.
- Target · the protein and the cell it sits on
- Drug · antibody, small molecule, cell or radioligand
- Effect · signal, damage or kill
In plain words · CD38 is a myeloma surface enzyme and the target of daratumumab, which is now given as a quick under-the-skin injection.
- 1 · What it is
CD38 is a myeloma surface enzyme and the target of daratumumab, which is now given as a quick under-the-skin injection.
- 2 · What goes wrong in cancer
CD38 is an ectoenzyme (NADase); immunomodulatory effects arise via depletion of CD38+ regulatory cells.
- 3 · How drugs use it
2 products aim at CD38: antibodies. Because it sits on the outside of the cell, it can be reached from the bloodstream: antibodies flag the cell, ADCs deliver a toxin, radioligands deliver radiation, and CAR-T or bispecifics bring a T cell.
Biology
CD38 is an ectoenzyme (NADase); immunomodulatory effects arise via depletion of CD38+ regulatory cells.
- Multiple myeloma
- AML (subset)
How common it is, by cancer
| Cancer | Prevalence | Measure | Note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple myeloma | >95% | Plasma-cell surface expression | Wikipedia | |
| Acute myeloid leukaemia | 60-80% | Blast expression, variable intensity | Wikipedia |
Approximate, population-level figures; the measure column says what was counted. Ranges show the midpoint as a bar.
The CD38 antibody that turned triplets into quadruplets: adding it to standard induction roughly halves the risk of myeloma progressing.
Isatuximab is Sanofi's CD38 antibody, approved in frontline transplant-ineligible myeloma (IMROZ) and, from July 2026, as an under-the-skin injection.
CEPHEUS extends the quadruplet standard to patients who are not going to transplant, closing the gap between transplant-eligible and ineligible populations. It is also one of the first phase 3 trials to be designed around MRD-negativity as the primary endpoint, which could shorten future myeloma trials by years. Frailer patients still need dose-adapted approaches.
PERSEUS, with the earlier GRIFFIN and CASSIOPEIA trials, made a four-drug daratumumab quadruplet the standard for fit patients heading to transplant. It also introduced MRD-directed stopping of the antibody, a step towards treatment that is deep but not indefinite. Whether transplant itself remains necessary on top of a quadruplet is now the open question.
MAIA made a daratumumab-based triplet the standard first treatment for older or frail myeloma patients, replacing Rd alone. It proved an anti-CD38 antibody could improve survival, not just delay progression, when used up front. Quadruplets built on this backbone are now being tested in the same population.
Latest papers
topQuery for this target: (TITLE:"CD38" OR ABSTRACT:"CD38") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about CD38, not a curated reading list.